If you are looking for work, need to get a better job, or want to improve your work skills, the WEA is here for you. We have a great track record of helping people like you gain the skills and confidence they need for work. Best of all, most of our work skills courses are free*.    

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You can improve your job opportunities with the WEA.  

Reach your potential  

We know you can reach your potential in three simple steps:  

  • Build your confidence and essential skills  
  • Develop skills related to specific types of jobs  
  • Progress in your current job by boosting your current skills and learning new ones  

Supportive classes

The WEA and our team of supportive tutors are here for you at every step.  Whether you’re a jobseeker, have recently been made redundant or you simply want to move up the ladder, we have a course for you.   

Improve your English, maths or digital skills to earn more money.  Find courses in health and social care, community interpreting, schools and childcare and more.   

Find out more about job hunting, take courses to become more employable or change your career. Boost your employability skills and stand out on that job application.    

Learn your way with the WEA

Take a short, informal course or gain a national qualification. Learning in a classroom, in a work setting or at home, you’ll always have the same great support from your tutor.  

There’s something for everyone.

*Over 90% of applicants for skills courses do not need to pay a fee. Subject to status  - courses are free for unemployed people, job seekers and people on low wage. If you do not qualify you will be alerted during the application process.

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Professional Development: Preparing to work in the UK beginners

Working in the UK aims to improve your communication skills on preparing to work in the UK and will include health, shopping, and most importantly employability. This course will help students understand the culture of work in the UK. It will also help you get the skills needed for work in the UK. The course is for speakers of other languages, and it is highly recommended to complete this course before progressing on to ESOL courses. As it will build your confidence and broaden your vocabulary. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 10/02/2025
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Ladywood Childrens Centre
9 Plough & Harrow Road
Birmingham
B16 8UR
Tutor:
Saima Gulzar
Course code:
Q00015553
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Textiles and Fashion: Textiles for Self Employment

Welcome to the Textiles for Self-Employment Course! This course is for those who want to start a business in textiles and sewing. You will learn how to create and sell your own textile products. We will teach you about choosing fabrics, designing items, and advanced sewing techniques. You will also learn about pricing, marketing, and selling your products. Our experienced tutor will guide you through each step. By the end of the course, you will have the skills and knowledge to start your own textiles business and become self-employed. Join us and turn your passion into a career!

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 03/02/2025
Times:
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Clovelly Centre (Southampton)
60-68 Clovelly Road
Southampton
SO14 0AU
Tutor:
Tracey Sweetman
Course code:
Q00017058
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £88.20

Understanding the Role of a Community Interpreter

Are you bilingual? Ever thought about using your language skills to help out in the community? Did you know you can get many jobs with languages? If you speak English and another language fluently, you could make a great community interpreter. This community interpreter course gives you an introduction to the language and interpreting skills needed for this type of work. It can teach you foundational concepts to test your community interpreting skills informally with family or friends. This course can prepare you to help members of your family or community to overcome language barriers in their everyday lives. It can also help you decide if you’re interested in pursuing community interpreting jobs.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Wed 12/02/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Olena Kolesnyk
Course code:
Q00015758
How you'll learn:
Online and in venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

GMCA Care Certificate and Interview Success (Step into Care)

This is a pre-employment programme delivered online that is designed to support you into work within Adult Social Care. The programme will help you to prepare for work in a care setting. The programme consists of up to three elements: GMCA Care Certificate (where you will cover the theory elements of the Care Certificate), L1 Stress Awareness and L1 Mental Health Awareness (additional accredited courses you can join if suitable). Once you have completed the course with WEA, GM Careers will place you for a working interview in a social care setting. this is designed like a working interview, to give you the opportunity to try out the working environment.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Fri 31/01/2025
Times:
10:00am - 3:00pm
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Susan Bell
Course code:
Q00015992
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Professional Development: Digital Skills For Improvers

Learn to use digital devices and gain essential computer skills for professional and personal use. Digital training helps you move with the times and not get left behind. This beginner’s course is for anyone who wants to learn digital skills, no matter your current knowledge. This course is appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is all new to you. Learn to use word processing software and fill out online forms in this Digital Skills course. Understand how to use email and search for information online. This digital skills training also teaches you how to shop online securely. You’ll understand online safety and data storage.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 10/03/2025
Times:
9:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Hull Central Library
Albion Street
Hull
Yorkshire and Humber
HU1 3TF
Tutor:
Karl Telfer-Banner
Course code:
Q00018143
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
6 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.80

Award in Preparation for Work in Community Interpreting

The role of the community interpreter is an integral part of our changing communities and increasingly important. The interpreter acts as a bridge between communities and enables people to access the services they need and approach situations which otherwise would not be possible. The Level 2 Certificate in Preparing for the Community Interpreting Role enables learners who are speakers of other languages to develop the language and skills necessary to go on and train as Community Interpreters at Level 3 and Level 4. This is the ideal qualification for anyone who wants to enter the interpreting profession and become a paid interpreter or volunteer in the UK.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Thu 03/04/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
25 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Olena Kolesnyk
Course code:
Q00010875
How you'll learn:
Online and in venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £300.00

Award in Support Work in Schools and Colleges Level 2

If you enjoy the buzz of learning environments, this qualification can teach you key skills for employment in a school or college. This government-funded course prepares you for a variety of roles. It provides the basic skills and knowledge necessary to work in admin, technical, or support roles in a learning environment. Studying support work in schools at level 2 can be a first step towards working with kids in teaching positions. It also provides you with the qualifications needed to work in admin at schools. No matter what role you’re interested in, this course can teach you skills for employability in schools and colleges.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 30/06/2025
Times:
9:30am - 2:30pm
Duration:
19 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Katherine Croft
Course code:
Q00018349
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £225.00

Award in Mental Health Awareness Level 1

If you’re interested in learning more about mental health issues, this level 1 course can teach you the foundational concepts. You’ll get a view into the nature of mental health work and the issues that face people struggling with it. Level 1 health and social care courses about mental health can teach you the basic principles of mental health care. If you enjoy this course you can continue your learning in this area. Mental health awareness training can help you understand if this area of work interests you.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Wed 29/01/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:00pm
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
St Pauls Learning Centre (Bristol)
94 Grosvenor Road
St Pauls
Bristol
BS2 8XJ
Tutor:
Barbara Ricci
Course code:
Q00012372
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £75.00

Professional Development: Step into care

This course will help you to understand the nature of care and caring and examine the Care Standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors. Develop awareness of the variety of roles and opportunities available within the care sector including the NHS. This introduction to care course will support you to understand what skills are needed for the variety of opportunities available to you. This course may lead to further training, an award in health and social care, volunteering and employment. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 03/02/2025
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Tracey Cohen
Course code:
Q00015540
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.60

Professional Development: Basic Health and safety skills

During this course, we will look at keeping you safe within your workplace. We will look at fire safety, signage, electrical safety, kitchen and food safety and manual handling around. Develop knowledge of how health and safety works within the workplace and who is responsible, recording and reporting measures and the requirements needed by employees, employers and organisations. This course will also look at health and safety at home and how to ensure yours and your family’s safety. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 13/01/2025 -
Mon 20/01/2025
Times:
9:15am - 11:15am
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Marlene Clarke-Davis
Course code:
Q00015552
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £16.80