Adult Skills and Learning Framework: 2026 - 2034

West Sussex County Council’s Adult Learning Service, commissions and delivers adult skills and learning provision funded primarily through grant allocations from the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions, alongside other current and future government funding streams and initiatives. The Council currently operates an Adult Learning and Skills Framework, established in 2024, to support commissioning across a range of programmes including Adult Skills Fund provision, Free Courses for Jobs, Skills Bootcamps, Tailored Learning and 16 to 19 Study Programmes.

West Sussex County Council has been invited to participate in the Government’s Pathway to Devolution pilot for Academic Year 2026/27. The pilot is intended to support transition towards devolved Adult Skills Fund responsibilities and provides additional formula-funded allocation of monies for delivery to participating Local Authorities.

East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council have also indicated their intention to participate in the pilot and have requested support from West Sussex Adult Learning Service to access a compliant route to market to support commissioning of provision. The existing West Sussex Framework does not permit access by partner authorities therefore authority is sought to commence a procurement process to establish a new Framework that could be utilised pan-Sussex for the commissioning of Adult Learning and Skills.