There has been a significant change in the locus of job growth within the UK over the
past two decades, with managerial, professional and technical occupations
experiencing the highest growth rates. Expansion in these sectors has been
accompanied by demands for higher levels of skills and qualifications from the
workforce, a trend which is predicted to continue. The Skills Strategy White Paper1
has been central in setting out the Government’s aims to ensure that employers
have a workforce with the right skills to support their businesses and that individuals
have the skills they need to be both employable and personally fulfilled.
The Adult Learning Grant (ALG) was announced as part of the Government’s Skills
Strategy in 2003. The ALG pilot began in September 2003 in ten areas across
England. The ALG aims to support adults in learning through the offer of a meanstested
monetary allowance. The allowance is subject to strict eligibility criteria and
award relies on learners demonstrating that they meet criteria relating to UK
residency, age, proposed course of study, level of prior qualifications, and that they
intend to study at a designated learning provider. The grant is targeted at full-time
adult learners studying for their first full Level 2 qualification and full-time learners
aged 19-30 years studying for their first full Level 3 qualification. The grant is
administered by one provider, Manchester City Council (MCC)
