Devon County Council secures additional funding to extend free training for in-demand job roles

Around 400 more free training places are being offered through the Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps after Devon County Council secured an extra £900,000 for its programme.

The County Council scheme is responding to employers across Devon and Cornwall to help them bring the right skills into their business and to upskill existing staff.

Aimed at adults aged 19 and over, the flexible, short courses run for up to 16 weeks, delivering skills training across a variety of priority sectors including digital, technical, construction, green skills, health & social care, and professional services.

More than 30 courses are currently recruiting for learners, including in Data Analysis, Construction Skills, Digital Marketing, Welding, Electric Vehicle Technician, Regenerative Farming, Working in Health & Social Care, Cyber Security, Project Management, Hospitality, Web Design and many more. Find the full course list at: Skills Bootcamp Courses.

The courses have been designed with the help of employers to meet skills gaps and fill open vacancies within the region. Throughout the last three years, Train4Tomorrow has enabled over 2,000 adults across Devon and Cornwall to kickstart a new career, upskill or change roles.

Skills Bootcamps, delivered by Devon County Council in partnership with Cornwall Council, are open to adults who live in the region. Those seeking new employment are guaranteed an interview with a local employer on completion of the course.

Tom Horsley, from Brixham, completed the IT Readiness bootcamp with BlueScreen IT. He has been running his own photography business since 2007 but with rising costs, he was looking to return to IT.

He said: “The IT Skills Bootcamp has allowed me to train up on areas that were new to me, such as mobile devices, and reinforced that I did still know what I was talking about in the areas I had previous knowledge of. Having completed the bootcamp I have started getting interviews and interest from potential employers that were just not happening before.”

Hear more from our previous learners at: Skills Bootcamps - Train 4 tomorrow inspiring stories

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: “This additional funding for the Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps is extremely welcome and importantly it means even more training places will be available across Devon and Cornwall. The programme has already had a positive impact, helping thousands of people to set out on a new career path or to learn new skills to help boost their prospects in their current role, with the support of their employer. The Skills Bootcamps are developed specifically to meet the needs of businesses in the region, so anyone completing a course can rest assured they're learning skills that are valued and in demand.”

Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps are delivered by the Apricot Centre, BIT Group, Cambridge Spark, City College Plymouth, Cornwall College, DPN, Exeter College, On Course South West, Petroc College, Primed Talent, The Construction Skills People, Truro & Penwith College, and YTKO.

To check out your eligibility and find out more about Skills Bootcamps across Devon and Cornwall, visit Train4Tomorrow.