Initiative overview
Launched from Autumn 2020 as part of the UK Government's Lifetime Skills Guarantee and National Skills Fund, Skills Bootcamps are delivered across England by training providers, further education colleges, and employers in partnership with local areas. They are funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and, from 2025–26, directly through Mayoral Strategic Authorities and other local areas. The programme covers a wide range of sectors including digital (coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, AI, software development), green, construction, engineering, health and care, and HGV driving. Bootcamps offer training at Levels 3–5 (and Level 2 in some sectors), delivered online, face-to-face, or blended, and typically last up to 16 weeks. Learners must be 19 or over; the programme targets employed adults, self-employed, unemployed, and those returning to work or transitioning careers. Co-funding is required from employers for employed learners (typically 10% for SMEs, 30% for large employers). On completion, participants are guaranteed a job interview with a participating employer. In 2022–23, the DfE committed GBP 150M for Wave 3 alone. By 2024, the programme had supported hundreds of thousands of learners across England with AI and digital skills among the highest-demand areas. The programme is being progressively devolved to mayoral combined authorities and local areas from 2025–26.
