Service design training bursary

We’re offering a 90% bursary for one place on our Service Design in Practice course starting on 23 September 2025.

This is for someone who wouldn’t otherwise be able to fund a place – someone from an underrepresented background who wants to bring service design into public or community work.

Want to know why we’re doing this?

What’s included?

The bursary covers:

  • 8 months of hands-on, practical training

  • Real-life service design challenges and teamwork

  • 4 in-person full-day workshops in Cardiff

  • 6 days’ worth of live online workshops

  • Coaching, support, and a peer network that lasts

You’ll need:

  • To travel to Cardiff four times

  • A laptop and a reliable internet connection

  • To be available for all the teaching sessions

  • Around half a day per week to take part outside of the taught sessions (during the standard working week)

What does the course cover?

Find out more about the Service Design in Practice course

Who’s it for?

You might be:

  • From a background that’s underrepresented in service design

  • Not funded by your employer

  • Looking to move into public or third sector roles

  • Facing barriers, financial or otherwise, to professional development

  • A carer, a refugee, or someone who’s been overlooked before now

  • We will prioritise applicants living or working in Wales

We especially welcome applications from people who identify as:

  • Black, Asian, brown, dual-heritage, or indigenous to the global south

  • Disabled or neurodivergent

  • LGBTQIA+

  • Not university educated

  • Under 25

  • Recently made redundant or unemployed

  • Experiencing financial hardship

If this resonates with you, and you believe the course could help you make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

The application includes an optional question to tell us about any access needs or barriers you’d like us to consider, including travel, caring responsibilities, financial pressure or anything else.

Any questions?

How to apply?

Use the form below to tell us a bit more about why we should consider you for this year’s Service Works training bursary.

Applications close: Wednesday 3 September 2025 at 5pm. We’ll inform the successful recipient by Friday 5 September 2025.

Scroll inside the form to submit

This course is for you if you already feel passionate about developing better public services and want to develop the skills, confidence and influence to apply service design approaches in your work.
— Jo Carter
The course really focuses on the practical skills you need as a Service Designer!
— Olly Jones, Service Designer, Department for Work and Pensions