East Sussex County Council

East Sussex County Council plays a strategic role in developing apprenticeships and skills across the county rather than acting solely as a single apprenticeship training provider. Through Apprenticeships East Sussex (AES), the council coordinates key stakeholders to promote the growth and sustainability of apprenticeships, providing oversight, horizon scanning and collective lobbying on behalf of apprentices, employers and training providers in East Sussex.

For employers, the council offers the TRANSFORM service and associated Transform Skills Toolkit, which give small and medium-sized businesses tailored one-to-one information, impartial advice and guidance on apprenticeship options, wider skills training and how to access funding, including support with the use of Apprenticeship Levy transfers. Internally, as a major employer, the council invests around £1m per year of Apprenticeship Levy to employ new apprentices and upskill existing staff, with defined pay ranges for Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships. It also oversees the delivery of Skills Bootcamps in partnership with training providers and employers, offering fully funded or subsidised short courses (typically up to 16 weeks, Levels 2–5) across sectors such as construction, engineering and manufacturing, digital, early years and teaching assistants, land-based industries, business and administration, hospitality, and health and social care. These programmes are designed to help individuals move into work, progress in their current role or, for the self-employed, win new contracts.