A group of seven MPs, accompanied by Parliamentary staff who are in charge with overseeing UK skills training, visited Leicester College on Tuesday 25 March 2014.

During their visit at Leicester College’s Abbey Park Campus, committee members met with some adult learners who are enrolled on the Skills for Life course.

Five members of the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee called in at Leicester College, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), and the city’s prison as part of their national visit across the UK.

During their visit at Leicester College’s Abbey Park Campus, committee members met with some adult learners who are enrolled on the Skills for Life course.

They took time to ask the learners about their decisions to re-enter the education system as mature learners and their experiences at the College.

The committee is conducting an inquiry into adult literacy and numeracy and their visit to the College was organised by NIACE.

Verity Hancock, Principal at Leicester College, said:”We were pleased that the Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee had chosen to visit Leicester College to see at first hand the positive effects that learning can have on adults.

“We have over 23,000 adult learners studying with us every year; many of them are on courses designed to raise their literacy and numeracy skills. A huge number of them have inspiring personal experiences of how learning, and particularly improving their maths and English, has enhanced their confidence, helped them take a more active role in the local community and improved their job opportunities.

“I am sure the Committee members were impressed and will take from their visit a sense of how vital adult literacy and numeracy skills are to individuals and to the economy of the City.”

As well as visits to Leicester College and Leicester Prison to see provision and meet staff and learners, the committee met with other representatives in the education sector.