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Multiply

The Skills for Life Multiply has successfully come to a close. 

The county-wide Multiply initiative helped adults unlock their potential by providing them with access to free courses on essential number skills needed in daily life has been very successful. We have reached over 3000 Gloucestershire residents. Supporting them in tackling the barriers they faced with numbers to reach their goals, whether that was new employment opportunities, readiness for further studies, mastering effective budgeting, or anything in between!

Department for Education (DfE) Case Study

Following the completion of the Multiply Programme, Gloucestershire has been highlighted as a positive case study in the DfE Multiply Programme Evaluation Report. The report notes that Gloucestershire was selected due to "its strong partnership with employer organisations, work with National Numeracy, and use of innovation in its outreach and provision."

The full case study and information on the Multiply randomised controlled trials can be found at the links below the summary of the case study.

The case study highlighted:

  • Strong strategic leadership and partnership approach
    • Gloucestershire County Council positioned Multiply within a well‑established Adult Education service, enabling rapid mobilisation and alignment with wider skills priorities.
    • Effective collaboration with a wide range of partners (employers, community organisations, and providers) strengthened reach and delivery.
  • Flexible, locally tailored delivery model
    • Delivery designed around local need, with a mix of community‑based, workplace and outreach provision to engage adults who would not typically access learning.
    • Emphasis on informal and engagement-led learning, helping reduce anxiety around maths and encouraging participation.
  • Innovative engagement and outreach
    • Use of trusted community settings and targeted campaigns to reach priority groups (e.g. low‑confidence learners, economically inactive adults).
    • Strong focus on building confidence first, rather than qualification-led entry points, improving initial uptake.
  • Clear learner impact
    • Learners reported increased confidence with numbers, supporting everyday life (budgeting, family support) and employability.
    • Evidence of progression routes into further learning, work, or improved job performance.
  • Positive stakeholder and provider feedback
    • Delivery partners valued the flexibility of funding and commissioning approach, allowing innovation and responsiveness.
    • Collaborative approach fostered strong local ownership and engagement across sectors.
  • Key success factors recognised in the evaluation
    • Strong existing infrastructure within Adult Education
    • Partnership-led delivery model
    • Focus on engagement, confidence, and real‑life application
    • Ability to adapt quickly based on learner and provider feedback
  • Future focus
    • Continued emphasis on embedding Multiply approaches into mainstream provision
    • Sustaining partnerships and outreach models beyond funding period

Key links