Councils offer 2,000 free places on skills courses

Cornwall Council confirmed 2,000 places were available for free bootcamp courses

Nearly 2,000 places to help adults "upskill" or retrain are on offer in Devon and Cornwall.

Cornwall Council confirmed 100 free courses were available to adults who want to change careers or gain more skills in jobs such as childcare, hospitality and healthcare.

The boot camp sessions will be delivered by Devon County Council and Cornwall Council.

Councillor Barbara Ellenbroek, Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for children and families, said the courses offered a "flexible approach to upskilling and retraining".

Leanne Semmens, from Hayle, struggled with traditional education as a teenager but has completed the welding and fabrication skills course and since worked various jobs.

She said: “I like the fact I had the opportunity to go on a fully-funded course to learn something new."

The courses, which are free to those who are self-employed or want to change career, are tutor-led and last from two to 16 weeks.

For employers who want to upskill their staff, a contribution to the course cost is required.

Applications are available online.