Skills and Employment Support for Hampshire Employers
Hampshire County Council’s ‘Skills and Employment Team’ offers a variety of services to enhance skills development for employers and individuals across the county. The team provide specialised advice on national and local skills initiatives, such as apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps, and Connect to Work. The team works with businesses of all sizes, offering impartial advice on how these initiatives and related funding can aid in recruitment, staff development, and identifying future skills gaps and talent needs.
For further enquiries, please contact the team at [email protected]
Apprenticeships
The team offers free impartial advice to employers of all sizes and sectors to either introduce or grow the number of apprentices they employ. We help Hampshire businesses to choose the right training provider and Apprenticeship Standard to meet their needs. We provide guidance on funding options tailored to the individual businesses.
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer
In May 2017, the UK Government introduced the Apprenticeship Levy, requiring employers in England with an annual salary bill of £3 million or more to allocate 0.5% of it to apprenticeship training. From April 2019, employers could transfer up to 50% of their annual levy to other employers, allowing large businesses to support smaller ones by using unspent levy funds for apprenticeship training costs.
Skills Bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps empower individuals and employers to develop valuable, sector-specific skills. Based on local employer demand, the Skills Bootcamps on offer provide a direct path to employment upon completion, with a guaranteed job interview at the end of each course for unemployed individuals. These funded courses are flexible and include minimum hours of learning across a maximum 16-week period, providing learners with several positive outcomes no matter their circumstances. All Skills Bootcamps learners are offered support upon completion of their course to progress within their chosen field. Support offered includes CV review, pastoral support, coaching and mentoring.
Connect to Work
This is the flagship programme supporting the Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ Strategy. Arriving across Hampshire during 2025/26, Connect to Work will help connect local work, health and skills support. The programme will provide a coherent, systematic and joined up approach to maximise the benefits available for individuals, employers and local communities.
Workers from Overseas
The Refugee Resettlement and Support service has been established to provide and coordinate resettlement and integration support for refugees relocating to Hampshire. The service aimed to provide immediate assistance to beneficiaries upon their arrival in the UK. Through this offer there are a selection of English courses for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Employers are signposted to programmes to help improve English language skills, to gain work, or to advance career opportunities, as well as prepare for further academic or vocational study.

Construct Your Future (CYF)
This is a partnership between Hampshire County Council and the CITB, aiming to retain construction sector employees through mentorship. CYF offers a wide range of services, including a pipeline of industry-ready workers, dedicated Project Coordinators providing six months of employability mentoring, tailored mentoring activities, and empowerment of new employees. By addressing the soft skills gap and focusing on both recruitment and retention, CYF strives to create a skilled and sustainable construction workforce.
Adult Tailored Learning
The Adult Tailored Learning programme provides learning opportunities for adults across the whole of Hampshire. Its aim is to develop the skills, confidence, motivation, and resilience to support progression to formal learning and employment. It also has programmes of learning to improve health and wellbeing to support the development of stronger communities. We support employers to access this programme which offers free training to support employees to become more confident and effective in their roles.
SEND Employability Hubs & Supported Internships
We work with employers to help them engage with young people with Special Education Needs. Many of our employers are keen to engage on this type of activity and give opportunities to help gain and sustain employment. Employers offer visits to workplaces, work experience and general engagement they can inspire the aspirations of young people. Supported internships are unpaid, and last for a minimum of six months. Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme.
Meet the team

Stacey Allan
Development Manager
Leading on all skills and employment programmes

Carol Greaves
Employer Coordinator
Skills and employment lead for Havant, Fareham, Gosport, and East Hampshire

Carrie Shearing
Employer Coordinator
Skills and employment lead for Eastleigh, Winchester, New Forest, and Test Valley

Jack Hodgkins
Employer Coordinator
Skills and employment lead for Basingstoke and Deane, Rushmoor, and Hart

Garry Bacon
Employer Coordinator
Project Specialist regarding Construct your Future, ESOL, and Homes for Ukraine

Adem Butson
Employer Coordinator
Project Specialist regarding Construct your Future and Skills Bootcamps
For further enquiries, please contact the team at [email protected]