Boost your career with free training from Skills Bootcamps in Surrey

Hundreds of people can fast-track their career for free as Skills Bootcamps return to Surrey.

The government-funded courses from Surrey County Council allow learners aged 19 and over to gain industry-ready qualifications in super-quick time.

A range of courses are on offer for this year in exciting and growing sectors such as construction, cyber security, sustainability and games development.

Training is designed to be as flexible as possible, lasting between two and 16 weeks. The aim is to equip a new cohort of employees with work-ready skills in sectors crucial to Surrey’s future economy.

Skills Bootcamps are available to all Surrey adults, whether they are in or out work. Sign up takes just a few minutes via the council’s new STEP Surrey portal.

One of the courses on offer is an introduction to Groundworks Plant Operations via Farnham-based Construction Industry Safety Training Centre (CISTC).

Angela Fowler, CISTC Operations Director, said: “This is for people who are looking to move into the sector or those looking to upskill beyond labouring.

“There is a big skills gap and a huge Government drive in terms of construction work. There aren’t enough workers in the industry to provide that, so we’re giving people the skills that are needed. We’re running a two-week bootcamp, and at the end, they get all the basic entry-level tickets to get them on site as a plant operator, including the CSCS card and first aid.

“We wanted to do a bootcamp that we thought would give real job opportunities on completion, and hopefully future opportunities to progress onto more skilled machines.

“We have employment opportunities with our parent company Natta Building Company as well as a number of our clients, so we are hoping it will help our clients tap into potential employees as well.”

Last year, more than 500 people signed up for a Skills Bootcamp course in Surrey. Of those who completed courses, more than half said they’d secured new work or a new position in their company as a result.

MTek Solutions used the Solar PV Skills Bootcamp to upskill their staff as the business branched out into the installation and servicing of solar systems.

Kieran Tuck and Michael Slatcher, MTeK Solutions co-founders, said: “Skills Bootcamps are a great way to upskill and boost your earnings – they help add another string to your bow.

“You have to look beyond today. Investing the time to complete the training has opened doors to much greater opportunities than if we had kept putting things off.”

The Government-funded courses are open to anyone aged 19 or over who lives in Surrey, has the right to work in the UK and wants to learn new skills to boost their career prospects.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Skills Bootcamps are a great way for residents to gain new qualifications and boost their future earnings, while ensuring employers have access to the skills they need to thrive.

“As one of the UK’s largest regional economies, Surrey’s prosperity depends on having a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of our thriving sectors. By providing pathways to rewarding careers, we’re building a Surrey where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

A full list of courses and start dates can be found at www.surreycc.gov.uk/skills-bootcamps.

To register your interest, complete the Get Support Now form on the STEP Surrey website.