Unemployed and self-employed adults in Southampton can now access free Skills Bootcamps in artificial intelligence and urban greening after Hampshire County Council expanded the programme on 29 June 2026. The courses, open to everyone aged 19 and over, offer a fast-track route into work or career progression across seven sectors.
New additions include Urban Greening and Biodiversity and AI-focused digital training, responding to employer demand for green skills and advanced digital capabilities. Other sectors covered range from construction, health and social care, and hospitality to leadership, education, and land-based industries. Courses last between two and sixteen weeks with a minimum of 60 hours of learning, and all unemployed learners are guaranteed a job interview on completion.
The bootcamps are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, funded by the Department for Education, which has provided £7 million to continue the scheme for a third year. More than 3,100 adults have already developed new skills through the programme, delivered in partnership with local colleges and private training providers. From the 2026 to 2027 financial year, funding responsibility will transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Residents can check eligibility and browse current courses on the Prosperity Hampshire website, where specific bootcamps such as the AI in Business course run by Tech Educators and the Urban Greening and Biodiversity Practices course at Sparsholt College Group are listed.
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