Skills Bootcamps

Turning Rejection into Opportunity

Having sent out numerous job applications, completed three interviews and one internship at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre and still not landing a job in Digital Marketing, I knew I had to do something different in my attempt to change career direction.

I had no formal training in the industry and minimal experience, having spent the previous seven years working in Education and Childcare. It was proving tricky to shift lanes. Whilst trying to juggle bills, I felt like my training options were limited. I needed a quick, local, affordable training solution to develop the skills employers wanted and get my foot in the door – it sounded unlikely, but after a quick Google search, I discovered Skills Bootcamps.

The Turning Point

The course I enrolled in was a 60-hour in-person Skills Bootcamp in Digital Marketing at Yeovil College, taking place every Friday. The enrolment process was quick, and before long, I was back in a classroom with other eager learners. The course wasn’t what I expected at all – the content was relevant and practical, focused on real-world tasks and interview preparation rather than theory I’d never use. It also perfectly filled in the gaps of knowledge I lacked in my previous interviews.

Not only was the course content spot-on, but the learning environment was incredibly supportive. My tutor Sonia was passionate and attentive, and my fellow course mates were friendly and just as determined as I was.

The support didn’t stop in the classroom. With the help and guidance from Yeovil College wrap-around services, I completely rewrote my CV and was offered an interview as a Media and Marketing Officer at the Dorset and Somerset Training Providers Network. For the first time in years, I entered an interview feeling invigorated, well-prepared and confident. It went very well, and whilst walking back to my car in the car park I received the call: I got the job!

The Impact

A year later, my supportive new employer suggested I attend another Skills Bootcamp – this time, in Generative AI for Business. The skills I’ve learned helped me get a promotion, a pay rise, and even freelance opportunities on the side. For the first time since adulthood, I now feel valued and empowered, ready to take on challenges I didn’t think were possible. Better still, I’ve been able to save enough for a house deposit, a huge step forward that I never thought possible just a few years ago.

Why Cutting Funding Matters

Completing Skills Bootcamps changed everything for me – new skills, new direction and a new sense of self-worth. Although life-changing for me, I know my Skills Bootcamp experience won’t be unique; thousands of other learners across Somerset and Dorset will have experienced something similar.

That’s why it’s heartbreaking to hear that funding for Skills Bootcamps is being cut. For people like me, who need flexible and realistic ways to retrain, it feels like a door closing on opportunity and potential. Skills Bootcamps are transformational and cutting them means taking that chance away from someone else who could be the next success story.