The rapidly changing picture on localism and the government's focus on local economic growth have significant implications for adult learning and skills providers in England. Government now sees a sense of place as key to economic growth and recognises the need for a renewed debate on how business and state interact with localities. There is a broad consensus that centralised systems are not the best way to promote economic growth: a more effective system would enable different approaches in different localities. The shifting policy scene on localism will have an impact on learning and skills providers across England. In this article the author outlines the key developments and explores what the changes will mean for the sector.