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Skills Builder Catalyst
High impact programme

Targeted essential skills development for schools and colleges

Skills Builder Catalyst is our innovative new programme for educators, bringing high impact, policy ready approaches to essential skills to your learners. 

The ideal starting point for your institution’s skills journey, Catalyst gives you the opportunity to pilot our evidence-based approach with targeted learner groups over a single term - laying the groundwork before scaling up to our flagship, whole-institution Accelerator programme.

Built on insights from the proven success of Accelerator, Catalyst drives learner outcomes supported by the Universal Framework., ensuring your school or college meets emerging curriculum and policy requirements with confidence.

How Catalyst works

Catalyst is a low-risk, high-impact launchpad to institutional skills building. We’ll work with you (the Skills Leader) to get started with essential skills development around a key theme for a selected group of learners over the Spring term. 

You’ll have regular 1:1 support from us, as well as joining our peer practice network of Skills Leaders. At the end of the programme, you’ll have measurable learner outcomes aligned to your theme, and achieve a Skills Builder certificate for your school.

  • Targeted implementation: Focus on 1 - 2 essential skills mapped to a key theme (such as enrichment, employability, SEND, or Oracy) for a selected class or learner group.
  • Dedicated 1:1 support: Work directly with an expert team member to set up, track, and evaluate your skills programme. 
  • Community: Connect with fellow Skills Leaders to share best practices and policy-aligned strategies.
  • Recognised impact: End the term with measurable, evidence-based learner outcomes aligned to your chosen theme, along with Skills Builder recognition for your institution.
  • Impact beyond the programme: Build on your success with early application to our whole school Accelerator programme.

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Throughout the term

Ongoing support from your Education Associate
Opportunities to connect and share practice with other educators

Touchpoints

Learn

Learn how essential skills support your learners. Find out how to effectively measure and teach essential skills in school. 2 hour virtual meet

Plan

Meet with your dedicated education associate to plan for your chosen learner group. 1 hour virtual meet

Teach

Deliver a skills project aligned to your chosen theme, with high quality resources to support.

Achieve

Reflect on your progress, set further goals, and achieve your Skills Builder award! 1 hour virtual meet

What educators say about Skills Builder Partnership

The best part has been seeing the difference it makes for learners. The resources are easy to use, and it's been great working with such a supportive team.

Petty Pool - 2025-26 End of term feedback

It makes planning incredibly easy at a time when teachers are facing significant workload challenges. The framework is completely up-to-date with modern workforce standards and accurately reflects what employers are looking for, ensuring all of our students are well-prepared to face the world.

Laurel Park - 2025-26 End of term feedback

Skills Builder Catalyst

To hear more, register interest here

Click below to register interest for this opportunity

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FAQs

What might this look like in our school?

The programme is tailored to your priorities, allowing you to kickstart essential skills where they will have the most immediate impact. You can expect a focused, high-quality intervention developing 1 - 2 essential skills for selected groups.

For example, you might:

  • Trial a measurable approach to Leadership across a student council initiative (enrichment theme).
  • Embed Planning into workplace preparation for a dedicated work experience cohort (employability theme).

Once you’ve tested and evidenced what works during Catalyst, you’ll have a clear baseline to expand these practices whole-school through the Accelerator programme.

What progress can learners make?

Those with stronger essential skills have been shown to enjoy greater life satisfaction and can earn up to 12% more than their peers. 

The Universal Framework provides a rigorous, evidence backed approach to developing the essential skills learners need to succeed in life. It breaks the 8 essential skills down into a sequence of steps, starting with absolute beginner through to mastery. Skills Builder programmes like Catalyst provide expert guidance, educator support, and high quality teaching resources to effectively utilise the Framework - with learners on a Skills Builder programme making up to 2.7 times more progress in their essential skills.

How much does it cost, and am I eligible for a funded place?

We’re a not-for-profit social enterprise, and accessibility is important to us. The Catalyst programme costs £2000 per institution per year (this cost is subsidised due to our fundraising efforts). However, we fundraise every year to remove this cost barrier for participating schools. We have a limited number of funded places available. However, we fundraise every year to remove this cost barrier for participating schools. We have a limited number of fully funded places for the Spring term. You can check eligibility here

How much time do I need to commit to the programme?

We know there's not much time in schools, and we will work with you to best support with minimal workload across the Spring term.

Skills Leads need to be able to attend:

  1. A two hour virtual Learn session (at the start of the term)
  2. A one hour virtual Prepare meeting (in the first three weeks of the programme)
  3. A one hour virtual Achieve meeting (in the last two weeks of the term)

AND:

Be able to deliver an essential skills project with learners across the term

For example:

  • Dedicating two enrichment sessions to skills teaching. 
  • Two half hour sessions with student leaders developing their Leadership skills. 
  • A session developing Planning with learners before, and after a work experience placement.
  • Three Speaking interventions with a group of learners across a term
Who can I contact if I have questions?

Ask your question here, and one of our team will get back to you.