Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council delivers apprenticeship and adult learning provision through its Learning Place and wider employment and skills services. The Learning Place, run by the council, offers apprenticeship courses covering business, education, and health & social care, alongside training in maths, English and IT, and accredited courses in areas such as employability skills, food hygiene and children’s mental health. Many programmes are free, with fee reductions available for eligible learners on income-related benefits, supporting both individuals and employers to build workforce skills. The council is also an apprenticeship provider for its own workforce, delivering in‑house programmes to new and existing staff to support career development in line with organisational needs. Community learning is delivered from a purpose-built centre with fully equipped classrooms, IT suites and a kitchen, as well as partner sites across the city, enabling flexible local access to training. In addition, the council runs a supported internship programme for 18–24-year-olds with special educational needs and disabilities, combining work placements within the council with study at City of Portsmouth College to build employability, functional maths and English. Through these services, Portsmouth City Council provides pathways into work, progression and upskilling for residents and employees across the city.