Our future. It's in our hands.

To speak to an advisor call: 0800 011 30 30

Individuals - Training

In less than ten years there will be very few jobs that will require no skills at all. Training is the key to learning new skills and unlocking your own potential.

If you take control of your future by deciding to improve your skills, your chances of getting on at work, gaining a promotion, improving your career, starting your own business, or even being paid a higher salary are all within in your reach.

Your improved skills also mean that if you are unemployed - or find yourself in the job market - you will be in a much better position to get back into work.

The future is in your hands - take control of it by exploring the links below which are broken down into three sections depending on what stage of life you’re at:

And if you need to talk to someone, you can call us on 0800 011 30 30.

Starting out

It may be that you need to start with improving your basic skills. If so this section will help...

The essentials
If you’re not comfortable with your level of reading, writing or maths skills, there is plenty of help available. Lots of people need help with their English, maths and spelling – and the good news is that you can gain a free qualification in these areas. There’s also lots of help, places to go and support available in your local area so you can quickly get to grips with what you need to do.
Mastering technology
Whether you’re a complete beginner - or want to take your computer and IT skills one step further - you can do so.

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Moving on

If your basic skills are up to scratch, the world is your oyster. This section explains how you can explore all the options open to you...

Course finder
There are almost a million courses throughout the country in subjects from mountaineering survival to catering so it’s easy to find a course, college or learning provider near you.
Qualifications explained
With so many courses to chose from, it’s important that you gain qualifications at the end of the course - they help you prove that you’ve gained knowledge and developed certain skills, and can help you get a better job. All the different qualifications available are explained here.
Learning at work
There are plenty of ways to gain recognised qualifications while you’re at work. Speak to your employer about any opportunities available to you. In fact, your employer can even gain impartial, independent advice and support through Train to Gain, the Learning and Skills Council’s Skills Broker service.
Community learning
If the idea of learning at college or in the workplace is not for you, there are opportunities to learn skills in your community areas, such as in your local library, museum, cinema, art gallery or even outdoors.
Making the change
Once you've improved your skills, you may want to move onto a new job or career. If you don’t know where to start, learndirect’s website can help you assess your skills, help you think about next steps and write a great CV.

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Young people

If you’re under 19, you have even more choices to explore, offering you the chance to gain skills on the job, at college or at school. From vocational diplomas to GCSEs to Apprenticeships, AS-Levels to other courses, there have never been so many ways to learn or train if you’re under 19. And no matter what you decide to learn, there are lots of different places to go – so if school’s not right for you, there could be other possibilities to choose from.

Starting off
Whatever route you choose, skills will give you the chance of a better job, better prospects and a better wage. And these days everyone needs a minimum set of qualifications to get set for life. All you need to do is find the right path for you. This site shows how you can take control of your future and the different options available.
Apprenticeships
If you’d like to learn on the job, while earning money and gaining skills and qualifications, Apprenticeships are one way of going about it.
Entry to Employment (e2e)
But if you don’t think you’re quite ready for an Apprenticeship, an e2e training course will prepare you for an Apprenticeship and give you help securing one. These courses are for 16-18 year olds and take place at college, in the workplace - or a combination of both.
Going higher
More and more careers are now requiring a degree to get into them, so you can boost your future earning potential even further by gaining skills at university – and now that doesn’t just mean sitting in a lecture theatre – many university courses have now built in practical learning so you can be sure you’re ready to work when you graduate.

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