Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 16, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Skills Bootcamps offered up to 16 weeks of free, flexible training in high-demand sectors such as digital, construction, creative industries, green skills, and leadership. They were designed to align with both national and local priorities, and they provided residents with a direct pathway to employment, career progression, or self-employment and include a guaranteed interview with an employer.   Skills Bootcamps formed a key component of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, aimed at equipping individuals with in-demand skills for sustained employment. Following the recent transfer of responsibility for post-19 education and skills from the Department for Education (DfE) to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Skills Bootcamps were now fully managed and funded by the DWP, aligning delivery more closely with national employment and labour market priorities.   The Bootcamps focused on vocational skills at levels 2-5 (medium to higher level technical skills). A key differentiator for the scheme was that, upon completing the Bootcamp, each learner was guaranteed either an interview within the relevant sector or confirmation from their employer that the skills gained were actively being applied in their role and supporting career progression.  Buckinghamshire Council had been the Accountable Body responsible for delivery of the programme since July 2023 and since then the Council has been allocated three ‘waves’ of grant funding, totalling £7.5m.   The Leader commented that national unemployment had increased by 5.1% and with the Council’s economic strategy it was important to help Buckinghamshire residents gain the skills they needed. He and one of his Deputy Leader’s had visited a bootcamp in Iver which focussed on construction skills and provided two weeks’ worth of training. There was a high throughput and plenty of job opportunities in this area.   The data from Wave 5 demonstrated a high level of performance, significantly passing the DWP key performance indicator target of 70%. There were three stages of milestones: enrolment, completion and job outcomes. Enrolment performance was 98% against a benchmark of 75%, Completion performance was 86% against a benchmark of 70-75% and job outcome was 72% against a benchmark of 70-75%. Following a targeted marketing campaign 405 participants were enrolled by the end of the funded year. One learner commented that “The course has given me the tools and motivation to pursue a new career path — I feel much more confident now.” There were case studies included in the report.   RESOLVED that the progress be noted.