We hope our frequently asked questions (FAQs) below answer many of your queries. Click on the question to show the answer. If you have any further questions or comments, please contact us by clicking here.
Sussex Learning Network was set up in 2005. It was one of the first Lifelong Learning Networks, a joint initiative between the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the Learning and Skills Council and the former Department for Education and Skills. Its aim, at that time, was to tackle the barriers FE students faced entering university and to create pathways to support them. Since then, the network has grown and evolved, and SLN continues to lead the way in making higher education more relevant and accessible for learners in Sussex.
SLN provides a neutral, non-competitive space in the sector for key providers of education and skills to seek opportunities to collaborate and advance the network in meeting its core aims.
SLN aims to enable all learners in the region to make well-informed decisions about their future education, and to access, participate in and progress through higher-level education.
SLN works in collaboration with its members to create a strategic approach to further education and economic growth across Sussex, and ensure local people are fully supported to realise their full potential. It also develops, secures funding for and delivers a range of innovative projects with its partner training providers and career guidance agencies. It offers resources and opportunities to help career practitioners upskill and share good practice, commissions research, raises awareness of government policy, and provides news and commentary on developments across the sector.
SLN’s 14 core members pay an annual fee, which ensures the network is protected and can continue to function at times when there aren’t any additional funding streams. Our project work is predominantly supported by external funding which comes mainly from Uni Connect (funded by the Office for Students). We have a funding database that we actively scan for funding opportunities for ourselves and our partners. We have also submitted funding applications to Innovate UK and The Edge Foundation.
For more information on this, click here.
SLN has a broad range of partners spanning the education and skills sectors including education providers community organisations, local skills and economy groups and careers/IAG hubs.
SLN funds, collaborates on and delivers programmes for learners across the region, particularly those in need of support, to make well-informed decisions about their future education, and to access, participate in and progress through higher-level education. Some areas of recent focus include projects that tackle the barriers to progression; offer careers information advice and guidance; industry-specific programmes; and commissioning research to provide an evidence base.
Click here for a list of SLN team members and their areas of responsibility.
SLN is not a primary funder with open funds. Our current projects are publicly funded and delivered through our partnerships.
Our Get Career Confident programme has a dedicated website that offers a range of free resources, videos and CPD opportunities for careers advisors or anyone responsible for helping to deliver careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG).
Through our Get Career Confident project, we provide young people with impartial information, advice and guidance through a range of online resources, workshops and one-to-one interviews with a trained careers advisor. Please visit Get Career Confident for more information.
If you have a project or collaborative opportunity that you feel meets the aims of the network, please click here to email us in the first instance.
Vacancies are advertised through the University of Brighton’s vacancies page and www.jobs.ac.uk. We also advertise via our newsletter which you can sign up to receive on the site's home page.