Skills Bootcamps Wave 6 (April 2025 – March 2026)
Consultation on Call for Wave 6 Skills Bootcamp Proposals
We are holding a consultation period to inform the potential wave 6 call for organisations to deliver Skills Bootcamps to people living or working in the Leicester and Leicestershire area for April 25/26 financial year.
Funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and working in partnership with Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester & Leicestershire Business & Skills Partnership, Leicester City Council is leading on the consultation for the Wave 6.
The DfE intend to grow the grants proportion of delivery and have asked local areas to develop high level proposals for Wave 6. Once DfE have funding commitments for Wave 6 approved we will be asked to submit detailed proposals and will be seeking a call for proposals to build on our initial proposals.
The consultation phase for Skills Bootcamp wave 6 is now closed.
If your organisation is interested in delivering Skills Bootcamps, please complete this Skills Bootcamp Provider Registration form.
We are waiting on approval for Wave 6 from the Department of Further Education to be able to announce any future funding opportunities.
What are Skills Bootcamps?
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible training courses for adults aged 19 or over. Most Skills Bootcamps deliver a minimum of 60 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) over a maximum of 16 weeks. (NB Digital Skills Bootcamps must be a minimum of 100 GLH, however HGV may be fewer than 60 GLH). GLH are the time a Learner spends being taught or instructed by, or otherwise participating in education or training under the immediate guidance or supervision of – a lecturer, supervisor, tutor or other appropriate provider of education or training, whether online or in person. Pre-recorded content does not count towards GLHs.
Skills Bootcamps give people the opportunity to build up valuable sector-specific skills based on local employer demand and provide a direct path to a job or additional working responsibilities on completion of the course.
Skills Bootcamp provision is subject to Ofsted Inspection.
Who do Skills Bootcamps seek to support?
Adults (19+), who can be full-time or part-time employed, unemployed, returning to work after a break or self-employed. Skills Bootcamps deliver skills that enable access to in-demand jobs, apprenticeships, new opportunities, and an increased level of income over time (including for the self-employed). They aim to address the needs of employers to deliver targeted interventions to meet short- medium term demand to fill vacancies and drive productivity. They will help fill medium -higher level vacancies and bring individuals closer to better jobs, by linking them with line of sight to a job/ different role, additional responsibilities or new opportunities or contracts.
What do they cost the learner and the employer?
Skills Bootcamps are free to learners. Employers are required to contribute to the cost of training if they want to use Skills Bootcamps to train their existing employees. Large employers contribute 30% of the cost, and small or medium employers (SMEs) contribute 10%. This contribution is deducted from the grant payment made to the provider.
Levels/Qualifications
Skills Bootcamps are generally training courses at Level 3-5 (medium to higher level technical skills) and are co- designed with employers to respond to their skills needs and shortages. They may be either regulated (qualification based) or non-regulated ([1]mapped to occupational pathways). The exception is in the category of Construction, Green Skills and HGV Driving which can be offered at Level 2 or equivalent.
Cost per learner
Skills Bootcamps may be for different sectors, levels and geography. We do not expect costs to be the same for each of the Skills Bootcamps offered as delivery will be tailored to the needs of the employer, the sector, the learners or the differences in local geography. We expect the provider to take into account the cost of delivery, marketing, administration etc.
For any enquires please email: regeneration.programmes@leicester.gov.uk