D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has a successful track record of delivering Department for Education funded Skills Bootcamps, which have been developed by the Government as part of the Skills for Life programme.
Following successful applications in four previous waves of Skills Bootcamps, we are delighted to announce that D2N2 LEP has secured almost £5 million funding from the Department for Education to boost and broaden our Skills Bootcamps offer, as part of the fifth wave of Skills Bootcamps allocations.
Our funding of £4,967,950 represents an increase of almost £1.5 million on our previous allocation in Wave 4 (£3.5 million).
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over. They give people the opportunity to build up valuable sector-specific skills based on local employer demand and provide a direct path to a job on completion.
With this funding boost we intend to broaden the range of sectors that our Skills Bootcamps support. For example, we will for the first time, offer Skills Bootcamps in leadership and management for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). We’ll also work with our providers to offer a wider range of Skills Bootcamps programmes in our priority areas of digital, construction, engineering and green skills (construction and electric vehicles).
As the lead partner, D2N2 LEP will be working with Derbyshire County Council to open the procurement window to allow providers to apply for delivery contracts for Wave 5 Skills Bootcamps programmes. We’ll make an announcement as soon as this window opens, expected to be later this Spring.
Our Employment and Skills Manager, Richard Kirkland, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve succeeded in our application to be a Wave 5 Skills Bootcamps provider, following our successful track record of delivering Skills Bootcamps in all four of the previous waves. It’s fantastic that through the increase in funding we’ve secured, we’ll be broadening our offer to include new programmes, such as leadership and management for small and medium sized businesses.
This is really positive news as I look back on my 40 year career in education and skills and prepare to retire; it’s such a proud moment for me. I would like to thank all my colleagues, all our providers and partners for their support over the years and I wish all the Skills Bootcamps learners all the very best in their future careers.”
Richard will leave D2N2 LEP at the end of this month to commence his well-earned retirement, following his 40 year career in education and skills. Richard has worked at D2N2 LEP since 2014, firstly as the European Structural Investment Fund Co-ordinator where he supported the management and delivery of strategy and contracts for a range of European funded programmes and developed sector-specific programmes designed to meet employment and skills challenges and priorities. Since 2021 Richard has been our Employment and Skills Manager with responsibility for managing the efficient and effective implementation of key skills and employment programmes including Skills Bootcamps, and to provide expert advice on employment and skills issues across the D2N2 area.
Richard began his career at Sheffield Careers Service in 1985 before moving to North Nottinghamshire Training and Enterprise Council as Youth Programmes Manager responsible for the delivery of Apprenticeship programmes.
Richard’s previous roles have also included Regional Business Development Manager for the National Apprenticeship Service, working with large employers to develop bespoke Apprenticeship programmes, and Head of Learning Supply for both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Learning and Skills Councils, commissioning and managing employment, learning and skills provision across the two counties.
Find out more about D2N2 LEP’s Skills Bootcamps programme
Any enquiries should be directed to skillsbootcamps@d2n2lep.org
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) covers the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire region, convening the businesses, universities, colleges, and local authorities in our region to drive low carbon, economic growth and productivity, skills & careers, inclusion and delivery excellence.
For media enquiries, contact:
Nicola Swaney
Head of External Affairs, D2N2 LEP
Nicola.Swaney@d2n2lep.org
