LTE Group backs Get the Nation Learning campaign

More than 30 organisations have come together to make the case for lifelong learning.

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

Led by the independent policy and research organisation Learning and Work Institute (L&W), the Get the Nation Learning campaign has been launched to make and win the case for lifelong learning. At the heart of the campaign sits the Get the Nation Learning Charter, signed by more than 30 key players, including employers, membership bodies and community organisations.

Benefits for employers and individuals
This campaign launches as L&W’s research, commissioned by the thinktank Phoenix Insights, shows that lifelong learning increases adults’ employment prospects and reduces their out-of-work benefits receipt. With the Government targeting an 80% employment rate and a reduction in economic inactivity, the research shows that participation in learning could be a game changer for adults seeking and staying in work.

People qualified at or below GCSE level or equivalent, the research finds, see the greatest impacts of learning in the immediate term, while employers who invest in workplace training enjoy improved retention and increased workforce productivity.

The Get the Nation Learning campaign aims to turn the tide after over a decade of decline in lifelong learning. The adult skills budget in England has been cut by £1 billion since 2010, resulting in millions fewer people gaining qualifications. At the same time, employers are investing 26% less per employee than in 2005, with significant inequalities in who benefits from training at work.

Realising potential through the power of education
Stephen Exley, LTE Group’s Head of Policy, PR and Public Affairs, said: “As a group, we are committed to a vital mission: to help anybody, regardless of their background or starting point, to realise their potential through the power of education. Every day we work with thousands of learners engaged across a range of sectors, including the prison service, further and higher education, apprenticeships, and professional qualifications. Our ambition is closely aligned with the Get the Nation Learning campaign, and we are proud to join other leading organisations in supporting its important goal of revitalising adult education.”

Stephen Evans, L&W’s CEO, said: “When adults learn, our society and economy thrive. Growth, productivity, good work, resilient communities, fuller and richer lives—these are some of the prizes on offer. From increasing employment to net zero, from social cohesion to inclusive growth, some of the greatest challenges facing Government and our employers today could be tackled by building a culture of lifelong learning. That means valuing it, funding it, and giving everyone access to it. That’s why our new campaign to Get the Nation Learning is so important, and we look forward to working with our campaign partners in making the case for learning across the country.”