Skills Bootcamps
Win more Skills Bootcamps contracts than ever before with our industry-leading win rate
We have produced 150+ winning bids, securing over £175m of funding for our clients
Horizon scanning
More visibility, more wins
Our Horizon Scan service provides training providers with a clear, forward-looking view of contract opportunities across the education and skills sector. See upcoming contracts, track competitors, and focus only where you can win.
Our insights cut wasted effort, unlock growth markets, and help you expand into new regions, sectors, and funding streams with confidence.
Skills Bootcamps Horizon Scan Dashboard
Next 6 Months: Sep 2025 - Feb 2026 (Illustrative)
Total Pipeline Value
£123.3M
+12% vs previous period
Active Tenders
14
From a pipeline of 48 opportunities
Avg. Competition
6.2 Bids/Lot
High Intensity
LSIP Alignment
78%
Pipeline value in priority areas
Upcoming Opportunities Timeline
"Sweet-Spot" Funnel
Opportunities by Specialism
Buyer Concentration
Deadline Heatmap
Pipeline management
Win more with less effort
Tender Targeting
Planned procurements are matched to strengths, delivery footprint, and objectives, so your effort targets the tenders that you are most likely to win.
Low-fit opportunities are filtered out, focusing resources on high-scoring pursuits and improving hit rates.
Forward visibility of opportunities builds a timed sequence of bids, smoothing your workload and supporting accurate revenue forecasting.
Tender Comms
A dedicated bids inbox across portals (e.g., CCS, Proactis, In-tend, Delta) compiles all your alerts into one stream.
Daily triage filters noise and highlights actions, so your effort is focused on tasks that count.
Opportunity tracking across portals prevents missed notices / late starts.
Less time on inbox management means more time for solution development and client work.
Competitor Analysis & Go/No-Go
Competitor mapping identifies likely bidders, incumbents, price–quality positioning and differentiators.
Early identification of red flags (e.g., capability gaps, TUPE, volumes, pricing pressure) informs pursuit choices.
Evidence-led scoring focuses time and budget on high-probability tenders.
A structured go/no-go decision with objective criteria improves qualification discipline and win rates.
End-to-end bid production
Powerful, evidence-led winning bids
We remove the bid burden from our clients. We handle the entire process, from identifying opportunities through to producing compelling responses, schemes of work, mobilisation/delivery plans, policies, completing financial documents, submission, and even attending interviews.
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A win strategy is set against the specification, evaluation criteria, and risk controls.
Strengths, differentiators, and proof points are defined to match buyer priorities.
Outcomes, benchmarks and case metrics are selected to demonstrate advantage on quality, mobilisation, social value and price–quality fit.
Claims are stress-tested and converted into evidence-led commitments.
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Local plans, reports, strategies, LSIPs, and sector reports are used to align your bid with the buyer's priorities.
A logical response structure defines what graphics, tables, and call-outs will be used to compellingly present your response.
Every section is tied to the question, weighting, word limit, and any other requirements. A compliance checklist ensures nothing scored is left unaddressed or under-evidenced.
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Our unrivalled library of winning answers (sourced via FOI requests), white papers, and industry reports accelerates drafting whilst maintaining originality.
Language mirrors the buyer’s terminology and style. Proof is localised with relevant outcomes and delivery footprints, making your bid specific and credible.
Benefits are quantified and we ensure every word works hard to influence evaluators.
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We produce professional-quality documents (policies, mobilisation plans, delivery schedules, organisation charts) that reinforce your credibility.
Clean templates, data visuals, and signposted sections improve scoring potential.
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We complete pricing/financial plans, structuring these for competitiveness without eroding value.
Transparent cost breakdowns and rationale link prices to outputs and KPIs/SLAs. Value for money is evidenced through productivity gains, demand management, and total cost of ownership.
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Mock scoring replicates panel behaviour; responses receive RAG ratings, gap logs and action owners.
Evidence sufficiency, risks, and assumptions are tested against the scoring criteria.
Pink, red, and gold reviews drive continual improvement until max scores are reached.
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File names, formats, size limits, signatures, certificates and declarations meet portal rules.
Any use of hyperlinks, cross-references and/or annex lists are validated to remove grounds for disqualification.
A robust bid plan locks milestones and approvals. Contingency windows, dry-run uploads, and final conformance checks secure punctual, complete submissions with receipts captured for proof/audit.
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Award results and buyer debriefs are captured promptly; strengths, weaknesses and price–quality insights are summarised into immediate actions for live and upcoming competitions.
Re-usable content is archived for future bids. Future bids build on lessons learned reviews.
Experts in your sector
Construction
CITB courses (e.g., SMSTS, SSSTS), CSCS courses, NPORS, entry to construction, electrical installation, plastering, wall and floor tiling, trowel occupations, roofing, formwork, carpentry, cladding occupations, occupational work supervision, construction site supervision, controlling lifting operations.
Health & Social Care
Health and social care, adult care, fundamentals of health care, principles and practice for pharmacy support staff, preparing to work in adult social care, understanding working in the health sector, principles of the prevention and control of infection in health care settings, nutrition & health, end of life care.
Engineering & Manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, CAM / CNC machining, 3D printing, CAD, engineering foundations, electric/hybrid vehicle systems, engineering operations, fabrication, welding, inspection and quality control, lean manufacturing, green manufacturing, H&S in engineering.
Transport and Logistics
PCV driver training, bus driver training, LGV/HGV driver training, forklift truck (FLT) training, warehousing, supply chain logistics, transport planning and coordination, ADR hazardous goods transport training, driver CPC, transport and warehouse H&S, air freight logistics, maritime logistics, customs compliance.
IT / Digital
Computer programming, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, software development, ICT systems support (1st and 2nd line), digital marketing, gaming, VfX/CGI, cloud computing, UX/UI, blockchain development, data engineering, e-commerce platforms, web development.
Education and Training
Award in Education and Training (AET), Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA), Teaching Assistant, Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET), Learning and Development Practitioner (L&D), apprenticeship assessor qualifications, SEND support, leadership in education.
Business, Admin, and Law
Principles of business and administration, business and enterprise, team leading, management qualifications, bookkeeping and accountancy (inc. AAT bookkeeping), HR, leadership and management, business law, customer relationship management, finance and budgeting, project management, sales & marketing.
Retail & Commercial Enterprise
Understanding excellence in customer service for hospitality, skills for working in the retail industry, cleaning principles, food preparation and cookery, retail customer service, food hygiene and safety, sales techniques, conflict resolution and de-escalation, retail management, tourism retail, fashion retail.
Leisure, Travel, and Tourism
Travel services (inc. customer care), aviation ground operations, sports coaching, fitness instructing, leisure operations (e.g., leisure centre management), tour guiding, hospitality and tourism management, travel agency operations, sustainable tourism, customer service in tourism.
Social Sciences
Access to HE social science, psychology, sociology, criminology, social research methods, social policy, criminology with social psychology., anthropology, political science, human geography, economics, social work, international relations, education studies, gender studies, development studies.
History, Philosophy, and Theology
Access to HE Diplomas (Humanities and Social Science), philosophy modules, religious studies, history modules, theology, classical studies, archaeology, history of art, philosophy of science, applied ethics, interfaith dialogue and comparative religion, political thought, ancient history, modern world conflicts.
Languages, Literature & Culture
ESOL Skills for life (Entry 1–3), GCSE English literature, modern foreign languages, English language skills for employment, cultural studies, academic English (EAP), IELTS and Cambridge English exam preparation, Functional Skills English (Entry 1-Level 2), creative writing, translation and interpreting skills, cultural studies.
Experts in every region
We win across the country. Unlike our competitors, our bid professionals actively research local labour market information (LMI), combined with 300+ plans, reports, strategies, and wider data sources (including ONS, NOMIS, Indices of Multiple Deprivation) to inform your bids.
50+
Regions we have produced winning bids in
We ensure that your bids do not just meet the requirements of the question; they reflect local ambitions, plans, and objectives.
Through our research, evaluators clearly see the advantages that your offer will bring to the local economy and how it ties with local plans and strategies, helping you to score maximum marks, win more contracts, and grow.
Request a call back
Request a call back to discuss how you can use BidSuite to help create winning Skills Bootcamps bids, and/or any other related queries you may have. A call will provide us with the opportunity to discuss your specific needs.
Construction
Construction Skills Bootcamps typically combine practical trade skills with essential safety qualifications. A common Skills Bootcamp model is a multi-trade “Construction Skills” Bootcamp that introduces learners to the basics of bricklaying, plastering, carpentry, painting & decorating, etc., alongside the required H&S knowledge. Almost all construction Bootcamps incorporate preparation for the CITB Health, Safety & Environment test and facilitate obtaining the CSCS card (usually the Green Labourer card); a key “license to practice” for site work.
Beyond multi-trade courses, there are focused Bootcamps e.g., Bricklaying Bootcamp or Electrical Installation Bootcamp, which often lead directly into apprenticeships or jobs as apprentices/improvers. Another growth area is Retrofit and Green Construction Skills Bootcamps that train people in installing insulation, heat pumps, solar panels and other retrofit skills (typically at Levels 3–5, e.g., a Bootcamp yielding a Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination).
Additionally, construction management is addressed via Bootcamps for Site Supervisors or Site Setting-Out Engineers, which may include certifications like SSSTS. Short specialist tickets (e.g., PASMA for scaffolding, NPORS/CPCS for plant operation) might be bundled in Bootcamps if they align with local job needs e.g., a Bootcamp in plant operations will train digger or forklift driving and get the relevant ticket.
Construction is a priority/key/growth sector in 37 out of the 38 LSIPs. New work in Great Britain reached £139 billion in 2023, the UK construction workforce stood at 2.23–2.25m in late 2024, and CITB forecasts 251,500 more workers by 2028.
Health and Social Care
Skills Bootcamps in this sector focus mainly on adult social care and early years education. Common H&SC Skills Bootcamp courses include Adult Social Care Bootcamps (covering the 16 Care Certificate standards and core care practices); Early Years Skills Bootcamps (accelerated childcare training for nursery roles); Health Care Assistant Bootcamps (preparing for NHS support roles, including patient care and safety); and Care Leadership Bootcamps (for experienced care workers moving into senior roles).
These Bootcamps often include practical elements (e.g. First Aid, dementia awareness) and prepare learners for roles as care assistants or support workers, with many guaranteeing interviews with care home providers. Commissioners frequently ask for provision aligned to Care Certificate content or equivalent induction modules. Recent Skills Bootcamps procurements specify knowledge of the 16 Care Certificate standards plus elements such as manual handling, safeguarding, record-keeping and emergency first aid.
H&SC is a priority/key/growth sector in 37 out of the 38 LSIPs. Adult social care employs around 1.6–1.7m people, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (2023) projects the need for hundreds of thousands more health workers, and Skills for Care’s workforce report calls for improved training to fill 152,000 current social care vacancies.
Engineering and Manufacturing
Skills Bootcamps in engineering and manufacturing train learners in hands-on technical trades and modern manufacturing skills. Welding is one of the most common courses (typically covering MIG/TIG welding techniques). Similarly, there are Bootcamps in fabrication, sheet metal work, CNC machining, and electronics assembly, directly addressing skilled technician vacancies. Specialist Bootcamps have included Rail Engineering Bootcamps (covering track maintenance skills and Personal Track Safety certification), Automation and Robotics Bootcamps (teaching how to program and maintain industrial robots), and Electrical Vehicle Maintenance courses (upskilling mechanics for EV technology, often with IMI EV accreditation).
License-to-practice elements are common e.g., welding Bootcamps may include codified weld tests; rail courses include safety permits; and some fabrication courses include forklift or overhead crane tickets. H&S training is often embedded into Bootcamp provision due to statutory duties on training providers and employers. Providers routinely integrate units on safe systems of work, hazard recognition, and the correct use of tools and machinery.
The sector is economically significant. Engineering and Manufacturing is a priority/key/growth sector in 35 out of the 38 LSIPs. UK manufacturing contributed about £217 billion in output and supported around 2.6 million jobs in 2023–24, with engineering and technology roles accounting for roughly one-fifth of the workforce. EngineeringUK also reports that engineering roles make up around a quarter of UK job postings, indicating strong demand for entry pathways.
Transport and Logistics
Skills Bootcamps in this sector have centred on professional driving and warehousing. Common Skills Bootcamp courses include HGV Driving (Category C and C+E with Driver CPC) and Warehousing & Forklift (warehouse safety and operations with ITSSAR / RTITB licence). Commissioning has also funded site-logistics variants such as telescopic handler (telehandler) routes delivered to NPORS standards, often packaged with site-readiness elements like first aid or manual handling. Warehousing Bootcamps commonly include an accredited forklift operator licence (e.g., ITSSAR or RTITB counterbalance and reach) and structured training in safe warehouse operations, scanning, labelling, and stock control.
Units on manual handling and site/warehouse safety are often integrated into provision, alongside basic forklift operator awareness. HSE’s L117 Approved Code of Practice requires accredited training, usually via ABA-recognised bodies such as RTITB, AITT or ITSSAR. Resultantly, Skills Bootcamps tend to include introductory forklift or materials handling components alongside warehousing qualifications, to ensure learners meet employer expectations.
Transport and Logistics is a priority/key/growth sector in around two-thirds of LSIPs. National statistics reinforce this demand: ONS records c.1.9 million jobs in transport and storage, and Logistics UK estimates the sector’s gross value added contribution at c.£185 billion.
IT / Digital
Common Skills Bootcamp courses include Software Developer Bootcamps (e.g., “Full-Stack Web Development” which may cover HTML/CSS, JavaScript frameworks, databases, Agile methods); Cyber Security Bootcamps (training in cybersecurity fundamentals, threat analysis, often aligned with NCSC Certified Training or similar standards); Data Analytics Bootcamps (data analysis with Python or R, statistics, data visualization and perhaps machine learning basics); and IT Support Technician Bootcamps (covering hardware, networking, Windows/Linux OS, often prepping for CompTIA A+ or Network+ exams). Digital Marketing, Cloud/DevOps Engineering, and UX Design Skills Bootcamps are also procured, based on regional employer demand.
We are also seeing new topics like AI Skills Bootcamps being procured. Many digital Bootcamps integrate industry certification attempts e.g., an AWS Cloud Practitioner exam or Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, to give participants a recognised credential. It’s worth noting that entry requirements for digital Bootcamps can vary: some accept absolute beginners, whilst others expect a baseline IT knowledge due to the course intensity.
Demand signals remain strong for Digital, with it being a priority/growth sector in 25 LSIPs. Government research finds that around 44% of UK businesses report basic technical cyber security skills gaps. The government’s Digital Strategy and the tech industry have a shared goal to fill the skills gap; the UK faces a shortfall of tens of thousands of programmers and cyber professionals.
Education and Training
Common Education and Training Skills Bootcamp courses include Teaching Assistant Bootcamps (covering child development, assisting with literacy/numeracy, safeguarding, with a route to a TA position in a school); SEND Teaching Assistant Bootcamps (focused on strategies for supporting learners with autism, ADHD, etc., and often includes modules on mental health and behaviour management); Education & Training Bootcamps (covers foundational teaching skills for adults – could include micro-teaching practice and the AET qualification); and Assessor Skills Bootcamps (training industry professionals to become qualified assessors for apprenticeships, including units from CAVA).
These Bootcamps typically cover child safeguarding, supporting learning in the classroom, special educational needs basics, and practical experience or role-play. They help to alleviate the shortage of tutors and trainers in further education and vocational training.
LSIPs often acknowledge education workforce capacity needs. For example, West Yorkshire LSIP lists Education among its key sectors, and Kent & Medway LSIP names Education in its five sector priorities, reinforcing demand for classroom support pathways and progression beyond Level 3. Nationally, the DfE has initiatives like the Teaching Assistant recruitment campaigns and incentives to draw professionals into teaching roles e.g., Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme. Skills Bootcamps align with these by providing a rapid pathway for new entrants into education roles.
Business, Admin, and Law
Skills Bootcamps in this sector cover a wide range of professional and business skills. Common Skills Bootcamps include Project Management Bootcamps (often inc. Agile methodology, project planning software like MS Project, and leading to a PRINCE2 Foundation or similar exam). Team Leadership Bootcamps build supervisory capability through short, focused modules on goal setting, communication frameworks, conflict resolution, coaching conversations, and performance management. Bookkeeping and Finance Bootcamps cover double-entry bookkeeping, trial balance and reconciliations, cashflow and budgeting, and hands-on use of accounting software such as Xero; many include exam preparation or mapped content for AAT awards.
Digital Marketing and Sales Bootcamps focus on marketing strategy, customer journeys, search and social channels, content planning, analytics, and the use of customer relationship management software such as Salesforce. Compliance and Risk Bootcamps are also a variant, introducing the GDPR principles, anti-money laundering basics, financial conduct expectations, and operational risk methods for entry roles in finance, insurance, or legal services.
The sector features in c. 9 LSIPs, particularly in areas with significant finance or corporate services employment (e.g. city regions and the South East). For example, West Yorkshire lists “Financial and Professional Services” among its key sectors, and Essex similarly identifies “Professional Services” within its priority industries.
Retail & Commercial Enterprise
Skills Bootcamps in this sector focus on developing supervisory and management capability. Common Skills Bootcamp course titles include Hospitality Supervisor Bootcamp (leadership, rota planning, allergen and food safety supervision), Hospitality Manager Bootcamp (Multi-site operations, supplier governance, Level 4 HACCP), Culinary Leader Bootcamp (Menu engineering, compliance, section leadership), Retail Team Leader Bootcamp (Shrink management, merchandising, team supervision), and Retail Manager Bootcamp (Commercial planning, omnichannel operations, customer-insight-led trade planning).
Bootcamps often embed compliance certifications even where they sit below Level 3, such as Level 2 Personal Licence or Food Hygiene. These are packaged within a Level 3–5 pathway to ensure graduates are fully job-ready. Supervisory qualifications like Level 3 Food Safety or Level 3 HACCP are particularly common.
For hospitality supervision and leadership-related courses, many include Level 3 Food Safety Supervision or Level 3 HACCP, shift management, guest experience, and allergen compliance under PPDS (“Natasha’s Law”). Some culinary Bootcamps extend to Level 4 HACCP for kitchen managers. For front-of-house management, the Award for Personal Licence Holders is sometimes embedded.
Retail and Commercial Enterprise is a priority/growth sector in 12 LSIPs. The House of Commons Library reports retail output of £111.6 billion in 2023 and around 2.7 million jobs, underlining the scale of entry-level employment that ASF provision supports.
Leisure, Travel, and Tourism
Common Skills Bootcamp courses include Hospitality and Event Management Bootcamps (covering hotel & event operations, customer care, team leading; may include a personal license course for serving alcohol, etc.); Tourism and Tour Guide Bootcamps (developing knowledge of local attractions, tour guiding techniques, foreign-language customer service phrases if needed); and Sports and Fitness Bootcamps (training in fitness instruction, possibly leading to a gym instructor certification and including CPR/first aid).
Skills Bootcamps in active leisure and fitness often deliver Level 3 Gym Instructing or Personal Training (through Active IQ, YMCA Awards or similar), providing progression beyond the Level 2 awards typical of other funding streams. Some Bootcamps include the RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), alongside First Aid at Work or CPR, so learners can directly enter gyms, leisure centres or pools as qualified instructors or lifeguards.
Event management and tourism Bootcamps support regions with strong visitor economies. Content spans event planning, logistics, crowd safety and customer service, with add-ons such as H&S for events, alcohol licensing, or SIA licences for stewards. Tourism pathways may also include tour guiding, local heritage, or basic foreign-language service, reflecting LSIP priorities in tourist-reliant areas.
Leisure, Travel, and Tourism features in 12 LSIPs, which show sustained focus on the visitor economy. For example, Cumbria’s plan names the Visitor Economy as a priority sector, and the Liverpool City Region LSIP includes “hospitality and tourism” among its priority sectors. Plans in London, the North West and South East commonly elevate hospitality/tourism for their local economies.
Arts, Media, and Publishing
Skills Bootcamps in this sector tend to focus on practical digital content skills that are in demand in film, TV, design, and gaming. Common Skills Bootcamp courses include Animation & VFX Bootcamps (training in software like Maya, AfterEffects, and the fundamentals of CGI for film/TV, possibly in partnership with studios. Learners often complete short animation or VFX projects to showcase in their portfolios). For Games Design/Development Bootcamps (covering game engines, 3D modelling, and game art), portfolios typically include a playable prototype or game asset pack, with input from industry mentors.
For Digital Content Creation Bootcamps (graphic design with Adobe Creative Suite, video editing, podcast production), learners typically leave with a portfolio of branded content ready for employers. UX/UI Design Bootcamps are sometimes categorised under digital, but with strong creative links. These teach wireframing, user journeys, design systems, and prototyping in Figma, Adobe XD or Sketch, preparing learners for design roles in product and media firms.
Some Bootcamps may offer Adobe Certified Professional exams or similar as a form of credential. It is notable that the DfE allowed “creative industries” as an area for up to 10-30% of Bootcamp funding in recent waves, acknowledging its importance.
8 LSIPs identify Arts, Media, and Publishing as a priority/growth sector. For example, West Yorkshire’s LSIP names “Creative Industries” alongside Digital and Technology, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing and others. Essex’s LSIP publishes a dedicated “Creative & Cultural” sector insight and related activity, reflecting local growth and employer engagement.
Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Care
Skills Bootcamps in agriculture-related fields have emerged under the umbrella of “green skills.” Some local areas have introduced Bootcamps focusing on agri-tech and sustainable land management, given the drive for greener economies. For example, an Agriculture Technology Skills Bootcamp might teach the use of GPS-guided farm equipment, drone surveying of crops, and data-driven farm management. Other common Skills Bootcamps include Horticulture & Landscaping Bootcamps (plant care, landscaping techniques, often including a pesticide safety certificate); Environmental Conservation Bootcamps (skills in habitat management, countryside ranger training, possibly including chainsaw or brushcutter tickets); and Animal Care Bootcamps (introductory animal husbandry and veterinary support skills, if offered in areas with demand for farm or pet care workers).
Bootcamps in horticulture or arboriculture often include practical certifications such as pesticide application (PA1/PA6 licenses) or chainsaw operation, which are essentially “licenses to practice” in those niches. Examples of job-readiness certificates operator training for ATVs and tractors delivered to HSE expectations, often through Lantra. Programmes also embed biosecurity, manual handling for equipment and loads, and record-keeping required in farm and animal settings, drawing on qualification handbooks and HSE guidance.
14 LSIPs highlight Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Care as a priority/growth sector. For example, Kent & Medway’s LSIP names “Fresh Food & Food Production” as a priority sector, while Cumbria’s LSIP carries a dedicated stream for land-based and allied sectors.
Science and Mathematics
This category has seen very limited use in Skills Bootcamps, mainly for data-related training. In practice, Bootcamps classified under “Science & Mathematics” have primarily been data analytics or data science courses, reflecting the demand for data skills. For example, a Bootcamp might teach statistical analysis with Python and SQL; essentially a digital skills course with heavy maths content.
Common Skills Bootcamp courses include Data Analytics Bootcamps (covering Excel, Python, SQL, data visualization; often falling under this SSA due to the analytical focus); Data Science and Machine Learning Bootcamps (introducing statistics, Python libraries and basic ML algorithms); and Business Data Analyst Bootcamps (applied data skills for business, sometimes categorised under science/maths because of statistics content).
Around 10 LSIPs mention science-based industries (usually Life Sciences or biotech). For example, the Liverpool City Region LSIP names “health and life sciences” as a key growth sector. Although this sector subject area isn’t a major focus for Buyers, the data skills originating from this field are highly sought-after.
Social Sciences
Social Sciences (economics, sociology, political science, etc.) have not been a focus of Skills Bootcamps. There are very little Bootcamps dedicated to teaching sociology theory or political analysis skills for direct employment; roles in these fields (e.g., social researchers, policy advisors, economists) typically require higher education qualifications and are not in the remit of short vocational courses. Any Bootcamp that might touch on related skills would fall under other areas. For example, data analysis for economics would be a digital/data Bootcamp; community outreach skills might come under public services or health/care if it is related to social care.
However, some overlap exists in terms of transferable skills. Social science graduates often seek roles in data analytics, project management, or business analysis – and there are Bootcamps in those exact skills (data, project management) under other sector subject areas. A person with a psychology or economics background might enrol in a digital Bootcamp to gain practical analytics or coding skills, for example. But the Bootcamp itself is not branded as “social science.”
Social-science provision is often positioned as an enabling academic pathway, rather than a standalone priority sector, because it develops transferable capabilities that underpin multiple LSIP-priority industries.
History, Philosophy & Theology
Representing academic humanities subjects, this sector subject area is rarely procured as Skills Bootcamps. History, Philosophy, Theology are scholarly disciplines with career paths that typically go through universities. These fields rely on academic education or specialised on-the-job training (e.g., museum curation training, which would fall under creative/cultural sectors rather than a generic history Bootcamp). For completeness, one might consider if any heritage sector skills could link to Bootcamps (e.g. archival digitisation, museum tour guiding). In practice, those would either be covered under digital Bootcamps (for digitisation skills) or tourism Bootcamps (for guiding, which would be fall under the Leisure, Travel, and Tourism sector subject area).
History, Philosophy, and Theology often functions as enabling provision that supports progression, rather than an industry classification in its own right, because it develops transferrable capabilities that employers value across LSIP-priority sectors.
Languages, Literature & Culture
This category includes foreign languages, English language/literature, and cultural studies. Skills Bootcamps have not targeted these subjects, as they are not directly tied to specific job roles in the way that technical skills are. ESOL training is funded through other streams (like the Adult Skills Fund) and not via Skills Bootcamps, because Bootcamps require a link to a defined job outcome within a short time. Basic English or literacy courses fall under “Skills for Life” rather than the Bootcamp initiative. In fact, many Bootcamps list as an entry requirement that participants must have a good level of English to participate.
In terms of culture (e.g., cultural heritage, museum skills), there might be a slight overlap with creative and tourism sectors. For example, a Bootcamp in cultural heritage digitisation (scanning museum artifacts) could theoretically exist, but if so it would be categorised under digital.
Many LSIPs, especially in diverse urban areas, note the need to improve English proficiency among the local workforce to boost employability. For example, areas with high immigrant populations often mention ESOL provision as crucial (though this is outside Bootcamps). The Government’s Skills for Life agenda and the separate Multiply programme (for numeracy) show national recognition that foundational language, literacy, and numeracy skills need improvement. But these are addressed via other funding routes and programs, not Bootcamps. In LSIPs, Languages, Literature & Culture is rarely framed as a standalone priority sector; instead, English and ESOL feature as cross-cutting support enabling access to priority industries.
Funding opportunities
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) - Adult Skills and Learning DPS (£1bn), inc. Skills Bootcamps Funding - Closing date: 27/10/2028 - LIVE NOW
CCS is putting in place a pan-government DPS to support the provision of Adult Learning and Skills requirements that can be used by all public sector organisations e.g., Combined Authorities, Devolved Administrations, Local Authorities, Education Establishments and Central Government Departments. The new agreement will provide a route to market for all available 16 to 18 and 19+ funding streams, including Skills Bootcamps funding.
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) - Technical Education, Skills and Employment FPS (£1bn) inc. Skills Bootcamps - Closing date: 23/02/2029 - LIVE NOW
West of England Combined Authority (WECA) - 3-4 Year Skills Bootcamps Framework (£60m) - ITT expected in Q3 2025
RFI questionnaire submission date: 05/09/2025 (12:00)
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - ITT expected in Q3 2025.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - ITT expected in Q3 2025.
Providers need to be on WYCA’s Adult Skills DPS (Tender Answers has a 100% success rate in appointing training providers onto this DPS).
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - ITT expected in Q3 2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 6, Round 2 Skills Bootcamps - ITT expected in Q3 2025.
Derbyshire County Council (D2N2) - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - ITT expected in October 2025.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - ITT expected Q2 2026.
Funding awards (tendered)
Oxfordshire County Council - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - PHASE 3/3 (£218k) - Awaiting result.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) - Construction Skills Bootcamp (£940k) - Awaiting result.
Borough Council of Calderdale - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps (£360k) - Awaiting result.
Portsmouth City Council - Lots 19-21 Solent Skills Bootcamp Framework (£3.84m) - Awaiting result.
Leicester and Leicestershire Councils - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps (£2.6m) -Awaiting result.
Oxfordshire County Council - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - PHASE 2/3 (£1.15m) - Awaiting result.
Essex County Council - Wave 6 Bootcamps 2025/26 (£600k) - Awaiting result.
Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps (£5.1m) - Awaiting result.
Oxfordshire County Council - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps - PHASE 1/3 (£886k) - Awaiting result.
Kent County Council - Skills Bootcamps (£9m) - Awaiting result.
Portsmouth City Council - Solent Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps (£3.195m) - Awaiting result.
Greater London Authority (GLA) - Wave 6 Skills for Londoners Bootcamps (£27m) - Awaiting result.
Devon County Council - Wave 6 Train4Tomorrow ‘Skills For Life’ Skills Bootcamps - Awaiting result.
West of England Combined Authority (WECA) - Call 2: Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps (£1.27m) - Awaiting result.
York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps (£1.39m) - Awaiting result.
North East Mayoral Combined Authority (NECA) - Lot 3 Skills Bootcamps (via Adult Skills Framework FPS) (£9m) - Awaiting result.
West of England Combined Authority (WECA) - Call 1: Wave 6 Skills Bootcamps (£5.38m) - Awaiting result.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) - Skills Bootcamps DPS (£37.5m) - Awaiting result.
Cornwall Council - Adult Skills and Skills Bootcamps DPS (£16m) - Awaiting result.
East Sussex County Council - Skills Bootcamps (£7m) - Awaiting result.
Lancashire County Council - Wave 6 Skills Bootcamp Programme (£6m) - Awaiting result.
Oxfordshire LEP Limited - Skills Bootcamps for Oxfordshire (£280k) - Awaiting result.
Middlesborough College - Provision of Wind Energy Skills Bootcamps - Awaiting result.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) - Wave 5 Skills Bootcamps (£1.80m) - 12 awards. CoGrammar Ltd (trading as HyperionDev) - £531,520; The Construction Skills People Ltd - £140,000; Think Employment Ltd - £99,572; Unique Training Solutions Ltd - £196,000; YTKO - £107,849; College of West Anglia - £139,000; Duplex Business Services Limited - £304,000; PECT - £52,500; The Retrofit Academy CIC - £29,450; 3counties Accounts Training Service Ltd - £108,000; Oxford Energy Academy - £45,500; EqualEngineers - £45,000. Contract end date: 30/09/2025.
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) - Skills Bootcamps in Engineering & Manufacturing - W5.2 - Awaiting result.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) - Skills Bootcamps (£1.1m) - Awaiting result.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) - Adult Skills DPS (£1.0m) - Awaiting result.
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) - DPS16 Skills Bootcamps (£10.655m) - Awaiting result.
Oxfordshire LEP - Skills Bootcamps (£1.474m) - Awaiting result.
Greater London Authority (GLA) - London Skills Bootcamps (£11.3m) - Awaiting result.
Kirklees Council - Skills Bootcamps (£544k) - 2 awards. Huddersfield Textile Training Ltd, £136,000; Qualia Aesthetics Ltd, £136,000. Contract length and start date: 1 year + 1 year optional extension (13/05/2024).
Cumberland Council - Wave 5 Skills Bootcamps (£1.53m) - 18 awards. System People Limited, £149,387.50; Furness College, Skills Fix Limited, University of Cumbria, £167,680; University of Cumbria, £34,200; Barrow Training Partnership, Clint Stamper Training Limited, Skills Fix Limited, The Corporation of NCG, The Gas Rooms Limited, £428,867; Furness College, Scale-Ability Ltd, The Corporation of NCG, £261,028.39; Furness College, Lakes College, The Corporation of NCG, £383,124; New Generation Training and Consultancy Limited, University of Cumbria, £79,200. Delivery end date: 30/09/2025.
Buckinghamshire Council - Skills Bootcamp for Construction Site Supervisor (c.£119k) - Awaiting result.
Buckinghamshire Council - Skills Bootcamp for Groundworkers (c.£77k) - Awaiting result.
Surrey County Council - Skills Bootcamps (£2.325m) - Awaiting result.
Buckinghamshire Council - Skills Bootcamps for Cyber Security (c.£70k) - Buckinghamshire Council - Awaiting result.
Buckinghamshire Council - Skills Bootcamps for Games Design (c.£79.5k) - Awaiting result.
Buckinghamshire Council - Skills Bootcamp for Film and TV (c.£932k) - 6 awards. National Film And Television School, £66,250; All Spring Media Limited, £167,400; All Spring Media Limited, £167,706; All Spring Media Limited, £111,600; All Spring Media Limited, £111,600; All Spring Media Limited, £111,600.
Suffolk County Council - Norfolk and Suffolk Skills Bootcamps (£4.4m) - 18 awards. Action Community Enterprises CIC, £45,396; Alexander Mann Solutions Limited, £67,500; Anicca Digital Ltd, £225,000; Central Young Men's Christian Association, £82,188; City College Norwich, £29,312; Core AI Limited, £169,980; East Coast College, £202,528; EqualEngineers, £71,500; Estu Global Ltd, £130,000; HGV Training Services Ltd, £116,520; House Builder XL Ltd, £27,984; Suffolk New College, £62,640; Tech Educators, £131,250; The Construction Skills People Ltd, £120,000; TheLightBulb Limited, £20,920; TRS Training Limited, £20,000; Turning Factor, £37,900; West Suffolk College, £69,000.
Lancashire County Council - Delivery of Skills Bootcamp - c.£1.6m - 19 awards. Contract length and start date: 1 year 5 months (26/04/2023).
DfE - Skills Bootcamps DPS Call Off Competition 1 (Sales, Marketing and Procurement) - c.£8.34m - 16 awards. Start date: 01/09/2023.
DfE - Skills Bootcamps DPS Call Off Competition 1 (Digital) - c.£43.25m - 30 awards. Start date: 01/09/2023.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) - Creative & Cultural Skills Bootcamps - £612.5k - 1 award. Contract length & start date: 1 year (30/09/2023).
DfE Project - 5910 - DfE - Wave 3 Skills Bootcamps Lot 4 - Technical Bespoke - ITT_1144 (Multiple Contracts) - c.£3.65m - 3 awards. Contract length & start date: 1 year (28/02/2022).
North Tyneside Council - North of Tyne Combined Authority and North East LEP Wave 3 Skills Bootcamp - £7.4m - 21 awards. Contract length & start date: 9 months (04/07/2022).
New Anglia LEP Ltd - Norfolk and Suffolk Wave 4 Skills Bootcamps - c.£1.04m - 12 awards. Contract length & start date: 1 year (01/04/2023).
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) - Wave 3 Skills Bootcamps - Construction and Green Skills - £1.5m - 5 awards. Contract length & start date: 6.5 months (17/09/2022).
Hull City Council - Wave 6, Round 1 Skills Bootcamp - Category 1 - Public Health Public Services and Care - £400k - 2 awards. Biograd Examination Centre at Liverpool Science Park (2 Lots). Start date: 01/04/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 6, Round 1 Skills Bootcamp - Category 3 - Agriculture Horticulture and Environmental Conservation - c.£505k - 2 awards. Maersk Training UK Limited, £329,910; Morton Training UK Ltd, £175,000. Start date: 01/04/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 6, Round 1 Skills Bootcamp - Category 4 - Engineering, Manufacturing Technologies and Vehicle Operations - c.£1.91m - 10 awards. North Humberside Motor Trades Group Training Association, £204,000; Ideal Boilers Ltd, £1,093,500 (4 Lots); TEC Partnership, £364,500 (3 Lots); SJP Driver Training Ltd, £55,000; HGV Training Services Ltd, £80,000. Start date: 01/04/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 6, Round 1 Skills Bootcamp - Category 5 - Construction, Planning and the Built Environment - c.£425k - 4 awards. Wise Training Streetworks & Construction Ltd (4 Lots). Start date: 01/04/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 6, Round 1 Skills Bootcamp - Category 6 - Information and Communication Technology (ICT) - c.£1.07m - 9 awards. Tech Educators Ltd, c.£753k (6 Lots); Fareport Training Organisation Ltd, £192,000; Connexin Ltd, £48,000; The Skills Network Ltd, £80,000. Start date: 01/04/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 6, Round 1 Skills Bootcamp - Category 18 -Bespoke/Niche Training - c.£545k - 5 awards. Enterprise4all (North West) Ltd, £120,000; University of Hull - Faculty of Business, Law & Politics, £158,750 (2 Lots); Future Connect Training and Recruitment Ltd, £120,000; Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce Industry and Shipping, £146,000. Start date: 01/04/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 5, Round 3 Skills Bootcamp - Category 2 - Science and Mathematics (Lot 21a: Practical Laboratory Skills) - £100k - 1 award. Biograd Examination Centre at Liverpool Science Park. Start date: 08/01/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 5, Round 3 Skills Bootcamp - Category 3 - Green Skills (Lot 49: Wind Turbine Technician) - £36k - 1 award. Maersk Training UK Limited. Start date: 19/02/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 5 Skills Bootcamp - Lot 50: Arboricultural Worker - £35k - 1 award. Morton Training UK Ltd. Start date: 12/02/2025.
Hull City Council - Wave 4 Skills Bootcamp - Further Retender Additional Lots Category 5 - c.£91.5k - 3 awards. Start date: 22/09/2023.
Hull City Council - Wave 3 Skills Bootcamps - Category 4: Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies and Vehicle operations - £764k - 7 awards. Contract length & start date: 4 months (18/08/2022).
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) - Provision of Digital Skills Bootcamps - Employers - £1.5m - 2 awards. Contract length & start date: 2 years 8.5 months (12/07/2022).
West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) - AEB Digital Bootcamps - £21m - 10 awards. Contract length & start date: 3 years (23/10/2021).
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) - Digital Skills Bootcamp - £643k - 18 awards. Contract length & start date: 4 months (14/12/2021).