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Read the latest information from Surrey County Council on Skills Bootcamps…

Skills Bootcamp Launch 2025-2026

We are pleased to share below the latest information on Skills Bootcamps from Surrey County Council

Dear all,

I’m delighted to say we’re going live with applications to Wave 6 of the Skills Bootcamp and I wanted to share accompanying comms with you directly as key local partners. Please do contact the team if you have any questions on this fantastic opportunity.

Skills Bootcamps are returning to Surrey for 2025/26, and we are looking for innovative organisations to design and deliver courses to equip our residents with the skills to grow our future economy. 

As local providers who have an interest in skills development in Surrey, this could be a great opportunity for your organisations whilst also helping support residents on their employment pathway and filling much needed skills gaps in the local economy. 

Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for anyone aged 19+ to enter employment, upskill or change career. The Department for Education has awarded Surrey County Council £3.1 million of funding to deliver the programme in 2025/26, in collaboration with providers and employers. 

Who can apply 

We are looking for organisations with proven experience of skills training and strong local networks to design and deliver innovative courses shaped around the needs of jobseekers and employers. 

This can include: 

  • independent training providers 
  • further education (FE) colleges 
  • employers 

Previous experience of delivering Skills Bootcamp provision is not a requirement. The main thing is that you are committed to training Surrey residents in skills that local employers are actively looking for and that you have relevant intelligence to support a robust proposal that demonstrates creative design and an understanding of local employers’ needs. 

How to apply 

We are now accepting applications under a competitive grant award process for delivery in 2025/2026 (Wave 6) from interested organisations that can deliver Skills Bootcamps courses by the end of March 2026. 

You will need to evidence demand, strategic fit and innovation, setting out: 

  • access to employment post training (preference will be given to bids written in partnership with employers that show clear progression into job roles) 
  • how you will meet demand in the local economy, using evidence such as Surrey Economic Growth Strategy and Labour Market Information 
  • who your target learners are 
  • your previous experience delivering employer-led training 
  • previous collaboration with local employers 
  • how you will deliver the programme 

Joint applications from training providers and employers are actively encouraged and will need to clearly evidence how the course will be used to fill open vacancies. 

To make your application, please complete the application form that can be found on the Business Surrey website: 

Skills Bootcamps Application – Business Surrey  

If you have any queries about your application, please contact skillsbootcamps@surreycc.gov.uk 

Best wishes

Dawn

www.surreycc.gov.uk

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