FORWARD
I am proud to be able to introduce this Impact Report on our Skills Bootcamps, run by our Short Course Unit since its establishment in 2021, in response to a growing regional and national need for upskilling. From the outset, these programmes were designed to address skills shortages while widening access to opportunity, supporting individuals, employers and the wider economy during a period of significant change.
The strength of our Skills Bootcamps lies in collaboration. They provide a dynamic, shared space where the University works closely with employers, industry partners and communities. By co-creating each Skills Bootcamp, we ensure that our provision is relevant, responsive and aligned with real workforce needs. This partnership approach enables learners to develop practical, in-demand skills while supporting organisations to build resilient, future-ready teams.
Most importantly, the Skills Bootcamps are about changing lives. We see learners gain confidence, unlock potential and progress into new careers or promotions. For many participants, these programmes offer a vital stepping stone to sustainable employment and longterm success.
This report highlights the tangible impact of our collective efforts and reaffirms Bath Spa University’s commitment to inclusive growth, innovation and education that makes a meaningful difference to individuals and communities alike.
SKILLS BOOTCAMPS IN
Skills Bootcamp Outcomes (2021–2025)
Skills Bootcamps delivered in response to government priorities
in-demand subjects taught equipping learners with sector specific skills
graduates have advanced their careers with us.
Wave 5 Career Impact
Our Skills Bootcamps are relevant
Graduates work an average
36.2
of graduates secured an interview hours per week, in line with the national average
Graduates reported an average of graduates transitioned into new roles or took on greater responsibilities within their current workplace of previously unemployed learners gained employment
increase in salary post-completion
ABOUT US
The Short Course Unit (SCU) was formed in 2021 in response to the growing regional and national need for upskilling and workforce development. Situated within Bath Spa University’s (BSU) Centre for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange, it has set out to meet regional needs for economic growth, and support skills gaps such as data, digital and leadership and management identified by Combined Authorities and Governmental Agencies.
Today, the SCU offers a variety of short courses; government funded Skills Bootcamps, private funded training programmes, commercial CPD courses and creative advancement courses. Skills Bootcamps continue to be an important part of the Unit’s growing offer for adult learners.
Driven by industry need, and our desire to create high-impact learning opportunities for all, our partnerships and engagement with SMEs and key stakeholders have enabled us to create several Skills Bootcamps over the last four years. The Unit has delivered Skills Bootcamps from Creative Computing, Digital Marketing and Web Development to Agile Project Management and Scenario Planning.
Skills Bootcamps empower individuals with practical skills, boosting employability and economic participation. Through the SCU’s work and that of its Skills Bootcamps offer, we promote social inclusion by making education more accessible and affordable to diverse communities. By addressing current societal needs, the SCU empowers learners, communities and local economies through opportunities to upskill and reskill.
ABOUT SKILLS BOOTCAMPS
Skills Bootcamps are intensive, sector-specific training programmes lasting up to 16 weeks that support learners towards employment. Co-designed with industry, these short courses equip adult learners with in-demand skills aligned with employer needs. Delivered in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and funded by the DfE and local authorities, Skills Bootcamps enable individuals to retrain, upskill, or launch their own businesses, at no cost to eligible participants, ensuring equal access to learning opportunities.
Responding to national workforce priorities, Skills Bootcamps provide learners with the latest knowledge and skills for their chosen careers. Alongside this training, learners receive comprehensive employability support, including CV development, interview preparation, networking strategies, and business planning, alongside wellbeing support, maximising their potential to achieve meaningful career progression.
OUR APPROACH
Skills Bootcamps provide a collaborative space for learners to enhance their careers and progress to new opportunities. Delivery combines in-person sessions, designed to build connections and foster engagement, with interactive online learning that not only develops industry subject knowledge but develops learners’ digital skills.
Our Learning Management System ensures accessibility through lecture recordings with captions and transcripts, plus resource checks for compliance. Learners receive one-to-one support from our Curriculum and SEN Coordinator, including reasonable exam adjustments such as extra time and language support.
Skills Bootcamps are developed in partnership with industry specialists to meet regional skills needs. Experts contribute to curriculum design, live briefs, workshops, and talks, enriching the learner experience and ensuring alignment to regional skills needs.
Recognising the value placed by learners and employers on qualifications, several of our Skills Bootcamps provide certifications to learners through the British Computer Society. With an 92% first time pass-rate, our learners are highly equipped to take their next career steps.
We currently operate across the West of England region and Swindon and Wiltshire, with previous provision in the West Midlands. Our infrastructure enables expansion to other regions such as London, with our Canary Wharf and Hackney sites.
Since April 2023, Skills Bootcamps have been under Ofsted’s remit. In July 2025, our provision was rated Outstanding, with praise for innovative curriculum design, rigorous evaluation, and exceptional SEN support ensuring equality for adult learners.
Skills Bootcamps offer flexible, short format learning accessible to a wide range of learners. They focus on industry relevant skills, preparing participants for career progression through high-quality teaching, interactive workshops, live projects, and access to Bath Spa University’s wider community and services such as wellbeing support, and access to online learning systems and industry tools.
“I can't pin one best thing. It has all been so wonderful. The mix of online and in-person sessions, the lovely supportive staff and of course the classmates I have met along the way and have since become friends with.”
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
Collaborative partnerships have been central to Bath Spa University’s success in developing and delivering Skills Bootcamps. They have given learners access to real-world experiences and opportunities across our geographical locations. As part of their learning journeys, learners have worked on live project briefs designed interactive workshops and delivered inspiring talks.
Our commitment to impact is reflected in these collaborations. Learners have had the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills direct from industry specialists, receive tailored advice on breaking into industry through our CV and Industry Days, and have secured employment with our partners. Recent collaborations include working with Coherent Training, experts in training, education, and coaching in project management methodologies, to partnering with Unite Students and Transform Digital to deliver industry focused workshops for our Skills Bootcamps in UX/UI Design and initiatives with The Data Place for our Skills Bootcamps in Data Analytics.
Our partnerships ensure our programmes remain relevant, address critical skills gaps identified by government, and expand access to learners from diverse backgrounds. One of our proudest achievements has been our work with the Forces Transition Group, which has seen us upskill over 100 forces leavers, helping them to make their transition back into civilian life.
“It was great to have time with people who are currently working in the industry. For me, it helped to put a lot of things that we have been taught on the course into a real-life context, as sometimes theory and practice can be quite different.”
CHANGING THE LIVES OF ADULT LEARNERS
Skills Bootcamps are an important part of Bath Spa University’s adult learning provision, reflecting our commitment to widening participation and creating inclusive pathways into education and employment. Since 2021, we have delivered 65 Skills Bootcamps, supporting 1,087 adult learners to gain industry-relevant skills and take the next steps toward their career goals.
These learners, drawn from the West of England, West Midlands, Wiltshire and Swindon, are part of a growing, vibrant community of adult learners at Bath Spa University. But our learners are more than just numbers. Find out more about their stories and achievements overleaf.
PREPARING TO RETURN TO WORK
According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), approximately 90,000 people take a career break in the UK. The reasons behind career breaks vary but are becoming more common. For some, career breaks can offer a chance to reflect and invest in yourself, such as investing in your professional development. For Vicky, her career break provided the opportunity to do just that.
After a 15-year career in the cycling industry as an account manager, Vicky took a career break and decided to undertake training to pursue a career in project management.
BSU’s Skills Bootcamp in Agile and Scrum particularly appealed to Vicky, as not only did the free nature of the course make it accessible to her, but the short, intensive format of the Skills Bootcamp made investing in her professional development feel achievable.
“The teaching style was very encouraging. After a long break from studying, it was reassuring to be told that making mistakes was okay—it was more important to just have a go.”
During the course, Vicky identified transferable skills from her previous roles and connected them with new knowledge gained through the Skills Bootcamp, boosting her confidence and skill set. She also valued the Wellbeing, Employability and Careers Programme, which runs alongside the course. In particular, the CV and Industry Day provided insights into career pathways and the opportunities available to her.
Vicky is feeling positive about her next steps and is actively working towards securing a new role in project management.
CAREER CHANGE
Skills Bootcamps can act as a catalyst for changing careers. Through Bath Spa University’s (BSU) Skills Bootcamp offerings, a learner can transform their career - transitioning into their desired one. With net tech employment projected to increase by 1.4%, adding approximately 31,000 digital jobs to the tech-workforce in 2025 alone (CompTIA, 2025), reskilling has never been more important.
Ollie, a learner from Wells, worked as an electrician during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Deciding that he’d like to change careers, Ollie studied a Skills Bootcamp in Creative Computing with BSU and since, pivoted over to becoming a junior developer at a large printing company.
“I’ve always been proficient with computers. I remember in primary school the teachers would usually ask me to fix their computer if there was anything wrong with it! I’ve also built my own computer, which I use as my daily workstation outside of my profession.”
When learning Creative Computing, Ollie created his own individual projects and collaborated with other learners on group projects to improve his newly acquired skillset. For Ollie, he was determined to complete these projects to be able to evidence to employers in future interviews his new skillset, demonstrating the practical skills in his repertoire. When discovering his new skillset, Ollie realised that his pre-existing skills as an electrician were transferable into his new role as a junior developer, increasing his chance of employability when jobhunting.
“It was a great platform and place for me to learn with other individuals. It gave me the opportunity to showcase my dedication to potential employers by adding it to my CV, and it was a valuable experience in my journey to getting hired.”
In the past few years Ollie has climbed the career ladder, moving from Integrity Print to work for Tivarri as the lead front-end developer that created Tailpipe - a SaaS platform that allows enterprise businesses to track and reduce their carbon emissions associated with cloud computing.
Ollie has since stepped into a technical leadership role at Elcom, architecting reliable systems and shaping product direction for critical national procurement workflows. His day-to-day spans product-focused front-end engineering (accessible, performant Angular apps), collaborating across product, design, and ops to turn requirements into reliable software that underpins crucial NHS operations and healthcare services.
Ollie’s experience showcases how BSU Skills Bootcamps can help individuals break into their desired industry, through a structured and innovative new curriculum.
CAREER PROGRESSION
Career progression continues to be a significant factor influencing worker satisfaction. Recent studies highlight 26% of UK workers identify limited opportunities for career progression as a key factor affecting their job satisfaction (CIPD, 2024). Skills Bootcamps provide a vehicle for learners to gain; or improve their qualifications to progress their career.
Jed, a music graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, used to work as a Creative Strategist. After finding himself redundant from a niche industry, he reflected on the spiralling costs of master's degrees and a desire to shift away from creative practice. Jed felt that the next logical step was to change careers and upskill into a logical role with a Skills Bootcamp in Environmental Data Analysis at Bath Spa University (BSU), a course specialising in Excel, Power BI tools and Python data analysis.
Jed cites the highlight of his Skills Bootcamp experience being the final data analysis project, which allowed him to use his “relative strengths" in creative strategy to apply his pre-existing skills and insight to his new project; including a post-course project with an alum he met on the course. Following the completion of his course and acquisition of new skills, Jed applied for a wide variety of “data” jobs, taking a self-described “blunderbuss approach” to job-hunting. After subsequent job applications, Jed was continually rejected from multiple junior analyst roles.
Reflecting on this, Jed took careers support from BSU, where he was encouraged to apply for more senior positions – making sure that the applications he chose were jobs he wanted to do, and felt worthwhile chasing. After applying to a senior analyst role in a well-known consumer intelligence company, Jed was successful. Citing BSU’s Skills Bootcamp’s upskilling and previous experience
gained through creative strategy and his degree, Jed shared that he was both “recognised and highly valued” by his new employer.
Two years on from completing his Skills Bootcamp, Jed is looking to bring the skills he learned on his course with him back towards brand strategy work. He is currently seeking his next role whilst also pursuing freelance opportunities.
When reflecting on Jed’s time in the Skills Bootcamp, he stated that the Skills Bootcamp isn’t the whole picture. Being successful when applying to job postings for Jed, lies within leveraging your experience that you already have – and thus, what unique skillsets you can offer your employer beyond their initial expectations.
LIFELONG LEARNING
Lifelong learning is a critical mindset for individuals and employers. For individuals, not only does it empower them with new knowledge and skills, but it also supports professional growth and resilience. And for organisations, lifelong learning is crucial to adapting to change, from technological advancement to the journey to Net Zero and more.
Scott, an ex-Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Yorkshire Regiment, sought to leave the forces after an impressive 25-year service. This meant Scott would need to transition back into civilian life, through the Forces Transition Group (FTG), in partnership with Bath Spa University (BSU).
Reflecting on his time in the services, Scott cited his leadership within “complex operations”, mentorship of his fellow soldiers, and discipline as his reasons for choosing BSU’s Skills Bootcamp in Agile and Scrum. For Scott, the importance of relevant content aligned with his goal to consolidate civilian value, through his military experience. Scott stated, it was the camaraderie, support from tutors and peers, and emphasis on real-world applications that set this BSU Skills Bootcamp apart from others on the market.
Realising that his motivation from 25 years of military service was creating a future-facing impact, Scott knew that he wanted to align himself with values of “service, sustainability, and operational excellence”. He subsequently found this in Ecozi, a micro-company responsible for 50% of the UK’s wind and solar farms.
Scott’s biggest challenge in transitioning to civilian life has been understanding the switch in pace and communication styles from military to civilian language. By using the skills he learned from extensive military service, and now BSU’s Skills Bootcamp in Agile and Scrum, Scott has been able to transform his military experience and leverage it in a new, innovative and rewarding career in sustainable power as a Project Manager. Ultimately, Scott continues to support and invest in his colleagues during civilian life, with the same dedication he carried within the forces, as he prepares for his “next chapter”.
TRANSITIONS
The transition from military service to civilian life presents a major life change for service leavers. But with more of us than ever expected to make a significant career change, it's just as important to consider your approach to finding the right role as the role itself.
After a successful career in the Royal Air Force (RAF) spanning 23 years, Katie decided to transition out of military service into a civilian career. Her initial role after leaving service wasn’t quite the right fit for her, prompting Katie to engage with the Forces Transition Group (FTG), an organisation which supports military and blue light personnel to successfully navigate the move to civilian life.
Through BSU’s partnership with the FTG, Katie enrolled on our Skills Bootcamp in Agile and Scrum. A key factor in Katie choosing this Skills Bootcamp was that not only did the course complement the skills she already had, but also the qualifications she had achieved prior to leaving the RAF.
Katie found her participation in the Skills Bootcamp transformed her approach to learning by encouraging curiosity, and to ask questions without hesitation. Learning alongside her military service peers as well as civilians also enriched her experience, as she gained insights not only from her tutors and coaches, but fellow participants.
Our Wellbeing, Employability and Careers Programme significantly shaped Katie’s approach to her job search.
Reflecting on the career support she received,
“My sessions with Helen have been absolute gold and led me to be more targeted in my job search. Her support helped me clarify the type of organisation and role I wanted, and I am thrilled to have started with McLaren Racing as a Senior Coordinator in fleet compliance a few months after completing my Skills Bootcamp.”
LOOKING AHEAD
The Short Course Unit (SCU) continues to build strong momentum, expanding both its reach and its portfolio of innovative learning opportunities. Our strategic focus is on developing a comprehensive suite of short courses that span creative development, continuing professional development (CPD), workforce upskilling, and tailored bespoke programmes designed in collaboration with industry and community partners.
Looking ahead, the SCU is actively exploring new opportunities to diversify and scale its offer— including the development of Skills Bootcamps across a range of regions and priority sector areas. These initiatives will position Bath Spa University (BSU) as a key contributor to regional skills pipelines and support wider economic growth.
As part of the BSU's Knowledge Exchange Strategy, the SCU is evolving into a dynamic hub for partnership development and impact generation. We are shaping new pathways to contribute to Higher Education Innovation Funding by cultivating strategic collaborations with both internal stakeholders and external organisations. Through these partnerships, we aim to deliver high-value, flexible learning that responds to emerging needs, strengthens employer engagement, and reinforces the BSU's role as a leader in accessible, futurefocused education.
PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
We are grateful for the generous support of our funders, partners and supporters who have worked with us over the last four years to support so many learners through our Skills Bootcamps.
We are thankful to the following funders for their financial support:
• Department for Education
• West of England Mayoral Combined Authority
• West Midlands Combined Authority
• Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council
We would like to thank our partners and collaborators who have worked with us to deliver our Skills Bootcamps:
• British Computer Society
• Coherent Training
• Forces Transition Group
• Helen Gormley Wellbeing
• Institute of Computing, Bath University
• Modular Digital
• RT Consulting
• The Data Place
• Transform Digital
• Unite Students
We would also like to thank the many individuals and organisations that have generously shared their expertise, guidance, and encouragement over the years. Their support, alongside the dedication of our team, past and present has been instrumental in the success of our Skills Bootcamp programme.
