On Thursday 20th March 2025, FlashAcademy® and the North West Strategic Migration Partnership (SMP) hosted an ESOL Showcase Day at Whitecross Community Centre in Warrington. This half-day event provided a fantastic opportunity for ESOL professionals across Liverpool and Cheshire to come together, share best practices and discuss new strategies to improve outcomes for ESOL learners and enhance employability.
Attendees were able to network with professionals from local authorities and explore ways to support migrant learners, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by migrant workers in advancing their careers due to limited English proficiency. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration, and the collective effort required to make a real difference in the lives of these learners.
Key highlights of the event
One of the main topics discussed was the significant barrier that limited English proficiency presents to migrant workers when seeking career progression. Many of these workers are skilled in their respective fields, but their ability to communicate effectively in English often limits their opportunities for growth. By working together, ESOL professionals, local authorities and employers can provide the necessary support to overcome these challenges and unlock new opportunities for migrant workers.
The ESOL Showcase Day also introduced Leap®, FlashAcademy®’s innovative digital assessment tool for ESOL learners. Leap® is designed to support the Further Education (FE) sector, providing a streamlined approach to enrolment, onboarding and ongoing assessment. Aligned with the Department for Education’s Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, Leap® helps institutions deliver high-quality, targeted support to learners at every stage of their educational journey.
Partnerships for the future
One of the major themes that emerged from the discussions was the potential for partnerships between ESOL providers, employers and colleges. There was a shared understanding that collaboration is key to meeting the diverse needs of migrant learners and helping them achieve their full potential in both education and the workplace. With this in mind, FlashAcademy® is looking to build new partnerships through the Leap® platform, offering sector-specific content to create tailored lessons and assessments for learners.
The event also highlighted the success of FlashAcademy®’s ongoing collaboration with Belfast Metropolitan College, where the two institutions partnered to create a digital ESOL assessment tool. This partnership has proven to be a valuable resource for the FE sector, and FlashAcademy® is eager to continue expanding its work with colleges and employers across the country.
About the North West Strategic Migration Partnership
We are proud to be working with the North West Strategic Migration Partnership to support ESOL provision across the region. The partnership provides valuable resources to help ESOL providers fulfil their obligation to complete eight hours of ESOL tutoring, and together we are committed to improving the outcomes for migrant learners in the North West.
The ESOL Showcase Day was just the beginning of an ongoing conversation about how we can continue to work together to support the migrant community and provide meaningful opportunities for learning and growth.
Looking ahead: continued collaboration and support
The ESOL Showcase Day provided an invaluable space for professionals to connect, share ideas and discuss the future of ESOL provision. By continuing to work together, we can ensure that migrant learners and workers have access to the tools and support they need to succeed. If you are interested in learning more about how Leap® can support your ESOL learners and employees, we invite you to book a call with Rob Anderson, Head of Enterprise UK, to discuss potential collaborations.
FlashAcademy® remains committed to helping institutions take their ESOL provision to the next level. We are here to support you in meeting the evolving needs of your learners.