Workforce and skills

The Department for Education (DfE) national Skills Bootcamps programme enables individuals (aged 19 and over) and employers to develop valuable, sector-specific skills. Skills Bootcamps provide a direct path to employment, with a guaranteed job interview at the end of each course for those seeking work, and career progression for those upskilling while in employment.

Courses are flexible and include a minimum of 60 hours’ learning across a maximum 16-week period.

Skills Bootcamps can be an excellent recruitment tool to fill current and future vacancies. Employers can also use Skills Bootcamps as a cost-effective way to train existing staff to fill skills gaps.

For employers wishing to upskill their existing workforce, there is an employer contribution. For small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 250 employees there is a 10% contribution. For employers with over 250 employees, the contribution is 30%.

If you are an employer and would like to find out more about the national Skills Bootcamp programme, and the courses available you can find out more on the government’s Skills Bootcamp web pages.

Watch this space for news of West Sussex Bootcamps delivered locally and tailored to the employment and skills needs of our county’s key sectors and businesses.

Apprenticeships combine work with study to enable employees to develop applied skills while gaining qualifications in a specific field. They enable employers to upskill their existing workforce, or to recruit and train new staff.

Government funding is available for apprenticeships and employer grants can be accessed from local authorities, including West Sussex County Council’s Apprenticeship levy transfer.

As a large apprenticeship levy paying employer, the county council can transfer up to 25% of its annual levy funds to West Sussex businesses to pay for high-quality training for new or existing staff, aiding business development across the county.

The apprenticeship levy gives employers a real opportunity to invest in high-quality training, helping to grow their business and get the skilled workforce they need to thrive and succeed.

In April 2021 the Local Government Association reported that West Sussex County Council had committed more than £359k through the Levy Transfer to local businesses, enabling apprenticeships in:

• social care
• the third sector
• non-maintained schools
• digital
• engineering
• design
• retail
• hospitality
• tourism

For information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit our Apprenticeship levy transfers funding page.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the biggest annual fall in employment for the over 50s in four decades. In most areas of West Sussex, the proportion of residents aged 50+ is considerably higher, and the proportion of working age population 16-64 years is smaller than national averages.

We encourage businesses to champion age diversity and ensure they meet the changing needs of workers throughout their careers.

This might mean enabling flexible working responsive to the needs of employees, encouraging staff training at every stage in a career, or being aware of how language used in job adverts can affect the age profile of applicants.

Take a look at our case studies of West Sussex businesses that are reaping the benefits, skills and experience of an age diverse workforce.

• Case studies (PDF, 3.8MB)

Further information on how to become an age-friendly employer, including how to sign the Age-friendly employer pledge, can be found on the Centre for Ageing Better web site.

The West Sussex Careers Hub, which is hosted by West Sussex County Council (WSCC), is funded by WSCC, the West Sussex districts and boroughs and The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC).

Your local Careers Hub work with schools, colleges, and employers to ensure careers education meets the highest standards to help every young person find their best next step.

They run a range of initiatives through which employers can engage young people, raise their aspirations, and broaden their post-16/18 horizons. If you are an employer that would like to join them and make a difference visit the Careers Hub web site.

Multiply is an adult numeracy programme offering free, flexible Maths courses for anyone aged 19 and above who does not have a GCSE grade C, level 4 or the equivalent in Maths.

Multiply can help you or your business:

• improve your ability to understand and use Maths in daily home and work life
• feel more confident using Maths
• make more sense of the facts shared by the media and social networks
• improve numeracy skills in a specific area, such as payslips, pension contributions, holiday allowance, managing finances
• progress into or in employment or further education and unlock job opportunities
• develop employee numeracy skills, boost productivity, increase profits and improve employee retention

Courses are varied, flexible to fit around life and are tailored to meet specific needs. Options include personal one-to-one tutoring, face-to-face and online training.

Interested? View the full range of course types and providers in West Sussex.

The council’s Adult Learning Service provides opportunities for adults to participate in high quality, accessible and impactful learning and training, improving the lives and outcomes for individuals by maximising their potential.

Their wide-ranging offer includes routes into employment programmes, which develop skills and knowledge, and create pathways into employment opportunities and potential career progression.

Starting at entry level, up to level 2, courses are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Find out more on the Adult Learning Service web site.