Adult Education Budget

As part of the Landmark West Yorkshire Devolution Deal, we have taken over responsibility for the region’s £65 million annual Adult Education Budget.

Taking over control of the Adult Education Budget

Adult Education Budget (AEB) aims to engage adults and provide them with the skills needed for entering and sustaining work, an apprenticeship/traineeship, or other further learning.

The key priorities for West Yorkshire AEB is to:

  • Support the unemployed to gain and sustain employment
  • Unlock progression opportunities and career adaptability through skills, particularly for those on low wages and with insecure work
  • Make learning more inclusive to support disadvantaged residents
  • Increase the supply of skills to support key sectors in West Yorkshire
  • Improve West Yorkshire’s resilience by identifying and delivering the skills needed for the future

AEB Strategy

The AEB Strategy for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority highlights strengths, opportunities and challenges across the region and sets out key priorities for the devolved Adult Education Budget to ensure it supports the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Strategic Vision.

Read the AEB Strategy

AEB Procurement

In order to access tender opportunities for the West Yorkshire Adult Education Budget, please complete the following:

1. Register onto the system to allow access to the Combined Authority’s opportunities by completing the registration form.
Register here

2. Complete an application form to be added to the DPS on YorTender.
Application form

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If you are a learner...

The Adult Education Budget supports adults to increase their skills and achieve the equivalent of GCSE and A Level qualifications.

Any adult over the age of 19 is eligible for support through the Adult Education Budget. In particular the following people are entitled to access training for free:

  • unemployed and seeking work
  • wanting to achieve Level 2 in Maths or English for the first time
  • earning less than £19,305 a year
  • wanting to achieve basic digital skills
  • wanting to achieve your first full Level 2 or Level 3 (GCSE or A Level equivalent) qualification

If you are over the age of 19 and are looking for training support. 

More Information





AEB End of Year Report 2021-22

This report summarises the position of Adult Education Budget in West Yorkshire: the priorities for investment and the possibilities available through devolution.

Read the report Download the report

Download fully accessible AEB End of Year Report 2021 - 2022

AEB News & Updates

AEB Core Documents

  1. West Yorkshire AEB Funding Rules 2022-2023

    This document sets out the 2022-23 funding rules that apply to all providers of education and training who receive adult education budget funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

  2. West Yorkshire AEB Funding Rules 2023-2024

    This document sets out the 2023-24 funding rules that apply to all providers of education and training who receive adult education budget funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

  3. West Yorkshire AEB Performance Management Framework 2023-2024

    This document sets out the 2023-24 performance management rules that apply to all providers of education and training who receive adult education budget funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

  4. West Yorkshire AEB Funding Rates & Formula Document 2023-2024

    This document sets out the principles and features of our funding system for the 2023-24 funding year.

  5. West Yorkshire AEB Funding Rates & Formula Document 2022-2023

    This document sets out the principles and features of our funding system for the 2022-23 funding year.

  6. West Yorkshire AEB Allocations 2022-23

    This document sets out the allocations for 2022-23 broken down by providers.

Core AEB Documents 2021-22

Guidance documents relating to the 2021-22 Adult Education Budget Team can be accessed here: