Last updated: 8 October 2026, 4:15pm BST
In short
- A free Leadership & Management Skills Bootcamp starts in central Brighton on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
- It runs for about 10 weeks, requiring 4.5 taught hours a week plus study time.
- Applicants must be aged 19 or over and live or work in BN1, BN2, BN3 or BN41.
- Both employed and unemployed people can register; places are limited and registration does not guarantee a place.
- The provider is taking expressions of interest online and by phone on 01273 980 260.
A free Brighton leadership bootcamp is recruiting for a course starting on Tuesday 20 October, giving local workers, jobseekers and aspiring managers access to 10 weeks of government-funded training.
The programme is delivered by Next Step Apprenticeships at its central Brighton training centre. It is open to people aged 19 and over who either live or work in BN1, BN2, BN3 or BN41, covering Brighton, Hove and Portslade postcodes.
Who can apply for the free Brighton leadership bootcamp?
The provider says applicants may be employed or unemployed. The key geographic rule is that they must live or work in one of the four eligible postcode districts. Someone who lives outside the city but works at an eligible Brighton or Hove address may therefore qualify, while a resident should check the first part of their home postcode before applying.
The course is described as fully government funded, so the provider lists no tuition charge for eligible participants. Places are limited, however, and the page invites people to register their interest rather than promising automatic enrolment.
The first advertised cohort begins on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Further start dates are listed for 12, 13 and 14 January 2027, which gives applicants another option if the October group is full or the timetable does not fit.
What the 10-week course covers
Next Step says the programme lasts about 10 weeks and involves 4.5 hours of teaching each week, plus additional study time. Training is delivered at its facility on the second floor of 132 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3WB, close to Brighton railway station.
The published curriculum covers leadership styles, leading people, team management, feedback and development, decision-making, managing change and dealing with conflict. It also includes two accredited units in coaching and conflict, an artificial-intelligence session and an industry guest speaker.
The exact session times, assessment method and amount of home study are not shown on the public course page. Applicants who need to fit the course around shifts, caring duties or access requirements should ask for those details before accepting a place.
Why this matters locally
The course is unusually accessible because eligibility is based on living or working in the four listed postcode districts and is not limited to people who already hold a management title. That makes it relevant to small businesses developing supervisors, employees preparing for promotion and jobseekers who want evidence of practical management skills.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s Adult Education service lists leadership and management among the city’s Skills Bootcamp routes. Its general guidance says bootcamps are intended to help adults move into work, progress in an existing job or find new opportunities when self-employed.
Readers looking for current vacancies alongside training can also check the Brighton Locals jobs page.
How to register
- Read the eligibility and course details on the official Next Step course page.
- Use the registration form on that page as soon as possible because the provider says places are limited.
- For timetable, accessibility or eligibility questions, call 01273 980 260 or email info@nextstepapprenticeships.co.uk.
- Ask for written confirmation that the course is fully funded for your circumstances before committing time or travel costs.
- If this programme is unsuitable, compare other routes on the council’s Skills Bootcamps page.
Brighton Locals’ view
This looks like a useful and genuinely local opportunity: it has a near-term start date, clear postcode eligibility and a manageable published teaching commitment. The free tuition removes a major barrier, but participants still need enough information to judge the time cost.
The provider should publish the full weekly timetable, cohort size, assessment requirements, accessibility arrangements and what happens after registration. Those details would help shift workers, parents and disabled applicants decide quickly while places remain available.
What to watch next
The immediate question is how many October places remain and when successful applicants will receive confirmation. If the October cohort fills, the three January start dates become the next practical option. Evidence of completion rates, accredited outcomes and progression into work or promotion would also show whether the programme delivers lasting value.
Bottom line: eligible adults who live or work in BN1, BN2, BN3 or BN41 have a time-limited chance to apply for free management training starting on 20 October, but should confirm the timetable and their place before making arrangements.
Sources: Next Step Apprenticeships Leadership & Management Skills Bootcamp page; Brighton & Hove City Council Adult Education Skills Bootcamps guidance; Business Brighton & Hove listing, 8 October 2026.
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