Liverpool's Adult Learning Service praised by Ofsted

LIVERPOOL City Council's Adult Learning Service has been praised by Ofsted for its:- "comprehensive wraparound support that helps learners to achieve their goals and aspirations."

The service delivers courses in English for speakers of other languages as well as in maths, digital and wellbeing, health and education, helping develop skills to secure employment.

It was inspected over 4 days, in September, and has been judged to be:- 'good' overall, with behaviour and attitudes of learners and their personal development found to be:- 'outstanding.'

Ofsted concluded that learners:- "thrive in a highly inclusive culture" and "vastly improve their confidence and self esteem because of their courses and the high levels of support they receive from tutors."

They say the curriculum meets the needs and priorities of residents and praised the work of the service in providing courses for people in hard to reach communities.

They added:- "Through their courses, learners have found friendship, support and a focus in what are often extremely challenging personal lives."

The inspectors were struck by the:- "exceedingly high proportion" of learners who are actively involved in their communities, ranging from food banks to community groups and charity shops, to domestic violence charities.

Areas for development include:- enhancing the quality of feedback, and devising an individualised curriculum on some courses.

The service is funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and has 100 staff, and teaches around 4,500 learners every year.

The full report can be read at:- Ofsted.Gov.UK.

Councillor Lila Bennett, Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills, said:- "This is a fantastic vote of confidence in our Adult Learning Service. It is making a life changing difference to the lives of thousands of people every single year, giving them the skills, confidence and knowledge to secure employment. I'm absolutely delighted with the verdict of the inspectors, and would like to pay tribute to our staff who are transforming the futures of so many residents."

Angela Sterpetta Lanotte, a former learner with the Adult Learning Service who has gone on to get a job as a teaching assistant at a Liverpool primary School, said:- "I moved to England 4 years ago, some months before COVID. I was excited but afraid about the language because I had never studied English in my life. It was not easy to study during the Pandemic but we had a mix of online and face-to-face classes, and I was then encouraged to start a teaching assistant course, and with support from the Ways to Work Team went on to secure a placement and then a job. I believe that the Adult Learning Service is the best venue for adults to study in Liverpool."

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "I know first hand the impact that adult education can have in transforming people's futures. I started my career as an apprentice bricklayer but took the opportunity to study later in life. The support and guidance I received as an adult learner set me on a new path and helped lay the foundations for where I'm today. People in our Region are too often held back, not by a lack of talent but a lack of opportunity. Devolution means that we can put that right; by prioritising adult education for investment we are able to give a promise of hope and opportunity to everyone with an aspiration to build a career for themselves, proving that it's never too late to achieve your ambitions."

Mayor Steve Rotheram announces a £900k support for digital, creative, and tech businesses in second phase of job creating scheme

STEVE Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has launched the next phase of Gather, his support scheme for digital, creative and tech businesses in the Region.

The 1st £3.5m Phase of Gather saw 178 digital, creative and tech (DCT) companies create 314 new jobs with a collective net turnover increase of £18m.

A further- £895,000 will enable Form, who deliver Gather on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, to work with around 120 more digital, creative and tech SMEs.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "Our area is home to a burgeoning digital, tech and creative sector that supports thousands of local jobs and training opportunities. Through Gather, we're helping the industry to strengthen the future of its workforce and create quality, secure, and well-paid jobs. We've launched our next round of support to ensure that even more businesses and local people can benefit and take advantage of all the opportunities that will come our way in an increasingly digital world."

Councillor Mike Wharton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business, said:- "I'd encourage local digital, creative and tech businesses to take advantage of the support we're making available to them through Gather. We know from rigorous evaluation of the 1st phase that businesses who have gone through Gather have seen tangible benefits in terms of their turnover and job creation, as well as hugely valuing the community of fellow business leaders created through the programme."

Katie Bolas from Form said:- "Gather is back to amplify the success of the Region's growing businesses. A common misconception is that business support is for companies that are struggling, whereas Gather is about growth and success for businesses already doing well and looking to go further. We're really excited about supporting more businesses and helping the digital, creative and tech sectors to thrive. Whether you're looking to develop your future leaders, need support with plans to scale, or are battling with sales, there's a programme; and a supportive community; to help."

Alongside regular events, the 4 streams of support offered by Gather are:-

• Outbound; a short course focused on sales, to help companies secure the clients they want to work with.
   

• Emerging leaders; a transformative programme for upcoming leaders to accelerate their personal and business growth.
   

• Beyond; 6 months of bespoke scaling support crafted with and for ambitious businesses.
   

• 1 to 1 advice; confidential support from experts who can help leaders move the dial on their biggest challenge or opportunity.

Among the digital, creative and tech businesses supported by Gather are Cybertill, Sood Agency, and online recruitment platform Redwigwam.

Lorna Davidson, MD of Redwigwam said:- "The Gather team really take time to understand your business, put the right programme in place to support your growth and help you make the right connections."

The funding also provided emergency business support to 221 non-DCT businesses through the related Sustain programme, which was launched by Mayor Rotheram as part of his £200m business support package to help business recovery both during and after the COVID19 Pandemic.

Businesses in the Liverpool City Region can apply for a Gather programme or find out more at:- GatherLCR.Com.