Adult education in the capital will receive a multi-million pound boost, as the Mayor announced new funding to promote life-long learning.

Sadiq Khan’s Skills for Londoners Innovation Fund will pay for English, maths and digital skills training.

It will also help more disabled people and young people at risk of violence to access education.

London’s adult education budget – currently £306 million – was devolved to City Hall earlier this year.

Now the Mayor, along with London Councils – the umbrella organisation representing the capital’s 32 boroughs and the City of London – businesses and trade unions, is calling for more education powers to be devolved.

Sadiq Khan said further powers for City Hall would help the capital prepare for the future.

He said: “London is a global leader in education and skills, and as we approach Brexit, we will need to work with the further education sector to respond quickly to changing skills needs.”

He added: “As we take over London’s share of the Adult Education Budget I’m putting even more money back into the capital and investing in new projects to make sure all Londoners have access to the training and education they need.

“But more needs to be done, which is why I’m calling on the Government for a new funding and devolution deal to make sure we’ve got the powers and resources we need in the face of these challenges.”

Councillor Georgia Gould, leader of Camden Council and London Councils’ member for skills and employment, said life-long learning opportunities were vitally important.

She said: “London is a city built on the boundless creativity, talent, and ambition of the people who live, work, and study here.

“But all too often, Londoners are being held back from unlocking the opportunities generated on their doorsteps by a lack of skills and available training.

“It’s a problem which impacts every area of people’s lives, undermining their wellbeing, trapping them in low pay, and stifling career progression.”

The Mayor also announced £3.75m to support innovative learning spaces in London, such as community kitchens and virtual learning centres.

And there was a £1.6 million boost for his Construction Academy, which provides industry training in the capital.

The announcements came on the centenary celebrations of an adult education college in Holborn.

City Lit has been supporting Londoners to learn new skills and explore hobbies since 1919.

On Monday, the Mayor visited the college’s new design and digital hub and gallery, which received £480,000 funding from City Hall.

Mark Malcomson, chief executive of City Lit, said the college was as important today as it was one hundred years ago.

He said: “As we all live longer and with the pace of change in our lives ever quicker, City Lit help provide the skills, confidence and resilience for work and life that modern day Londoners from every borough and all backgrounds need to succeed and flourish.”