Alert: On the 1st April 2026, Crown Commercial Service (CCS) became the Government Commercial Agency (GCA). This organisational change brought CCS together with other Cabinet Office commercial teams to form a single agency supporting more streamlined public sector commercial delivery.

Skills Academy

A ready-to-deploy talent pool of digital and data specialists trained to industry standards, helping to bridge the digital skills gap.

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Your 'work-ready' talent pool for
Digital and Data workers

Access a bench of readily available apprentices, graduates, work returners and ex-forces personnel that have been trained to Tech Industry Gold Standards and equipped with both digital and business skills.

A fast, flexible and cost‑effective solution for organisations facing digital and data skills shortages, ensuring you can scale capability quickly.

What is it suitable for?

For contingent digital and data roles, the PSR team will identify if a Skills Academy worker is a suitable match. Hiring managers may:

  • Include them in the interview or assessment process alongside contingent candidates

OR

  • Choose a one‑week free trial before interview

This provides flexibility, reduces risk and accelerates hiring decisions.

Typical Skills acquired through Skills Academy

Category Image
  • Business Analysis
  • Change & Transformation
  • Consulting
  • Cyber Security
  • Data & Analytics
  • Data Services
  • Information Security
  • IT Operations
  • Information Technology Service Management
  • Project Management Office
  • Software Engineering
  • Testing

Skills Academy demonstrates exactly how alternative talent pathways create opportunity, confidence and upward mobility for those who might otherwise be excluded from the traditional graduate route.”

FDM Group

Benefits

Reduced time to hire with ready to start resource, who are pre-vetted and BPSS checked

Cost effective option, up to 40% on comparative day rates

Extensive UK wide coverage

A trial week is offered free of charge

DEIB and Social Value alignment
with a diverse mix of workers

An average daily saving of £174 per worker

We have recently hired a number of Junior QA/Test Engineers through the Skills Academy route and have found the process has enabled us to both work at pace and with the normal checks and balances we expect when recruiting through PSR.  We have been content with all of the engineers that have landed who have got up to speed and productive very quickly.  The option to trial, free of charge with no obligation, an engineer to confirm they are an appropriate fit works well.

Head of DevOps | HSE

Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Agile Talent Solutions through the PSR Skills Academy

Hear how 46 digital professionals have been successfully placed across major government clients including DWP, Ministry of Defence, UKRI and Cabinet Office via the PSR Skills Academy

Read the case study

Speak to the team

For more information about how PSR can help, start a conversation with ‘Skills Academy’

Get in touch