
What is the Skills Builder Accelerator?
- A year-long, change management programme for primaries, secondaries, special schools, AP settings and colleges.
- There are only 200 places open each year.
- You nominate a ‘Skills Leader’ and member of senior leadership team to work closely with our team of former teachers. Together, we’ll develop a long term strategy that’s sustainable.
- There are virtual training days, network events, 121 strategy meetings and staff training sessions, plus access to online assessment tools and resources.
- The Accelerator will result in students building essential skills. Many choose to link this with existing provision for careers and employability, teaching and learning, character and capabilities and/or wider personal development
What do you get, as the Skills Leader?
- You’ll join a UK-wide cohort of over 400 Skills Leaders
- You’ll reflect on and build your own Leadership skills, across 2 virtual training days
- You’ll work closely a former teacher at Skills Builder to embed best practice
What does your school/college get?
- Skills Builder Award as recognition of best practice in essential skills education
- Demonstrable student progress in eight essential skills
- A long-term strategy for equipping students with the skills they need to succeed
- Admin rights on Skills Builder Hub, with over 300 resources and a formative group level assessment
The Partnership
The Skills Builder Partnership brings together 800+ education institutions, employers and leading organisations around a common approach to building eight essential skills. Central to our approach is a rigorous progression framework, a set of underlying principles and a complete suite of tools and teaching materials.

The Framework
The Skills Builder Universal Framework is the national standard for teaching essential skills. It breaks each skill into teachable steps, supporting progress for students of all ages and abilities - including those with special educational needs. The Universal Framework was developed with Skills Builder by the Careers and Enterprise Company, Gatsby Foundation, Business in the Community, EY Foundation, the CBI and CIPD.

The Principles
Refined over a decade, the Skills Builder Principles outline best practice in teaching essential skills. The six principles will form the basis of your strategy and your success embedding them will be recognised with the Skills Builder Award.




What is the Skills Builder Award?
- The goal is to equip students with the essential skills they need to succeed in education, wider life and subsequent employment
- The Skills Builder Award recognises education institutions delivering high quality essential skills education at a Bronze, Silver and Gold standard
- You will achieve an Award by embedding the principles of best practice, outlined in the Award Guide here
- You will work closely with your Education Associate via 3 Strategy Meetings to develop and implement a manageable, long-term strategy
- Awards are dated for 3 years and reviewed annually by our team

"Skills Builder has become an inextricable part of out school's identity"
Headteacher / Primary
“I'm developing a bespoke strategy that is manageable but also has impact - best of both worlds!”
Skills Leader / Primary
“It is easy to engage teachers when everything is there at the click of the button”
Skills Leader / Special School
“Truly amazing and inspirational to collaborate with other leaders, hear their successes and how they have overcome challenges”
Skills Leader / Secondary
“It is, at heart, an inspiring concept that prompts better practice and therefore student outcomes.”
Careers Manager / Secondary

Get the prospectus, tips on applying and latest updates on funded places in your area - click here
Still have questions? Email us at accelerator@skillsbuilder.org and we will be in touch