The Learning Skills Council Headquarters &
Adult Learning Inspectorate Headquarters In Coventry

In the early 1990's the new Further Education Funding Council (FEFC) chose Coventry as its Headquarter base. Located in a purpose-built office building in the city centre, the new organisation quickly established itself as a vital part of the local economy. By 1999, the FEFC employed some 225 people and attracted visitors from the UK and abroad. Some 25 additional jobs were created in the local economy as a result of the additional business generated through the location of the FEFC in Coventry.

In 1999, the government decided to replace the FEFC by the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) and the Adult Learning Institute (ALI). Coventry had to campaign for these offices to be located in the city. The campaign rested on the city's excellent communications - road, rail and air; the availability of a skilled office based labour force; the development of prestige office locations; and, the proximity of leading educational venues, hotels and research organisations. Added to this list is the city's track record of attracting major office users into the city including E-on (PowerGen) HQ, Barclays Bank, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Institute of Housing etc.

The campaign was successful and both the LSC and ALI headquarters moved into the city. A site next to the old FEFC building was used to build a new office extension for the LSC to accommodate over 500 people. ALI found temporary office space on a business park before moving into a purpose-built office to house the 260 members of staff.

Overall impact
As with the FEFC, the two new offices have integrated into the local economy making full use of the capacity of the local economy to meet their needs. By 2003,the overall impact of the two offices:

1. Created around 750 jobs directly through the two offices relocating into the city

2. Added a further 50 -100 jobs as result of multiplier effects - the additional spending power by the new jobs and the purchase of office supplies, ICT etc.

3. Provided a business stream for local hotels accommodating visitors

4. Boosted confidence in the local property market and created construction jobs thanks to the construction of two new offices

5. Helped to diversify the local economy and improve the city’s job offer to school leavers and the unemployed

6. Provided economic stability in an uncertain market economy

7. The LSC and ALI have joined other educational offices such as British Educational Communications & Technology Agency at the University of Warwick Science Park or the professional qualifications office, OCR on Westwood Business Park and academic offices to form a ‘cluster’ of related activities.

8. The two offices have added to the pride and prestige of Coventry

The dispersal of government and quango offices to cities such as Coventry has had a marked beneficial socio-economic impact on the local economy. Such headquarter offices, as the LSC and ALI work through the city’s business culture adding to the strength and diversity of job opportunities. In this way, new working practices embed themselves into the local labour market and helped strengthen local supply of staff.

This has certainly happened in Coventry. The experience of offices relocating into the city has helped develop further the local economy, establish wider business networks and links, improved local employee skills and has supported Coventry's reputation as a place to work. In common with other office relocations into Coventry, the LSC and ALI have been successful in achieving their business aims. In part, this has been a result of Coventry's welcoming open approach to new employers and their staff.

David Russell, Director of Corporate Services for the Learning and Skills Council:

As a national organisation with a local focus, the Learning and Skills Council chose Coventry as a city at the heart of the nation it serves. Coventry offers excellent national and international links, not just with London where our central government links lie but right across the country.

“The LSC has a long relationship with the city through one of its predecessor organisations, the Further Education Funding Council, which located in Coventry in 1992.
At all stages, we have found the local authorities helpful and accommodating.

The LSC employs five hundred people in its Coventry National Office. We have occupied several sites in the city and are now based within excellent office space in Quinton Road, only minutes’ walk from the city centre.”