Buckinghamshire Council launches new Skills and Employment Strategy
Buckinghamshire Council has launched its Skills and Employment Strategy with a Skills Bootcamp at Buckinghamshire College Group in Aylesbury.
Skills Bootcamps are part of the Government’s Levelling-Up agenda and Lifetime Skills Guarantee programme, with Buckinghamshire receiving £3.3 million of funding for Bootcamps from the Department of Education (DfE).
The council’s ambitious Skills and Employment Strategy aims to increase access to in-demand skills and qualifications to help Buckinghamshire residents, communities and employers to thrive.
The Skills Bootcamp ─ ran by Buckinghamshire Council in partnership with Buckinghamshire College Group on Friday 12 January ─ is the first offering of the Skills and Employment Strategy. The bootcamp gave 30 people the opportunity to learn new skills to enter the construction sector.
Skills Bootcamps deliver flexible training of up to 16 weeks for in-demand vocational skills. The bootcamp is free-of-charge to the learner. At the end of the bootcamp, the individual learner has a ‘job outcome’ – such as an interview for a live vacancy within the relevant sector, a move into self-employment, or proof from their employer that the skills learned on the bootcamp are being used in their existing role.
Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education & Children's Services Anita Cranmer, said:
“It is great that we have been able to launch the Buckinghamshire Skills and Employment Strategy today at Buckinghamshire College Group. The strategy sets a clear direction for increasing access to and provision of in-demand skills and qualifications to enable our residents and employers to prosper.
“We are committed to working in partnership to maximise the opportunities for our county, and going forward there will a comprehensive Skills Bootcamp programme of 788 learning opportunities in a range of sectors including, engineering, digital, agriculture, leadership and management, and creative. There really will be something for everyone.”
Joseph Baum, Deputy Cabinet Member for Education & Skills, added:
“I want to thank everyone involved in creating the Skills and Employment Strategy, as well as everyone involved in delivering the Skills Bootcamps.
“Everyone in our county has something to offer and these new learning opportunities will help people of all ages to find employment and develop their careers. This will also have the added benefit of boosting their wellbeing and personal satisfaction.”
More information about the Skills and Employment Strategy can be found on the council’s website here: View the Skills and Employment Strategy 2024 to 2029. And details of upcoming Skills Bootcamps can be found at Skills, opportunities and employment.