Learning in the Cold

New Campaign for Learning paper is a comprehensive examination of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on all aspects of post-16 education

With the nation in the grip of a severe and uncertain cost-of-living crisis, Learning in the Cold sets out the impacts on learners, prospective learners, providers and employers in the post-16 education system.

For the first time, perspectives from across the post-16 education and skills sector are brought together in one paper, providing a comprehensive view on the scale of the challenges and, through recommendations, what needs to be done to sustain participation in learning and training.

Learning in the Cold includes seventeen contributions and recommendations from representative bodies, think tanks, and skills and labour market consultants. Together, they examine the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on: 

• post-16 learners in all forms of education and training;
• post-16 year-olds who are employed, unemployed or economically inactive but not in full-time education and are claiming welfare benefits;
• employers and their own investment in training, demand for apprenticeships and engagement in publicly-funded post-16 education and skills more widely, and
• post-16 education and training providers as trading organisations, as employers of the education and training workforce, as owners of assets which could be used as warm spaces, and the deliverers of education and training opportunities during the winter and beyond.

Order of series

Day 1

Friday 21st October

1. Louise Murphy, Economist, Resolution Foundation: The Cost-of-Living and the Energy Crisis for Households
2. James Kewin, Deputy Chief Executive, Sixth Form Colleges Association: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and 16-19 Year-Olds in Full-Time Further Education

Day 2

Saturday 22nd October

3. Becci Newton, Public Policy Research Director, Institute for Employment Studies: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and 16-18 Year-Olds in Jobs with Apprenticeships 
4. Zach Wilson, Senior Analysis Officer and Andrea Barry, Analysis Manager, Youth Futures Foundation: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and 16-24 Year-Olds ‘Not in Full-Time Education’ 

Day 3

Monday 24th October

5. Nick Hillman, Director, Higher Education Policy Institute: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Full-Time and Postgraduate Higher Education 
6. Liz Marr, Pro-Vice Chancellor – Students, The Open University: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Part-Time Higher Education in England 

Day 4

Tuesday 25th October

7. Steve Hewitt, Further Education Consultant: The Cost-of-Living Crisis: Access to HE and Foundation Year Programmes 
8. Sophia Warren, Senior Policy Analyst, Policy in Practice: The Cost-of-Living Crisis, Universal Credit, Jobs and Skills Training 

Day 5

Wednesday 26th October

9. Paul Bivand, Pensioner and Labour Market Consultant: Economic Inactivity by the Over 50s, the Cost-of-Living Crisis and Adult Training 
10. Aidan Relf, Skills Consultant: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Employer Demand for Level 2-7 Apprenticeships 

Day 6

Thursday 27th October

11. Mandy Crawford-Lee, Chief Executive, UVAC: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Employer Demand for Level 4+ Apprenticeships and Part-Time Technical Education 
12. Simon Parkinson, Chief Executive, WEA: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Adult Community Learning

Day 7

Friday 28th October

13. David Hughes, Chief Executive, AoC: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and FE Colleges 
14. Jane Hickie, Chief Executive, AELP: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Independent Training Providers

Day 8

Saturday 29th October

15. Susan Pember, Policy Director, HOLEX: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Adult Education Providers
16. Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and David Etherington, Professor of Regional and Local Development, Staffordshire University: The Cost-of-Living Crisis – The Response of Staffordshire University
17. Chris Hale, Policy Director, Universities UK: The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Universities