Skills Bootcamp in Lean Manufacturing

Our Skills Bootcamp in Lean Six Sigma is part of the Government's Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Plan for Jobs. It has been designed to give individuals the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills for themselves and fast-track them to an interview with a local employer.

The Creative Industries Department at Yeovil College has brought this government supported initiative to the doorsteps of our local community to assist individuals who are aspiring to jump up on a career in Lean Six Sigma. This Skills Bootcamp is intended to help upskill or reskill 19+ adults within our community so that they are able to fill the high in-demand Lean Six Sigma skills that most employers need to thrive.

The skills and curriculum content planned for delivery have been specially designed in collaboration with and acting on feedback from local and regional employers from Manufacturing industries.

Completing the Skills Bootcamp in Lean Manufacturing opens up a range of career and training opportunities. Learners will gain a solid foundation in Lean principles and Six Sigma methodologies, equipping them with the tools to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve quality in manufacturing processes. These skills are highly valued by employers across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, logistics, engineering, and operations.

With this knowledge, learners may choose to:
Progress to a Level 4 Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship, further developing their ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement.
Advance within their current organisation, applying Lean and Six Sigma techniques to take on more responsibility, lead improvement projects, or move into supervisory or team leader roles.
Branch into related fields, such as: Continuous Improvement Coordinator, Project Support Officer and Operations Support in logistics, warehousing, or production.
Continue learning through Apprenticeships or short courses and qualifications in advanced Six Sigma, Health and Safety, Project Management or Leadership and Management.

Learners are welcome to discuss their next steps with their course tutor, who can provide personalised guidance on progression routes and opportunities.

Key topics covered will include the following:

• Communication and teamwork
• Working relationships within a manufacturing environment
• Application of workplace organisation
• Awareness of Lean Tools (e.g. Kaizen) and Six Sigma Methodology
• Work-related problem-solving techniques
• Preparing for manufacturing operations
• Transferring materials for manufacturing operations

Participants will enjoy a wrap-around service, including dedicated Career Guidance single point of contact, employability sessions, mentor and pastoral support from qualified Yeovil College staff together with guidance and signposting, where appropriate.

Teaching for this Skills Bootcamp is delivered face-to-face, creating an engaging and interactive environment for learning. Each session includes a blend of theory and practical application, allowing learners to explore Lean Management concepts and then immediately relate them to real workplace scenarios.

Participants will take part in discussions, reflective activities, role play exercises and peer-led tasks, all designed to build confidence and deepen understanding. Workbooks and practical Assessments and observations will capture learning, actions and personal development goals during each session.

All learners will have access to support from experienced tutors, coaches, and Yeovil College staff, with additional guidance available for those who may need extra help to succeed.

Employer Referred
• As a small employer you will be required to pay a co-investment of 10% of the cost.
• As a large employer you will be required to pay a co-investment of 30% of the cost.
• Employees will need time away from work to attend weekly classes & coaching sessions.

Self-employed
• Fully Funded*
*Specific eligibility criteria apply – please contact skills.bootcamp@yeovil.ac.uk to confirm eligibility.

Participants must:
• Be aged 19+.
• Employed or Self-Employed.
• Must live or work in Somerset or Dorset.
• Agree to provide mandatory personal data and supplementary information.
• Only study one Skills Bootcamp within one financial year.
• Commit to attending 1 day of study each week.

This course also requires a good level of written English, so we ask for applicants to hold either a GCSE in English at grade C / 4, or an equivalent (e.g. Functional Skills Level 2).

If you don't yet hold your GCSE English (or equivalent), you can look through our website or contact our friendly iZone team to find out more about the GCSE and Functional Skills courses we offer.