Multiply: Free courses to improve adult numeracy in Essex

The Multiply programme, a countywide campaign launched by Essex County Council, is part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up strategy, and aims to improve adult numeracy and create ‘Skills for Life’ for residents in the county – improving wellbeing, boosting career prospects, and managing finances.

  • Numeracy skills have been identified as a key way to help people have the confidence to get on in life, and to succeed at work, and to grow the UK economy. Multiply is an initiative created by the UK Government to ‘multiply’ the country’s maths skills, with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocated to local councils and authorities to support adult learners and employers who want to upskill their workforce.

  • The Multiply programme is delivered through a range of skills providers and will support Essex residents of all ages to achieve maths qualifications up to NVQ2 (GCSE grade A*-C or 4-9) through free bite-sized and longer-term courses. Delivered across Essex both in-person and online, the Multiply programme will have start dates throughout the year, to fit in with people’s lives.

  • People with better numeracy skills are more likely to be in paid employment, earn higher wages, and have better wellbeing through confidence budgeting their personal finances.

    Essex businesses can benefit from uptake in the scheme, too, as workers with better maths skills help to boost productivity and profits.

    Creating access to the scheme can provide added value for employees, through gaining support from their employer in dealing with cost-of-living concerns such as analysing household bills and finding new providers.

    This can help improve employee retention in your business, and help you to grow.

  • To register for the scheme, you can register your interest by filling in our short form below. A member of the Backing Essex Business team will review your enquiry, and refer you to the Multiply programme best suited to your needs.

 
 

Apply for the Multiply programme

 

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government's Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus