The Multiply Programme, announced by the then Chancellor in 2021, was a three-year adult learning programme with an objective to increase functional numeracy levels within the adult population across the UK. The city’s wide skills disparity, combined with its population density, resulted in a total Multiply funding allocation for the GLA of £41m for the programme duration of September 2022 to March 2025, the highest for any area in England. The London Multiply programme was delivered by 56 providers, all of whom were already delivering GLA Adult Skills Fund provision. To increase awareness of, and enrolment in, London Multiply provision, £3.5m of the GLA’s Multiply allocation was reserved for activities to support engagement and growth in the learner population. This included £1.4m for community engagement and outreach, funding an expansion of the Community Outreach Programme to increase its numeracy focus, and the London Multiply Roadshow. In addition to the ten core interventions for Multiply (both nationally and in London), London Multiply identified additional target groups, including underserved groups and those less likely to engage in adult education. These included: ■ learners for whom English is not their first language; ■ learners with special educational needs and/or disabilities; and ■ low wage earners and those most likely to be impacted by the rising cost of living The Institute of Employment Studies were commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the London Multiply programme. The evaluation of London Multiply set out to explore the extent to which the programme achieved its aim of improving adult numeracy across the city. It also aimed to strengthen evidence on what works in delivering adult numeracy programmes, particularly for underserved communities. A range of research methods were used to explore the experiences of London Multiply from the viewpoints of different stakeholders, including classroom observations, provider interviews, surveys and focus groups. The report and executive summary sets out the key evaluation findings and provides recommendations to enhance the legacy of London Multiply.
