Unemployed and self-employed adults aged 19 and over in Fleet can now access a fresh wave of free Skills Bootcamps, with new courses in urban greening and artificial intelligence joining the roster. Hampshire County Council announced the expanded programme on 29 June; unemployed learners who complete a course are guaranteed a job interview with a local employer.
Courses span digital and AI, construction and retrofit, health and social care, hospitality and catering, land-based and environmental industries, education and early years, and leadership and management. Deputy Leader Councillor Kirsty North said the training tackles skills shortages while giving residents a direct line into work. Learners who finish a bootcamp with unemployed status receive that guaranteed interview, and the flexible sessions run from two to sixteen weeks, face-to-face, online, or in workshops.
New for 2026, Urban Greening and Biodiversity reflects mounting demand for green skills, while AI-focused digital courses reflect growing demand for advanced digital capabilities. The bootcamps sit within the national Lifetime Skills Guarantee and are delivered by local providers including Sparsholt College Group, Silver Trowel, Fareport Training, and Tech Educators. Full course lists and eligibility details are now hosted on the Prosperity Hampshire website, which replaced the council’s own pages from early July.
No prior qualifications are needed unless a specific course states otherwise. Throughout their training, learners get CV reviews, coaching, mentoring, and pastoral support.
Employers can also tap the scheme, with up to 90% of training costs covered to upskill existing staff and fill workforce gaps in priority sectors across the county.
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