The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has announced the national roll out of the Adult Learning Grant (ALG), a £35 million investment that it says will make a significant contribution to improving Britain’s skilled workforce.The roll out will follow a successful pilot programme that began in 2003 and has spread to 24 areas of England.
ALG is a weekly grant designed to help adults studying full-time with the costs of learning. The grant pays up to £30 per week, subject to financial assessment, for full time learners aged 19 and over who are studying for their first full level two or level three, which is the equivalent to 5 GCSEs or 2 A levels.
A pilot campaign has been a proven success in improving retention, with 93 per cent of ALG learners completing their courses above the average of 85% and some colleges reporting that 100 per cent of students receiving ALG saw their courses right through to the end. With an average lifetime salary difference of £185,817 between someone with a Level 2 and Level 3 qualification, it is evident that staying on to finish a course and acquire news skills can make a significant difference.
