Warwickshire County Council has been given the power to decide how to use skills funding to deliver on the areas needs as part of the Governments drive to transfer power to regions.
Residents accessing this funding are provided with skills and learning opportunities they need to progress into and through work, whether it is an apprenticeship, a qualification or further learning.
Now, local leaders will be able to invest their portion of the Adult Skills Fund in what matters most locally, allowing more tailored training opportunities for businesses and residents.
The Fund is opening doors for learners aged 19 and over, giving them the skills they need to step into employment, progress their careers, or take their next step in learning.
Recognising that many young people are missing out on the on their first step on the career ladder, the fund also provides those aged 19 to 23, with a fully funded route to their first qualification, backed by guidance in essential skills like English, maths and digital literacy.
From hands-on technical skills in construction, plumbing and social care, to essential skills like English, Maths and Digital, local areas can use the fund to ensure there is an offer for everyone ready to take that next step.
On Friday 31 August, the Prime Minister announced that as part of the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation, Mayors in England will receive a share of income tax revenues for the first time, while areas without a local mayor will be supported to establish a strategic authority and begin their pathway to greater control.
This reflects a wider commitment to devolve the powers that matter most for local growth, including control of 16-19 education funding, tailored technical and vocational routes from age 16, employment support suited to local need, and greater power to back local businesses and industries.
Today’s milestone brings power and decision making closer to people's lives, ensuring the qualifications and training match the real opportunities available on young people’s doorsteps.
This will hugely benefit employers too, providing a growing pipeline of confident, work-ready workers emerge who are trained in priority trades and equipped with the digital skills that today's jobs require.
Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, said:
"We know that local leaders know their businesses, residents, and the skills gaps holding their communities back.
"Handing control of Adult Skills Funding to Warwickshire County Council means decisions will be made by those who understand local needs best.
"This is part of a wider drive to build a more flexible and reactive skills system that truly works for learners and employers alike."
Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, Councillor Rob Howard, said:
"The devolution of the Adult Skills Fund marks a significant milestone for Warwickshire. By bringing decision-making closer to the people it affects, we can ensure that training and learning opportunities reflect the real needs of Warwickshire's economy and communities.
"This means we can work more closely with employers, training providers and local partners to develop programmes that help people gain the skills they need to secure employment, progress in their careers and take advantage of emerging opportunities.
"These devolved powers will enable us to create a more responsive and inclusive skills system, supporting learners at every stage of life, from gaining essential qualifications and digital skills to retraining for new careers. Ultimately, this is about improving life chances, helping businesses access the skilled workforce they need, and strengthening communities across Warwickshire."
Warwickshire CC joins a growing number of Strategic Authorities across England already administering their own ASF funding, including Greater Manchester, West Midlands and West Yorkshire, each demonstrating that the most effective skills systems are built locally, not designed in Westminster.
The continued devolution of the Adult Skills Fund allocation powers Warwickshire CC forms part of a wider transfer of power from Westminster to postcodes across the country as well as ongoing work to build a skills system that is shaped by those who understand what learners and employers need.
The Government is reforming the wider skills system to ensure it delivers for everyone involved, including changes to the Growth and Skills Levy to give employers greater flexibility over how funding is used and introducing more flexible apprenticeships in priority growth sectors such as construction, engineering and digital technology.
Just as local leaders are being trusted to direct skills funding in their areas, the government is working closely with businesses to shape support for those taking on young apprentices, helping to reduce the cost of recruitment, and encouraging employers to invest in the next generation of skilled workers.
Alongside this, the Youth Guarantee is ensuring every young person under 25 has access to education, an apprenticeship, or help to find work, giving them a clear pathway into employment.
Together, these changes reflect a shared ambition to help people build the skills they need to thrive, creating opportunities for meaningful employment and supporting long-term economic growth and opportunity in every postcode.