Adult courses in Tees Valley are funded through Tees Valley Combined Authority, which controls a £35.6 million adult skills budget for 2026/27. You can usually get a fully funded course if you are 19 or older and earn under £33,210. There are currently 694 funded courses listed at centres in Tees Valley.
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Who qualifies for a free course in Tees Valley?
Tees Valley Combined Authority has not yet published its 2026/27 funding rules. Its last published earnings cut off is £33,210 (from its 2025/26 (site says V3 but cover is V2 Jul 2025 – silent re-issue) rules), and that figure stands until new rules appear. People who are unemployed or on certain benefits usually qualify too.
The provider confirms eligibility when you enrol. The quickest way to check is the eligibility checker, which uses your postcode.
What is different in Tees Valley?
Tees Valley Combined Authority sets its own rules, but has not yet published a 2026/27 rulebook. Everything shown here is its last published position. This page updates when new rules appear.
The core offer follows the national pattern: a free first full Level 3 for adults without one, free English, maths and digital skills, and full funding under the earnings cut off above.
What can you study free in Tees Valley?
The 694 funded courses listed at Tees Valley centres are led by functional skills / esol (241), adult social care (92), hospitality / catering (60), construction (49), early years / childcare (49). Around 3,400 more funded online courses are available wherever you live.
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Browse free courses or search the full course directory to see what is running near you.
Who delivers funded training in Tees Valley?
32 training providers run funded courses at Tees Valley venues. The largest by listed courses:
- Triage Centrum (156 funded courses)
- Darlington College (91 funded courses)
- Middlesbrough College (83 funded courses)
- Hartlepool College of Further Education (67 funded courses)
- Prior Pursglove and Stockton Sixth Form College (57 funded courses)
See all 32 funded training providers in Tees Valley.
What does Tees Valley Combined Authority say its priorities are?
English/maths/digital + career change framing; 26/27 direction = the LSIP.
The area’s employer led skills plan (the LSIP, led by North East Chamber of Commerce) names: advanced manufacturing, bio-manufacturing & life sciences, chemical & process, clean energy, construction, digital & creative.
How much funding does Tees Valley control?
Tees Valley Combined Authority receives £35.6 million in adult skills funding for 2026/27, as a Section 31 grant. See how that compares to every other area in our adult education funding guide.
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Sources: the authority’s own published funding rules and committee papers, gov.uk grant determination letters and Integrated Settlement tables, and the JobYay course directory. The eligibility estimate is JobYay analysis of ONS ASHE 2025 earnings data. Full figures and sources: adult education funding in England.
Page last updated: 4 August 2026. Course counts refresh with the directory; funding facts refresh when rules are published.