No matter what you want to do in life, getting the right skills can open up new opportunities. Improving your skills is a great way to use your time and increases your chances of finding work. Learning doesn’t have to stop once you land your first job either.
One of the great things is that there are a huge range of free courses available. For others, you can get financial help to support you in your studies. There’s also plenty of online advice available from experts to help you decide what’s right for you.
“When looking for work, having extra skills can make all the difference. Getting the right training enables you to improve existing skills, build up new ones, boost your confidence and helps you to stand out from the competition. Employers are very impressed if an applicant has taken the initiative to develop their skills.”
Sheelagh Keyse from Jobcentre Plus.
Extra training will boost employability
Whatever you want to do, learning new skills will help boost your career prospects. A report by the Department for Business and Skills estimates that in a few years’ time, Britain will have five million fewer unskilled jobs. This means skills are likely to become more important as time goes on.
One place to start is to get free help and advice from the Careers Advice Service on 0800 100 900. Calls are free, and lines are open from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm, seven days a week. You can also send a question by email. Alternatively, get advice in person from your local branch of Nextstep, a free friendly service that offers face-to-face help and support about training, learning and the world of work.
Sign up for a course
Doing a course can boost your chances of getting on at work, or finding a new job. Many courses lead to a qualification, which can prove to an employer that you’ve gained knowledge and developed certain skills. There are almost a million courses available in the UK, so there’s bound to be one to suit your needs. Many courses are aimed at complete beginners and have no entry requirements.
You can search for a course by using the Directgov course search and find details of the courses closest to your home or work. If you need inspiration, browse through the DirectGov database of courses which offers a diverse range of programmes in subjects such as horse riding, forestry, feng shui, wine tasting, dress-making or even paranormal phenomena. Many courses are free. For others, you may be able to get financial help towards the cost of a course or travel expenses through grants or bursaries.
Apprenticeships
In the UK, there are more than 180 apprenticeships available across more than 80 sectors, from business administration to engineering, beauty therapy, health or social care. Doing an apprenticeship guarantees you get top quality training, while giving you the chance to develop your skills and gain a new qualification. Many who successfully complete an apprenticeship are offered full-time jobs at the end of the training.
Most apprenticeships last between one and two years, though some take up to five, and pay at least £95 a week. How long it lasts will depend on the profession you choose, your level of ability and your employer’s needs. There are no fixed entry requirements to apply, but some more technical apprenticeships may require you to have GCSE grades A*- C in maths, english and science.
To find out more about apprenticeships, have a look at our apprenticeships section explaining exactly what to expect.
Improve your English, Maths and IT
For many people, brushing up on essential skills is the first and most important step in opening up job opportunities. Developing basic reading, writing and maths skills can help you to get a job, plan your money, fill in forms and renew your confidence. There’s a wide range of courses you can take to help boost your skills, some of which can lead to a qualification. You’ll be able to learn in your local area in a way that suits your lifestyle: part time, full time, during the day or in the evening. You can find out how to take a free course or learn online from DirectGov, or if you want an informal chat about improving your basic skills, call the Get On helpline: 0800 66 0800 or visit them online.
Work experience
Another way to build up skills is through work placements, which provide an opportunity to spend some time in the work place learning about a particular job or area of work. During your placement, you’ll be able to find out what skills employers look for when they’re hiring someone to fill a job vacancy. If you do enough to impress you may even be taken on by the company.
Many organisations advertise formal placements or ‘internships’ at different times of the year. These tend to involve working full-time for a fixed period of six to twelve weeks and are normally timed to fit in with university and college holidays.
Danielle Pickett (17), from Basildon, was taken on as a trainee Claims Administrator at an employment and training agency, after successfully completing work experience. “I really enjoyed my work placement at Seetec and managed to do enough to be offered a permanent job when it finished. Doing work experience is a great opportunity to learn new skills and get a real taste of the working world.”
Volunteer
Another option is to volunteer. Doing volunteer work increases your confidence, helps you learn new skills and boosts your education and employment prospects. Opportunities include helping out at your local leisure centre during the summer holidays as a play scheme supervisor, becoming a conservation volunteer at a nearby park or National Trust site, volunteering at local festivals, sporting events and exhibitions or becoming a mentor to other young people
Where can I find out more?
- Another organisation with a massive database of opportunities for volunteering - www.do-it.org.uk
- V is a charity aiming to get more young people and features information and advice about getting involved in volunteering where you live.
- Voluntary Service Overseas provides opportunities for people who want to go abroad and volunteer.
- Site providing information and placement advice to young people looking for work experience - www.my-work-experience.com
- Trident is a scheme run by the UK’s leading examining body and aims to help 14-19-year-olds prepare for life beyond the classroom.
