Training and Qualifications

Take a look through the different training and qualifications available to you. They can help you up-skill yourself and become more employable!

As part of the Prime Minister's Lifetime Skills Guarantee, if you are 19 or over you can now access a course for free. This is part of the government's Plan for Jobs.

There are 2 options available to you under the Lifetime Skills Guarantee:

Free level 3 qualifications

If you are 19 or over and do not already have a full level 3 qualification (equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels) you can now access a free qualification.

Skills bootcamps

Skills bootcamps offer free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, an opportunity to build up specialist skills and fast-track to an interview with a local employer. They are available to you if you are aged 19 or over and are either in work or recently unemployed (some skills bootcamps have additional eligibility criteria).

GoLearn offers 100s of online and face-to-face courses.

For more information on the courses on offer, or for help with enrolling, you can call on FREEphone 0800 988 0308 (8:30am – 7pm) Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email: adultlearning@leics.gov.uk and they'll contact you directly. Whether your course is classroom-based, online or a mixture of both, all learners will receive expert help and support from tutors. .

The courses on offer across the county range from one-off two-hour sessions to full 30-week programmes including modern languages, British Sign Language, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), digital skills, pottery, Indian cookery, astronomy, yoga, drawing & painting, textiles and much more.

They also offer free courses aimed to support you to improve your mental health and wellbeing. All learning takes place in friendly, supportive and safe groups with learning personalised to suit your needs. Courses may include topics such as mindfulness, creative arts, personal wellbeing, communication and confidence building, all delivered using a variety of learning activities.

There are also free courses available for people who are seeking work and looking to gain basic skills, including help with online job searching, CV writing and interview skills, as well as flexible English and maths GCSE and functional skills qualifications and many other courses aimed at giving learners the tools to progress. GoLearn is also offering the new free Essential Digital Skills Qualification. Aimed at complete beginners, it offers a steppingstone to our more advanced IT courses and qualifications. We work alongside Work & Skills, Leicestershire who offer a free service to all county residents for support with their employment and skills goals. They offer Information, Advice and Guidance appointments, free of charge with Learning and Work Advisors who provide confidential advice.

The Open University offers a range of free courses which you can complete from the comfort of your own home. Discover course across the sectors including health, sport, business, education, languages, law and more!

Learning is easily accessible at home, at work and online! These courses can supply you with detailed knowledge and examples within a range of industries and careers. Each course is a full accredited level 1 or 2 certificates and won't take longer than 12 weeks to complete.

Leicester College have three schemes to help adults back into education. These include free access to a range of courses including adult maths and English, ESOL and skills for work.