More than a hundred guests gathered at Leeds Civic Hall on Tuesday (24 June) to celebrate inspirational adult learners from across West Yorkshire, as Mayor Tracy Brabin announced £12m to expand skills and training opportunities across the region.
The West Yorkshire Adult Learner Awards, now in its second year running, recognised the exceptional achievements of learners aged nineteen and over who have transformed their lives through adult education.
The winners included Caitlin Moisey, recognised for her outstanding contributions to the field of pharmacy, and Guillaume Junior Atangana and Donard Ndim Nyamjua, two refugee athletes studying at Bradford College, who were jointly awarded a Special Commendation for their inspirational journey from Cameroon to the Paris Paralympic Games.
The £12m uplift in skills funding, set to deliver courses up to July 2026, will be split between basic skills and employment-focused training. This includes opportunities to gain essential English, Maths, Digital and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) qualifications, alongside Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) in industries like health and social care, and construction.
The funding is a part of Mayor Brabin’s £65m Adult Skills Fund, which is supporting over 40,000 learners year on year to better their lives through training and work.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “These inspirational learners prove that it’s never too late to learn new skills, embark on exciting new careers, and put more money in your families’ pockets while pursuing a new passion in life.
“When I was elected, I pledged to make West Yorkshire a region of learning and creativity, and with our multimillion-pound boost to adult skills, we are delivering on that promise.
“By investing in essential skills like English and Maths alongside technical qualifications in sectors like construction and childcare, we’re equipping people with the skills they need to succeed, supporting local businesses, and building a stronger, brighter economy for all.”
Through innovative partnerships with employers, training providers and the region’s seven Further Education colleges, the Mayor’s investment in adult skills is helping to upskill learners into real jobs in the local labour market, getting people into well-paid employment while supporting businesses to grow and succeed.
West Yorkshire’s multibillion-pound Local Growth Plan sets out the Mayor’s ambition to build a region of learning and creativity, where people of all ages and backgrounds can access the qualifications, skills and employment support they need to fill skills shortages and fulfil their potential.
Over 47,000 adult learners benefitted from support from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority over the past academic year, with a significant uptake in skills training among disabled learners, ethnic minority learners and young learners.
Some local training providers have also delivered innovative wraparound support for learners, benefitting both their families and their wider communities. This includes Aim2Learn tackling food insecurity by offering free breakfasts to their adult learners, and extending this support to young carers in partnership with local schools.
