Empowering futures: how CT Skills is shaping careers with support from the Adult Skills Fund

CT Skills is an education and training provider based in Nottingham who secured funding through the Adult Skills Fund to revolutionise their learning offering by providing more interactive online experiences. 

The goal was to offer free online courses that would either enhance existing skills or provide vital skills to unemployed individuals, meeting local and regional gaps. In particular, CT Skills is focused on delivering mental health and wellbeing courses to support Nottingham's five-year strategy in this area. 

Bringing a vision to life 

In October 2022, a project team was formed by CT Skills to bring its vision to life. The team chose NCFE as a partnering awarding body that could meet their individual learner’s needs, before launching the first six free online courses within a month.  

These six qualifications included:  

• Certificate in Counselling Skills 
• Certificate in Understanding Autism 
• Certificate in Understanding Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace 
• Certificate in Understanding Behaviour that Challenges 
• Certificate in Understanding Mental Health in the Early Years 
• Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People's Mental Health. 

The initiative also incorporated a feedback model designed to assist learners in their chosen vocations while fostering broader skills, such as safeguarding prevention and understanding British values. 

By January 2023, CT Skills had enough learners to warrant their first External Verifier (EV) visit, which resulted in Direct Claim Status (DCS) with no areas of improvement identified, acknowledging their efforts and providing a further foundation for growth.  

Expanding to serve more learners using ASF  

The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) is a government-backed programme providing financial support to adults aged 19 and over, enabling them to develop essential skills for employment, further education, and personal growth. Covering a wide range of programmes, from basic literacy and numeracy to advanced vocational training, ASF accommodates various delivery methods, including classroom learning, hands-on workshops, and online courses. 

Leveraging the Adult Skills Fund, CT Skills has been able to expand its offer to all non-devolved regions and introduce qualifications across a variety of sectors. In July 2023, an Ofsted visit provided extremely positive feedback and highlighted the significant impact on learners, stating: “Adult learners, the majority of whom have not studied for many years, value the positive impact of tutor feedback on their confidence levels." 

CT Skills continued to invest and recruited a Customer Support team, as well as a dedicated manager and lead Internal Quality Assurer (IQA).  

Today, the organisation consists of 21 freelance markers, a team of four IQAs, and a full internal customer support team, offering over 40 courses at Levels 2 and 3. 

Michelle Phoenix, Head of Quality & Curriculum stated: “I am extremely proud of the team at CT Skills, we had a vision and together we developed a programme of delivery which supports hundreds of learners every month. We pride ourselves on quality and live by our core values of  PRAISE – Pride, Respect, Accountability, Integrity and Service Excellence.” 

Achievements and Impact 

Since launching their first online courses in December 2022, CT Skills has helped over 3,000 learners to achieve a qualification, with around 2,000 learners currently enrolled.  

More than one in five graduates progress to another qualification, and satisfaction rates are high. Over 90% of learners are satisfied with the course, tutor, learning materials, and support from CT Skills, and almost all learners surveyed would recommend CT Skills to friends and family. 

Learners are outspoken about the positive impact the qualifications have had on them, with one Mental Health in Early Years learner stating: “Studying this course has enabled me to refresh my knowledge and learn new skills and information that I can use both within my current practice and part of my current career plans, within this subject area and field.” 

Partnering with a supportive AO 

When asked about the role of the NCFE in their qualification delivery, Michelle Phoenix said: “NCFE has a vast range of qualifications to choose from, enabling us to provide courses which support learners to develop and grow in their chosen careers or personal development. 

“The team at NCFE are supportive, processes are easy to follow and there is always advice and guidance available if you need it!” 

CT Skills continues to expand its course offerings and support more learners. Their mission is to equip individuals with vital skills to secure employment or enhance their current roles, continuing to prioritise quality and learner satisfaction at the core of their operations. 

To learn more about the Adult Skills Fund and the courses available for your adult learners, visit our dedicated ASF webpage. 

Pictured: Michelle Phoenix, CT Skills