Skills Bootcamps

Our free Skills Bootcamps give you the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and support you towards advancing your career.

Courses

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Whether you're looking for a new job or starting your own business, our funded Skills Bootcamps open the door to a range of new and exciting opportunities.

You don't need any prior knowledge of the subject, just an interest and willingness to learn. These online short courses provide you with the skills employers look for, pathways to getting a job and tailored small business support.

You'll also benefit from employment support including techniques for job applications to building interview skills or developing your own business plan.

What you need to know

Skills Bootcamps are short courses of up to 16 weeks that allow you to build up sector-specific skills and support you towards employment. They're for adults who want to retrain, pursue a career in a new field or start their own business.

We're delivering these in partnership with employers, providers and local authorities. These courses are fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and help you gain skills for life, help support skills demands in your area and ultimately help you take the next step in your career journey.

Before you apply to one of our short courses, there are a few things to consider.

These short courses are designed to fit around other commitments and involve around 30 hours of study per week. A positive mindset and a curiosity to learn is key to successfully complete our Skills Bootcamps.

It's important to note that you're expected to spend a number of hours outside of teaching on independent study to support your learning. Your lecturers will support you with reading activities to do during your independent study.

Eligibility requirements vary from course to course but generally you must:

Be aged 19+
Have the right to live and work in the UK
Live or work in the geographical funded area for the Skills Bootcamp
Agree to provide mandatory personal data and supplementary information on your employment outcomes for up to 12 months following completion of the Skills Bootcamp
Have not completed a DfE funded bootcamp in the last 12 months

Working alongside our partners we're able to provide these courses at no cost to you as a learner. We only accept applications from those who haven't completed a government funded Skills Bootcamp in the last 12 months.

If you're being sent for training by your employer, your employer will need to pay up to 30% of the total fees depending on the size of the company. If this is the case, please contact us at skillbootcamps@bathspa.ac.uk for more details.

After completing your Skills Bootcamp you’ll be supported by our Career Development Coach for six months. This includes help with interviews, updating your CV and putting together a business plan.

During and after your course you’ll be invited to a Skills Bootcamps alumni LinkedIn group in which you can network and celebrate your career success with your fellow learners.

Once you’ve finished your Skills Bootcamp you’ll also be sent a monthly newsletter with the latest job vacancies and networking events.

As our Skills Bootcamps are fully funded by the DfE, there is an expectation that you'll keep in touch with us to let us know about any career progression opportunities you receive after completing the short course. You’ll be provided with a short declaration form to fill out once you've secured new work.

Our impact

Since our establishment in 2021, Bath Spa University’s Short Course Unit has upskilled 1087 adult learners across 16 in-demand subjects, empowering them with practical skills, boosting their employability and giving them the confidence to advance in their career.

Our impact report reflects on our work from the past five years, celebrating the difference we’ve made across the West of England region, Swindon and Wiltshire, and the West Midlands in partnership with industry specialists and local governing bodies, and highlighting the success stories of our learners.

We are continuing to build momentum from the work illustrated in the impact report, expanding both our reach and our portfolio of innovative learning opportunities.

Read our Impact Report

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Bath Spa University recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted

Bath Spa University is delighted to announce that its Adult Skills provision including Skills Bootcamps and Adult Community Learning has been recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

The report recognises BSU’s innovative and impactful work across the region, noting the quality of the curriculum, rigorous evaluation and the focus on additional needs and SEN support for learners.

Find out more

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Get involved

Are you a business interested in working with our Skills Bootcamps?

Find out the benefits of getting involved with our courses, including:

Accessing a pool of over 500 upskilled job seekers across eight skill areas
Saving money on advertising jobs
Leading industry workshops and providing industry insights
Targeting learners looking for roles in your industry.

“My experience on my Skills Bootcamp was extremely positive. The support I received was incredible and I had the opportunity to really dig deep and think about my career path and where I see myself in the future. I've taken some of the skills and methods learned into my current role and am more confident in managing a project.”
Jennifer, Student, Skills Bootcamp in Agile Project Management

Securing a new role with the help of a Skills Bootcamp

Since September 2021, Bath Spa University has run free Skills Bootcamps for local residents. In January of 2024, Bath Spa started its 50th cohort.

Jed Taylor, a Skills Bootcamp alum, talks about his time on the course and how he was able to combine his previous work experience and Skills Bootcamp experience to land a senior analyst role.

Read Jed's story

A man stands smiling as he gives a talk to two tables of students.

From Freelancer to Front End Developer, Adam's career change success

Adam Wozniak has worked as a freelance motion graphics designer for the past five years. After completing a Skills Bootcamp in Web Development earlier this year, he's now started a three month internship as a Front End Developer Intern.

Read Adam's story

"Diversity amongst UI/UX designers is essential."

Skills Bootcamp in Creative Computing student Madeleine Perry recounts her experience on the course. She tells us her top tips for completing a Skills Bootcamp and her highlights of the 12 weeks.

Read Maddie's story

Contact us

If you have any queries please contact skillsbootcamps@bathspa.ac.uk