ACL Essex Expands Career-Focused Curriculum and Apprenticeship Opportunities for 2025-26
ADULT learning provider ACL Essex is significantly expanding its career-focused curriculum for 2025-26, with a renewed emphasis on apprenticeships and skills development to boost job prospects and strengthen communities across Essex.
Building on its existing career-led approach, ACL Essex’s enhanced curriculum is designed to equip residents with the qualifications, experience, and confidence needed to thrive in today’s evolving job market. The 2025-26 offer includes a broader range of courses and apprenticeships that directly respond to local employer needs and national skills priorities.
Launching this September, the updated curriculum reflects guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) and ACL Essex’s commitment to lifelong learning. It prioritises high-demand sectors such as education, healthcare, early years, and business and management, offering fully funded qualifications and a growing number of apprenticeship pathways to help learners enter or progress within these fields.
A key part of this expansion is the increased availability of apprenticeships, providing hands-on experience and real-world training for learners of all ages. These opportunities are designed to support both career starters and those looking to reskill or upskill, ensuring that Essex residents can access practical routes into sustainable employment.
To make learning more accessible, ACL Essex is also extending its reach beyond traditional centres. Courses will be delivered in a variety of community locations across the county, ensuring that more people can benefit from flexible, local learning.
The curriculum continues to offer a holistic learning journey, incorporating essential skills such as English, Maths, Digital Skills, Employability, and Wellbeing. This approach supports not only individual career growth but also the wider economic and social development of Essex.
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said:
“ACL Essex is creating learning opportunities to empower Essex residents to grow, succeed, and thrive in their lives and careers. The new curriculum reflects ACL Essex’s dedication to meeting the needs of learners in all communities across Essex.”
Lisa Jarentowski, Adult Community Learning Principal, added:
“Our new curriculum is transformative and has been developed to meet the needs of the people of Essex. With an expanded focus on apprenticeships and high-priority courses, we’re creating clearer career pathways and helping to close local skills gaps.”
To browse ACL Essex’s courses or enrol, visit www.aclessex.com/learning-pathways. For more information about how ACL Essex is evolving its services, visit www.aclessex.com/transformation.
