Nottingham City Council has agreed to accept £540,075 in grant funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to deliver its Tailored Learning Programme for the 2025/26 academic year.
The decision marks the first year of EMCCA’s management of adult education funding following the East Midlands Devolution Deal, which transferred responsibility for local skills budgets from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to the new regional authority.
The council has delivered adult and family learning programmes for around 20 years under ESFA funding and will now continue this work under EMCCA oversight.
The Tailored Learning Programme includes both Community Learning and Family Learning, aimed at supporting adults with low skills or qualifications and those furthest from the labour market.
The courses are designed to help participants develop English, maths, digital, and personal development skills while also promoting social well-being, confidence, and employability. Family Learning courses focus on helping parents and carers to support their children’s education and development.
The £540,075 funding package includes £342,128 for extending contracts with existing learning providers from 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026, as permitted under a 2023 tender process.
A further £124,064 will fund project management and compliance costs within the council, covering staffing including a project lead, compliance officer, finance and data management roles. Another £73,883 is allocated to meet mandatory EMCCA and Ofsted requirements, including staff development, information and guidance for learners, marketing, and auditing.
The service was rated “Good” (Grade 2) by Ofsted in May 2024, with inspectors noting continued improvements and high expectations. Funding must be fully spent by July 2026 to safeguard future allocations, as underspend could lead to reductions or withdrawal of funding.
The council also approved its 2025/26 Supply Chain Fee and Charges Policy, which governs payments to subcontracted providers. The policy ensures payments are made within 30 days and caps management fees at 25 per cent to maintain fairness and transparency.
Officials said not entering into the agreement would have meant a loss of over £540,000 in grant funding and a direct impact on more than 1,000 Nottingham residents who rely on community and family learning opportunities.
The programme supports the aims of the Nottingham Growth Plan by helping residents build confidence, improve health and wellbeing, and progress toward further training or employment.
