HOLEX and UVAC are both proud to support Get the Nation Learning – a campaign that places adult learning at the heart of national renewal. It is a no brainer to get behind a campaign that reminds us how ‘when adults learn, our society and economy thrive’; a truth that must be embedded in the political and policy narrative.

UVAC is the representative organisation focused on representing and supporting universities and higher education providers (HEPs) to maximise their role in skills with a mission to increase individual opportunity and individual, employer, local, regional and national prosperity. Support for Get the Nation Learning aligns with the importance UVAC has, in its more than 25 years of championing adult progression in and through work, attached to lifelong learning.

Focusing state and employer spend on training for the ‘have-nots’ and young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) will remain influential and important. Sorting the welfare budget will, without doubt, be a political necessity. However, if the Government is to tackle the UK’s chronic low levels of productivity and deliver Starmer and Reeves’ Growth Agenda it cannot simply focus on raising the skills of young people entering the workforce. It is well understood that over 80 per cent of the 2030 workforce are already in work in 2025. Put it another way, a 25-year-old employee who is poorly trained has 40 or more years of their low productivity working life ahead of them. Individuals also need to develop new skills throughout their working lives for new jobs and a working environment where the pace of change is increasing and will continue to increase, particularly because of AI.

UVAC is committed to supporting HEPs to develop and use skills and vocational provision to increase opportunity for individuals of all ages and at all stages and levels of skill, and to support government and employers to raise productivity in line with Skills England advice and government priority sectors.

HOLEX, the national network of adult community education providers, stands firmly alongside UVAC in championing the transformative power of lifelong learning. While we operate at different points along the educational ladder, our missions are deeply interconnected. The learners we serve, and the education they receive, depend on both our sectors thriving. Together, we create a cohesive and complementary system that supports adults to learn, progress, and succeed.

The Get the Nation Learning campaign is not just timely; it is essential. In an era where economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and demographic shifts are reshaping the labour market, the imperative to invest in adult skills has never been clearer.

While targeted investment in young people and those NEET remains vital, it is not sufficient. The welfare budget, particularly the projected £100 billion sickness and disability benefits bill, underscores the urgency of equipping adults with the skills to remain active, productive, and fulfilled in the workforce. This statistic should be a wake-up call: the productivity of our future economy hinges on the skills of today’s workers.

A 25-year-old employee who lacks training is not just a missed opportunity; they represent decades of unrealised potential. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and rapid technological change, the ability to reskill and upskill throughout life is not a luxury; it is a necessity. HOLEX believes that adult education is the key to unlocking this potential, enabling individuals to adapt, grow, and contribute meaningfully to society.

We also echo UVAC’s commitment to supporting HEPs in delivering vocational and skills-based education that meets the needs of learners at every age and stage of life. The key to people having long-term and secure employment means access to higher education in all its forms needs to be available for everyone.

HOLEX and UVAC call on policymakers, employers, and educators to embrace a bold, inclusive vision for lifelong learning. Let us move beyond short-term fixes and invest in a future where every adult can learn, earn, and thrive.

Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee, chief executive, UVAC

Caroline McDonald, chief executive, HOLEX