CAVA News

  Introduction The Department for Education’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out an ambitious programme to reshape England’s skills system. It places employers at the heart of planning, strengthens regional responsiveness, and expands opportunities for adults to study flexibly throughout their lives. For the many adults who begin their higher education journey through the Access to HE Diploma, this reform agenda is significant. It opens new pathways, particularly through modular learning, while placing greater expectations on providers to demonstrate how their provision contributes to local and national workforce needs. A Changing Skills Landscape The White Paper, alongside the updated Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Guidance published in November 2025, sets a direction of travel that will shape the environment in which Access to HE operates. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), developed by Employer Representative Bodies and Strategic Authorities, will incr...

As Get The Nation Learning Week draws to a close, this week reminded us just how transformative education can be - for individuals, communities, and society.  CAVA is proud to be part of around 100 organisations supporting the Get The Nation Learning campaign, led by the Learning and Work Institute. This brilliant campaign is built on one simple idea: when adults learn, everyone benefits – individuals, communities, and the whole economy. This growing movement includes organisations including Channel 4, the National Housing Federation, and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Access to HE Diplomas help adults take their next step into higher education, opening doors to new opportunities and careers. But we also know that opening that door can be incredibly challenging. Many adult learners face real barriers, financial pressures, family commitments, self-doubt, and simply finding the time. That’s why our providers play such a vital role. They meet learners and offer enco...