Political Opinion: Adults locked out of learning in Hemel Hempstead to access university and college through once-in-a-generation reforms

• From September 2026, Labour reforms mean student finance will be available for retraining later in life and shorter courses, for the first time in its history.

• West Herts College is one of the first 130 universities and colleges approved to offer new bite-sized courses, with applications opening this September.

• The change means people in Hemel Hempstead can gain qualifications over time, instead of facing the choice between a three-year full-time degree or nothing, opening up opportunities for thousands of people to fit learning around their everyday lives.

Adults balancing work, childcare, and everyday responsibilities will now have a flexible new route into higher education, thanks to radical reforms by the Labour government. The overhaul to the student finance system has been labelled a "game changer" by Hemel Hempstead’s MP, David Taylor.

The initiative is part of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, first set out in Labour’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper last year. Traditionally, higher education has been built around full-time degrees taken straight after school. However, this model locks out thousands of people who need to upskill later in life but cannot commit to a rigid three-year programme.

Under the new system, people will be able to access funding equivalent to four years of post-18 study (currently worth up to £39,160) to use flexibly across short courses, individual modules, or full degrees over their working lives. Eligible students can also apply for maintenance support to help with living costs, with funding distributed in smaller amounts linked to the size of the course. Even those who already hold a degree may access the funding to retrain in priority sectors.

The first wave of bite-sized modules will focus on addressing critical national skills shortages, including engineering, architecture, health and social care, economics, and computing.

These plans are central to the Prime Minister’s ambition to ensure two-thirds of young people are in a gold-standard apprenticeship, higher training, or university by the age of 25—driving economic growth and closing regional skills gaps.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “Financial support should be available whether you want to do a degree, take a short course, or retrain later in life. Our changes will make that happen, with the option to access student finance in any stage of life.

“Whether it’s fitting study around a job, retraining for a completely new career, juggling childcare, or getting qualifications later in life, the new Lifelong Learning Entitlement will open up new opportunities for thousands more people to build the careers they want and get on in life.”

MP for Hemel Hempstead, David Taylor, said: “The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a game changer for people in Hemel and the Villages who want to better their prospects through education, but still have to juggle busy lives.

“For too long, people haven’t felt like they’ve had the opportunity to pursue the job they want or the skills they need because they think they’ve missed the boat or don’t have the time.

“Labour is backing working people across Hemel and the Villages, giving them the chance to seize opportunities, unlock new skills and drive growth.”

Applications for student finance will open in September 2026, for anyone starting courses or the new modules from January 2027. Under the new system, people will be able to access funding equivalent to four years of post-18 study, currently worth up to £39,160. This money can be used flexibly across the new modules, shorter courses or full degrees over the course of their working lives.

Eligible students will also be able to apply for maintenance support to help with living costs and funding will be provided in smaller amounts linked to the size of the course being studied, rather than only through full academic years.

People who already have a degree may still be able to access the new funding, either if they have remaining student finance available in their pot or want to retrain in certain priority subject areas.