National sponsors
Adult Learners' Week is grateful to all of our sponsors, who support and enhance the impact and reach of Adult Learners' Week and its messages.
European Social Fund
"The European Social Fund (ESF) is pleased to continue its sponsorship of Adult Learners' Week. The ESF programme invests in jobs and skills and shares many aims with Adult Learners' Week -which provides a great opportunity to celebrate learning and communicate positive messages about its potential.
For example, ESF-Works showcases projects and products that illustrate the variety of activities taking place under the 2007–2013 ESF programme. "
James Ritchie, ESF Policy Team, Department for Work and Pensions
BIS
"BIS is delighted to be a partner in Adult Learners' Week. Every year, hundreds of thousands of ordinary people discover the pleasures and benefits of learning for personal, family and community development. Adult Learners' Week will continue to play its part in helping people discover the benefits of high quality innovative learning that is accessible to all."
John Gibson, BIS Senior Policy Advisor
BBC
"BBC Learning is delighted to support Adult Learners' Week 2011 and to sponsor for the second time an award for digital participation. We hope this helps to spread awareness of the value of the internet and digital technology to adult learning and to encourage more people to have a go."
Wendy Jones, Head of Public Affairs, BBC Learning
The Open University
"Over the last 40 years The Open University has inspired more than 1.5 million students through pioneering technologies that bring learning to life for all who want access to high quality learning. That’s why we are delighted to support Adult Learners’ Week 2011 and to sponsor the national awards for Inspiring Learning Projects." Will Swann - Director, Students.
Next Step
Next Step, the adult careers and skills service, is delighted to support Adult Learners’ Week with its important aim of encouraging adults to take part in learning activities. For adults interested in taking a course, looking to update their skills or just wanting to discuss the options available to them, Next Step offers free and impartial advice via direct.gov.uk/nextstep or with a Next Step adviser over the phone or face-to-face.
Pearson
We are proud to sponsor the Apprentice of the Year award. It is vital that people develop the right skills to support our economy to progress in their lives. Through our BTEC Apprenticeships, Pearson are committed to supporting employers and apprentices to reach their goals. We want to celebrate excellence throughout education, and I am pleased that apprenticeships are increasingly recognised as an excellent way for adults to continue with their education.
REED in Partnership
"Reed in Partnership has supported over 115,000 people into the world of work – the development of new skills and the ability to learn from experience are an important part of the journey towards work. We are therefore proud to support the activities of Adult Learners Week and the Young Adult Learners Award."
Chris Melvin, Chief Executive, Reed in Partnership
We are also grateful for the significant support that we have received from:
“Events like Adult Learners' Week can have a huge impact in inspiring people of all ages back into learning, and we’ve seen firsthand the benefits this brings. We’re passionate about creating opportunities for our people and thousands of our employees are already studying towards nationally-recognised qualifications from apprenticeships to foundation degrees.
“Learning at work, not only boosts employee skills but also their confidence, which makes a big difference to the customer service they deliver, makes them more motivated, and means they stay with us for longer. I’d encourage anyone to give learning at work a try, and urge other employers to embed qualifications into their training programmes.”
Jez Langhorn, Vice President, People, McDonald’s UK
JISC Techdis
JISC Techdis is the UK's leading advisory service on technology and inclusion and we are proud to support Adult Learners’ Week to remind us all that learning in its various guises is a passport to independence.
Technology can play a crucial role in enabling independence, supporting inclusion and widening participation. Because of this, it is vital that learning providers adopt a philosophy and approach that puts user needs at the heart of what they do and understand the impact that technology can have. JISC Techdis works with agencies and professional bodies across the UK in order to promote accessible practices for the benefit of everyone.
The Service specialises in supporting organisations such as NIACE and others who teach with technology by providing access to expertise and a wealth of resources, not just during Adult Learners Week, but all year round.
Regional Support Centres:
The Regional Support Centres (RSCs) are a JISC Advance Advisory Service. We offer a wide range of knowledge and expertise to help Adult Learning providers improve the learner experience using technology.
RSCs believe that Adult Learner's Week is a fantastic opportunity for people to experience some of the brilliant courses on offer and to have a go at learning through technologies. For example, many providers have online Virtual Learning Environments which enable learners to engage with their course at any time of the day or week. Social media and networks are being used to build online learning communities, extending the class sessions and encouraging learners to create their own learning activities. There are lots of great online resources produced for adult learning, including the NLN materials and the BBC content. Technology can improve access to learning and better still, it makes learning even more fun!
RSCs are a national support network, uniquely tailoring advice in response to local needs. For more information contact your RSC through the link below:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/whatwedo/services/as_rsc/rsc_home/rscs_contact.aspx
If you would like to find out more about supporting Adult Learners' Week please contact alw@niace.org.uk
Find out about other supporters of Adult Learners' Week
Find out how you can get involved in your area, by contacting your Regional Co-ordinator.
