Westminster Adult Education Service
Learning Provider of the Year Award, sponsored by UVAC and HOLEX
Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) has won a national award for leading the way on lifelong learning.
The service collected the Learning Provider of the Year Award at the Get the Nation Learning Awards 2026, held on 4 November at The Royal Society in London. Sponsored by HOLEX and UVAC, the award is open to all types of adult learning providers, including universities, colleges, independent training providers, and community learning organisations.
Judges praised WAES’s inclusive, practical and ambitious approach. From first steps in learning to qualifications, employment and volunteering, WAES supports around 5,000 learners each year at every stage of their journey. The service delivers programmes on English, maths, ESOL, and digital skills, as well as high-quality vocational and apprenticeship opportunities. Those facing the greatest barriers to learning are prioritised for support, including unemployed adults, refugees, and people experiencing poor mental health. One quarter of learners receive additional support, including financial assistance, digital inclusion and access to onsite nurseries.
WAES’s success rates are high: 92% learners finish their course and 95% pass. The service also works with more than 200 employer, public and third sector partners to ensure courses meet local needs and lead to real opportunities. Alongside this, its Green Skills Innovation Centre is helping residents develop the knowledge and skills needed for a low-carbon future.
The Get the Nation Learning Awards are part of Get the Nation Learning Week, running from 2–6 November. Led by Learning and Work Institute and backed by more than 230 organisations, the Get the Nation Learning campaign celebrates the power of lifelong learning to change lives, strengthen communities and support better work.
Arinola Edeh CBE, Principal at Westminster Adult Education Service, said:
“I am absolutely delighted that WAES has been recognised as Learning Provider of the Year. This award belongs to our learners, whose determination and achievements inspire us every day, and to our staff and partners, whose dedication brings to life the transformative power of adult education. It is a powerful endorsement of our mission to break down barriers to learning, open doors to opportunity and create life-changing outcomes for people from all backgrounds.”
Georgina Appeagyei, a learner at Westminster Adult Education Service, said:
“Coming from a non-traditional tech background, my passion for learning led me to a bootcamp that helped me turn hands-on AWS projects, Python practice and an AI certification into a career in fintech. After rejection upon rejection, I’m now putting those skills to work every day in a role I love, all because a friend introduced me to WAES! My biggest takeaway? A CV can get you an interview, but practical experience helps you prove what you can do.”
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute, said:
“Dedicated learning providers are at the heart of our national effort to make adult learning accessible to everyone. Westminster Adult Education Service shows how high-quality, inclusive provision is changing lives, combining practical support with innovative learning opportunities that respond to local needs. In recognition of this, it’s an honour to name WAES Learning Provider of the Year at the Get the Nation Learning Awards 2026.”
Dr Mandy Crawford-Lee, Chief Executive at UVAC and Caroline McDonald, Chief Executive at HOLEX, said:
“WAES’ award win reflects their passion for adult learning in all its forms. From such a strong and diverse field of types and sizes of providers, WAES demonstrates the power of championing an ‘all age’ system that embodies HOLEX’s and UVAC’s shared message; that when adults learn, society and the economy thrive.”
