Purpose

Skills Bootcamps provide training for adults
aged 19 and over to gain the skills to get a job and progress in
work and provide employers have people with the right skills they
need for growth, Improving skills levels will help to improve the
productivity and economic output of our employers, as well as
ensuring that our residents have good job opportunities and career
progression.
 
Skills Bootcamp courses run for up to 16
weeks, providing 60 guided learning hours (for non-digital
courses), and up to 100 guided learning hours (digital) and form
part of the government’s commitment to helping adults learn
the necessary knowledge and skills for new jobs in expanding
sectors, such as digital, engineering, construction, manufacturing,
and green technologies. They are delivered by training providers in
partnership with employers.
 
Building on the success of earlier Skills
Bootcamp programmes, the Council is commissioning a further suite
of courses in 2025/26 to meet local resident/employer needs.
Funding for the programme is from the Department for Education, via
the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
 
The option not to accept the funding from West
Yorkshire Combined Authority was rejected by officers. This would
have disadvantaged Kirklees residents and businesses by reducing
opportunities for residents to acquire new skills to gain work or
progress within their existing role.

Content

The decision is to
 
•         accept
external funding of £598,500 from West Yorkshire Combined
Authority and for the Council to act as Accountable Body for the
grant in accord with sections 22.5 and 22.6 of the Council’s
Financial Procedure Rules; and
 
•         extend
delivery arrangements to 31 March 2026 and where required
facilitate the commencement and award of any related procurement
exercises in accord with the Council’s Contract Procedure
Rules.