UK Regional Training Providers 2026: A Directory for Workforce Development

The UK skills landscape continues to evolve rapidly. According to the Department for Education, devolved Adult Education Budget (AEB) funding now supports localised skills strategies across England's major combined authorities. For training providers navigating this environment, understanding regional variations in employment demand, NEET rates, and funded provision is essential.

This directory summarises what training providers, career advisors, and workforce development teams need to know about five key regions: the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Greater London, West Yorkshire, and the Liverpool City Region. Each area has distinct labour market characteristics, funding allocations, and priority sectors that shape local training delivery.

West Midlands: Manufacturing, Digital, and Green Skills

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area encompasses Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, and Solihull. The region faces persistent challenges around youth unemployment and NEET rates, particularly in Sandwell and Wolverhampton.

Labour market context: Employment rates across the West Midlands remain below the national average, with significant variation between local authority areas. Birmingham's diverse economy anchors the region, but pockets of deprivation persist in post-industrial areas. The Office for National Statistics labour market data shows ongoing demand in advanced manufacturing, health and social care, and digital technology sectors.

Training provision: The West Midlands skills ecosystem includes major FE colleges such as Birmingham Metropolitan College and Walsall College, alongside specialist providers like In-Comm Training for engineering and manufacturing, and Netcom Training for IT and digital skills. The WMCA's AI Academy represents a targeted investment in emerging technology skills.

Funding priorities: WMCA's AEB allocation supports adult basic skills, sector-based work academies, and apprenticeship pathways. Training providers working with career development platforms can help learners translate skills into job-ready applications.

Greater Manchester: Digital Economy and Health Sector Demand

Greater Manchester's ten boroughs form one of England's largest regional economies outside London. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) manages approximately £92 million in devolved AEB funding.

Labour market context: Digital and creative industries drive significant employment growth, particularly around MediaCityUK and Manchester's tech cluster. Health and social care remains the largest employer by sector. The Learning and Work Institute research highlights ongoing digital skills gaps affecting employer recruitment.

Training provision: Manchester College, Bolton College, and specialist providers like CodeNation deliver programmes aligned with regional priorities. Manchester Digital coordinates industry engagement with training providers, helping ensure curriculum relevance. For FE colleges measuring learner outcomes, tracking employment results has become increasingly important for demonstrating impact.

Funding priorities: GMCA prioritises digital skills at all levels, health and social care qualifications, and construction trades to support housing development. Providers delivering employability support can benefit from understanding how Gatsby Benchmarks apply in adult and vocational settings.

Greater London: Scale, Diversity, and Sectoral Depth

London's labour market dwarfs other English regions in both scale and complexity. The Greater London Authority (GLA) administers over £306 million in AEB funding across 33 boroughs.

Labour market context: London's economy spans financial services, technology, creative industries, hospitality, and public services. According to the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance, the capital faces distinctive challenges around housing costs, income inequality, and sectoral concentration. NEET rates vary dramatically between inner and outer London boroughs.

Training provision: London's FE sector includes large general providers like City and Islington College and Westminster Kingsway College, alongside specialist providers including General Assembly (technology) and Makers Academy (software development). The breadth of provision reflects London's diverse economy.

Funding priorities: GLA priorities include digital skills, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and sector pathways in health, construction, and creative industries. Training providers supporting learners with CV preparation can leverage AI resume tools to improve application quality at scale.

West Yorkshire: Manufacturing Heritage Meets Digital Growth

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) covers Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield. The region manages approximately £63 million in devolved AEB funding.

Labour market context: Leeds anchors the regional economy with strength in financial services, digital, and healthcare. Bradford's younger, more diverse population presents both opportunities and challenges around skills development. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development notes persistent skills shortages in technical and digital roles across the region.

Training provision: Leeds City College, Bradford College, and specialist providers like Leeds College of Building serve the region. Channel 4's relocation to Leeds has stimulated creative industry training provision. For institutions measuring careers guidance impact, practical approaches to evidencing Gatsby Benchmarks remain relevant.

Funding priorities: WYCA prioritises digital skills, health and social care, construction, and green economy skills aligned with net zero targets. Training providers supporting adult learners can benefit from employability platforms designed for education settings.

Liverpool City Region: Health, Logistics, and Creative Industries

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) encompasses Liverpool, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, and Halton. The region manages approximately £34 million in devolved AEB funding.

Labour market context: Health and social care represents the region's largest employment sector, with significant logistics activity around the Port of Liverpool and Freeport designation. Creative and digital industries cluster around Baltic Creative and the city centre. The Institute for Employment Studies research highlights the region's progress in reducing worklessness while noting ongoing challenges in deprived wards.

Training provision: Liverpool City College, Wirral Met, and St Helens College anchor FE provision. Baltic Creative supports creative sector development and training. Understanding how training providers can strengthen employability outcomes helps ensure learners transition successfully into work.

Funding priorities: LCRCA prioritises health and social care skills, logistics and transport, and digital capabilities. The region's deprivation profile means basic skills and employability support remain central to funding decisions.

What This Means for Training Providers

Across all five regions, common themes emerge. Digital skills demand persists at all levels, from basic digital literacy to advanced technical qualifications. Health and social care remains the largest employer sector, with ongoing recruitment challenges. Construction and green skills feature prominently in combined authority priorities, reflecting housing targets and net zero commitments.

For training providers, several practical implications follow:

Curriculum alignment: Providers should review course portfolios against regional skills priorities. Combined authority skills plans, published annually, provide clear signals about funded priorities.

Outcome measurement: AEB funding increasingly emphasises employment outcomes alongside qualification completions. Providers should track learner destinations and demonstrate impact. Career outcomes tracking supports this accountability.

Employer engagement: Regional skills ecosystems function best when providers maintain strong employer relationships. Sector advisory boards, work placements, and curriculum co-design help ensure relevance.

Learner support: Job seekers benefit from practical help with applications as well as qualifications. Understanding how CV tools compare for training providers helps institutions select appropriate resources.

Looking Ahead

The UK's regional skills landscape will continue evolving through 2026 and beyond. Combined authorities are refining funding approaches based on what works. The Education and Skills Funding Agency continues to shape national frameworks while devolving decision-making to regional bodies.

For training providers committed to learner success, staying current with regional priorities is essential. The directories outlined above provide starting points for deeper engagement with combined authority skills teams, employer networks, and local labour market intelligence.

Understanding UK hiring trends alongside regional training provision helps educators connect learners with genuine employment opportunities. In a labour market where skills mismatches persist, this alignment between training and demand remains the foundation of effective workforce development.

References

Department for Education. (2026). Adult Education Budget: Devolved areas funding guidance. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-education-budget-aeb-funding-rules

Office for National Statistics. (2026). Labour market overview, UK. https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/latest

Learning and Work Institute. (2025). Adult participation in learning survey 2025. https://learningandwork.org.uk/resources/research-and-reports/

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. (2025). Labour market outlook. https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/reports/labour-market-outlook/

Institute for Employment Studies. (2025). Local labour market indicators. https://www.employment-studies.co.uk/

London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance. (2025). The UK labour market: Key findings. https://cep.lse.ac.uk/

Education and Skills Funding Agency. (2026). Skills funding in England. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/education-and-skills-funding-agency