If we are to engage more adults in learning, we must understand patterns of behaviour, adults’ motivations for learning, and any barriers they face to engaging in learning.

Learning and Work Institute was funded by the Department for Education (DfE) to undertake qualitative interviews to explore the barriers, motivations and triggers for learning amongst adults. The aim was to draw out potential levers for engaging adults in learning.

This involved 37 in-depth interviews with current and recent learners, and non-learners. These included participants with demographic characteristics typically associated with lower participation in learning in order to provide insights on how policy and practice interventions can best target these groups.