Step8Up's free project management and leadership bootcamps renewed in West Sussex

West Sussex County Council has renewed two of Step8Up's government-funded Skills Bootcamps for two more cohorts, giving residents and local businesses free or low-cost routes into project management and leadership.

The Level 3 bootcamps, in Agile Project Management and in Leadership and Management, each run for six weeks. The next cohorts start on 25 January 2027. Sessions are live online, Monday to Thursday from 12.30pm to 3pm, so learners can fit the training around work without losing full days.

The project management bootcamp leads to BCS certification. It covers methodologies, including Agile, Scrum and Kanban, planning and backlogs, progress tracking and stakeholder management, and ends with each learner presenting a final project.

The leadership and management bootcamp is aimed at team members stepping up, new managers and directors. It covers people management, difficult conversations, finance for non-finance managers, delegation and practical AI. Learners work on a real challenge from their own organisation and finish with a 90-day leadership plan.

Both courses are free for eligible West Sussex residents aged 19 and over. Employers can also use them to train existing staff, with government funding covering most of the cost. SMEs pay £150 per employee for the leadership course and £235 for project management. Larger employers contribute 30%.

Jeev Sahoo, CEO of Step8Up, said: "Small businesses often have the problems of a larger business but without the budget. They need people who can lead a team and keep a project on track, but they can't send staff away for weeks at a time or pay big-firm prices.

“These bootcamps fix that. Learners apply everything to their real work as they go, so the business sees the difference straight away. We're delighted West Sussex County Council has asked us to keep going."

Every Step8Up programme includes employability support, from CV work and interview practice to employer introductions. Over the past year, that support has helped more than 200 people in their career journey – either by getting back into work or progressing in their roles.

Melissa, a Marketing Manager from the area who took part in the Agile Project Management course, said the practical learning built her confidence for the workplace.

She said: “The course was really informative and significantly enhanced my knowledge of agile methodologies. It’s helped me become more adaptable and confident when dealing with last-minute changes that come up in the projects I’m working on.

“I’d recommend the course to anyone wishing to understand agile project management.”