Basic English and maths skills are crucial for Londoners to access further education and good work, and to support them to participate in their communities and improve personal wellbeing.

Supporting Londoners to achieve basic skills is a priority for the Greater London Authority (GLA). However, we know that too many Londoners are without these skills and therefore less likely to be in good work. It is estimated that 58 per cent of Londoners have low numeracy skills.

The GLA commissioned Learning and Work Institute to identify barriers to participation and achievement in basic English and maths training at level 2 and below. The report below seeks to highlight examples of good practice that can be used to support London’s Adult Education Budget (AEB) providers to deliver improved social and economic outcomes for learners.

The report includes recommendations for providers, and the GLA as the commissioning authority, based on the different stages of the learner journey: engagement and recruitment; motivation and retention; progression and achievement; and some cross-cutting recommendations that run through each of the stages.

8 December 2025

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal meets London learners at an event for adults’ access to essential skills learning

On Wednesday 3 December, Learning and Work Institute was delighted to welcome their patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to an event in London about essential skills for learning and life, like literacy, numeracy and digital.

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8 October 2025

Ambition skills: toward a lifelong learning century

‘Ambition skills: toward a lifelong learning century’ is the final report produced as part of our Ambition Skills programme of work. It finds that achieving world-class skills could boost the economy by £22 billion.

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8 September 2025

International Literacy Day 2025: (It’s still) time for action

Marking International Literacy Day 2025, L&W Deputy Director Alex Stevenson reflects again on the state of play on adult literacy. Spoiler alert – the positives are harder to see.

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28 May 2025

Channel 4, Make UK and the National Housing Federation join new campaign to “get the nation learning”

A coalition of organisations including broadcaster Channel 4, manufacturers’ organisation Make UK, and the National Housing Federation have pledged to “get the nation learning” as a new report demonstrates that when adults learn, our society and economy thrive.

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16 May 2025

New expert group calls for strengthened resit policy and reversal of English and maths study requirement for adult apprentices

A new coalition of teaching and policy experts, including L&W, is calling on the Government to aim for at least 90% of 19-year-olds to achieve Level 2 English and maths by 2030.

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11 February 2025

Responding to the Government’s apprenticeship reforms

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the apprenticeship reforms announced by the Government on 11 February 2025.

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6 January 2025

Skills inequalities are larger in the UK than in other countries and are holding back growth, new report warns

New research from L&W finds the UK has larger gaps in workforce skills between different parts of the country than most other European countries.

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11 December 2024

Review of English language acquisition in the West Midlands

This research for the West Midlands Combined Authority explored how adults can be supported to progress in English language learning and how strategic partnerships can contribute to improved outcomes for learners.

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10 December 2024

Responding to the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC)

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the findings of the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) on 10 December 2024.

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