One of the UK’s leading training providers has secured contracts to deliver adult education programmes in Bradford and Kirklees.

Realise, which has its head office in Sheffield, has been awarded 12-month contracts for the two areas by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The training provider, which supports more than 7,000 learners and thousands of employers across the UK every year, will deliver functional skills English and maths, and digital skills, as well as employment training and vocational skills that support key sectors across the areas, including health and social care.

The service will be available to adults over the age of 19 in Bradford and Kirklees, with nationally recognised Level One and Level Two qualifications, as well as a wide range of apprenticeships, on offer.

“We are delighted to have secured the Adult Education Budget contracts for Bradford and Kirklees.

“Our clear aim is to provide training to local people in West Yorkshire, helping them enter the workforce following the pandemic as well as upskilling those already in work.

“Realise will be working in partnership with the local authority and other strategic partners to deliver on the economic goals of the local area.

“We have a proven expertise in supporting people to achieve their goals and have particular success in delivering for devolved authorities.

“We were awarded a similar contract for Liverpool City Region in 2019 and, despite the pandemic, have helped well over 1,000 learners through adult education programmes.

“The devolved power in West Yorkshire gives us the chance to deliver similar innovative and flexible learning approaches in Bradford and Kirklees where we’ll tailor our programmes to meet the requirements of the local area and labour market.

“The pandemic has made life difficult over the last 16 months, but we have continued to deliver for our learners through remote programmes and we now have the chance to build on this and continue to support Bradford and Kirklees through the recovery, making a real difference to the lives of many hundreds of adults.”

As part of the West Yorkshire offering, Realise has opened offices in Bradford at Devere House on Vicar Lane and in Huddersfield at The Media Centre on Northumberland Street.

Gregg added: “We wanted to embed the team which will be delivering the programmes within the heart of the communities to help us constantly monitor the needs and requirements of our learners and employers.”

For more information, visit learning-employment.com/adult-education/