Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 11 December 2024 (HL2971), when they will provide further information about contract extensions and variations to national providers of Skills Bootcamps.

Skills Bootcamps are an important offer in the skills landscape and at present they remain available for learners via national contracts and grant funding in local areas. Existing national contracts remain in place until the end of their term.

We recognise the need for clarity on national contract extensions or variations. The department continues to finalise 2025/26 budgets through the business planning process and will confirm the position as soon as possible.

In the longer term, we intend to fund Skills Bootcamps through funding Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and local areas directly. This supports the government’s commitment to empower local leaders to have greater control of skills development alongside an increased role in supporting people into work.

On 30 January the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government published the final details of the 2025/26 integrated settlements, confirming £18 million of Skills Bootcamps local funding will be devolved to Greater Manchester and West Midlands MCAs next year.

We are currently working through the process to inform non-devolved local areas of their Skills Bootcamps 2025/26 allocations as quickly as we can.

Providers will be able to look for opportunities through contract finders on GOV.UK, with procurement exercises likely to match the skills needs identified in a local area’s local skills improvement plan.