With the introduction of the UK Governments Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) in January 2026, you will have the opportunity to open your doors to more adult learners who are looking to access modularised learning to upskill in their current role or reskill in a different industry.
The LLE will allow learners to access loan funding to return to HE, and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) will be the first programmes to be eligible.
With Pearson’s HN Flex, you can already choose to deliver specific modules from any of our portfolio of HTQs in a short course format to meet demands of local adult learners and employers, at no extra cost.
Pearson's HN Flex offering allows you to easily deliver specific units from Higher National qualifications and HTQs at levels 4 and 5. HN Flex gives you access to wider corners of the market by attracting adult learners, as well as providing the chance to build relationships with local employers through addressing skills needs.
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are technical qualifications at higher education level. Our BTEC Higher Nationals qualifications (HNs), which are already developed in collaboration with industry, are submitted to the IfATE as HTQs to indicate their alignment to employer-led occupational standards.
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is set to provide individuals with a loan entitlement to the equivalent of four years of post-18 education to use over their lifetime in England. It will be available for study at higher technical and degree levels (levels 4 to 6), and can be utilised across both college and/or university provision.
“The beauty of HN Flex is it offers bite-sized qualifications that enable you to build building blocks that work with the individual. We have a number of staff who work part time, and HN Flex can support their training by doing a part-time qualification alongside their role.”
Petra Williams (Director of Quality, The Bedford College Group and University Centre)