What is the Adult Skills Fund?

Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA) became responsible for the region’s Adult Skills Fund (ASF) and Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) funding from the 2026/27 academic year. 

The Adult Skills Fund helps people aged 19 and over in Devon and Torbay gain the skills and qualifications they need to find and stay in work, progress in their career, or move on to further study or an apprenticeship.

The fund supports a range of qualifications, from Entry Level to Level 3. It also funds Tailored Learning, which can help people develop skills for everyday life and achieve wider benefits. This includes improving health and wellbeing, helping parents and carers support their children’s learning, and strengthening local communities.

Free Courses for Jobs provides funding for eligible people aged 19 and over to gain a recognised Level 3 qualification, or a Level 2 qualification in certain priority sectors. It is designed to help address local skills shortages and support people to progress in their current career or retrain for a new one.

Our Adult Skills priorities

We work closely with local partners to make sure the skills and training we fund meet the needs of Devon and Torbay’s economy, employers and communities.

Our strategies and Adult Skills Commissioning Plan sets out how we will use this funding to create more opportunities for people, communities and businesses across Devon and Torbay.

To read our strategies, visit our skills and employment page.

Our delivery partners

Procured contract for Services Providers

Procurement is currently underway for the 2026/27 academic year. Details of successful Providers will be published once the process is complete. 

Information for providers