We're thrilled to announce that we've been awarded a contract by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver Skills Bootcamps to over 700 learners across England from now through March 2024!

Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and an offer of an interview with an employer upon completion.

The landscape of education and employment is rapidly changing, and the demand for advanced data skills has never been greater. Recognising this, we've designed two distinct Skills Bootcamps, each with a 10-week duration:

• Skills Bootcamp in Essential Data Skills: This programme covers the foundational aspects of data collection, sorting, and analysis.
• Skills Bootcamp in Data Analytics: A deeper dive into the world of data analytics, this programme covers advanced tools and languages like Python, Pandas, Power BI, and Tableau.

Both programmes are delivered online, offering flexibility and convenience. We've integrated expert lectures, technical mentorship, and real-time feedback through our EDUKATE.AI platform, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

EDUKATE.AI is a unique learning tool, focussed on learning applied skills that deliver business impact, helping drive the employability of our learners. Alongside EDUKATE and technical mentorship, candidates will benefit from an employability coach to guide them in their job search.

Starting this week, 80 learners across both programmes will begin their data upskilling journey from Day 1 on the course.

This new initiative aligns closely with our mission at Cambridge Spark to upskill workforces with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.

Our CEO, Dr. Raoul-Gabriel Urma, says: "This partnership is a step forward in our commitment to extending digital upskilling and career opportunities to a wider range of people. We're not just teaching data skills. We're offering flexible learning solutions that pave the way for individuals to secure rewarding careers in an industry that's shaping the future."

Data talent opportunities for employers

Apart from the career development these programmes offer learners, the Skills Bootcamps also present a reliable and cost-effective talent solution for employers in England.

December 2022 data from the Office for National Statistics places the average annual salary for full-time employees in Great Britain at £32,760. And with typical recruitment agencies charging 10% to 30% of an employee's starting salary, your organisation could be paying an average of between £3,276 and £9,828 for each new hire, to say nothing of time spent on hiring and the risks of hiring people with insufficient skills.

Working with Cambridge Spark to fill these job vacancies instead gives you access to qualified and vetted data talent at no cost. 

If you or your organisation are pursuing new hires with proven competence in the latest data and analytics skills, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us for more information.

Visit the Skills Bootcamps page of our website to learn more about these and all other current Skills Bootcamps.

About the Department for Education:

The Department for Education is responsible for children’s services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England.

We work to provide children’s services, education and skills training that ensures opportunity is equal for all, no matter background, family circumstances, or need.

At our heart, we are the department for realising potential. We enable children and learners to thrive, by protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the delivery of excellent standards of education, training and care. This helps realise everyone’s potential – and that powers our economy, strengthens society, and increases fairness.

About Cambridge Spark:

Cambridge Spark is an education technology company that educates the workforce with critical digital transformation skills to succeed in the AI era.

We offer a range of flexible learning solutions to meet business needs, from fast deployment of new skills with bespoke programmes through to longer-term investment in the workforce with apprenticeships.

Our unique patented online learning platform EDUKATE.AI simulates real-world industry scenarios, providing learners with instantaneous feedback on their code. This hands-on, practical approach ensures that learners are learning how to apply new skills to real datasets, which accelerates the business impact they can make.