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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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 24/02/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Olena Kolesnyk
Course code:
Q00015759
How you'll learn:
Online and in venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £74.00

Essential Digital Skills Level 1

Build your confidence using digital skills in your personal life and in the workplace. Understand how digital programmes and services can enhance your everyday life and simplify common tasks. Learn skills employers look for and improve your job prospects. If you’d like to learn digital skills for a better life, this course will teach you everything you need to know. This Level 1 digital skills course is suitable for improvers, as you will build upon your current digital device knowledge. Learn how to use the Microsoft Office programmes: create and edit text documents in Word, create spreadsheets and use number calculations in Excel, and use PowerPoint to create presentations. These are universal digital skills employers look for and can help you in a variety of job roles. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 24/02/2025 -
Mon 07/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
18 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Ekta Vishrolia
Course code:
Q00015535
How you'll learn:
Online and in venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £150.00

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 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 24/02/2025 -
Fri 28/03/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00015993
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £225.00

Pre-Entry Digital Skills: Intermediate Part 2

By the end of this course, you'll be equipped with the skills to create compelling presentations, identify fake sites, stay safe online, manage files, and confidently access online services. Learn to use Office 365, Outlook, PowerPoint, and internet effectively. This training ensures you can navigate digital spaces securely and efficiently, enhancing both your personal and professional capabilities. Gain practical knowledge to create visually appealing presentations and maintain digital safety. Provides essential digital skills for success in today's online environment. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Participants must live in Coventry Area Postcodes CV1 to CV6 inclusive.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 25/02/2025 -
Tue 08/04/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Foleshill Women's Training (Coventry)
70-72 Elmsdale Avenue
Foleshill
Coventry
CV6 6ES
Tutor:
Humera Mehrban
Course code:
Q00015619
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £58.80

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Personal Development: Continuing to Progress in BSL

This course is intended to help existing learners that have previously attended BSL classes to progress further in their conversation building skills. The course will concentrate on the need for clarification and interrupting conversations to ask further questions to aid understanding. Learners will also increase vocabulary in the following three areas: Emotions, Employment and Homelife. This course will be taught face to face at St Mary’s Community Centre, Pontefract and will be facilitated through the use of Canvas a Digital Learning Platform. Learners will take part in various learning activities such as discussions, paired and group work and tutor led demonstrations

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 25/02/2025 -
Tue 06/05/2025
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
St Marys Community Centre (PONTEFRACT)
The Circle
Chequerfield
PONTEFRACT
WF8 2AY
Tutor:
Caroline Cleghorn
Course code:
Q00019981
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

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:
Wed 26/02/2025 -
Wed 26/03/2025
Times:
10:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Clare House (SCUNTHORPE)
31 Wells Street
SCUNTHORPE
DN15 6HL
Tutor:
Guest Speaker
Course code:
Q00018137
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Pre-Entry Digital Skills: Intermediate Part 2

By the end of this course, you'll be equipped with the skills to create compelling presentations, identify fake sites, stay safe online, manage files, and confidently access online services. Learn to use Office 365, Outlook, PowerPoint, and internet effectively. This training ensures you can navigate digital spaces securely and efficiently, enhancing both your personal and professional capabilities. Gain practical knowledge to create visually appealing presentations and maintain digital safety. Provides essential digital skills for success in today's online environment. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Participants must live in Coventry Area Postcodes CV1 to CV6 inclusive.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 26/02/2025 -
Wed 09/04/2025
Location:
Watch Charity Ltd (Coventry)
10-12 Victoria Street
Coventry
CV1 5LZ
Course code:
Q00015620
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £73.50

Personal Development: Counselling Skills Practice

This is a course designed for learners who have some experience or knowledge of counselling. It is an opportunity to gain more experience in counselling. You will be working with our wonderful Teacher Sasha Dineen. This course is for students to gain more practical counselling experience in triads (counsellor, client and observer) using the ten core counselling skills. To attend this course, it is useful if you have already completed a 6 week counselling skills course or have a Level 2/3/4 counselling qualification.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 26/02/2025 -
Wed 02/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Sasha Dineen
Course code:
Q00019022
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

Step into Work

"Step Into Work" is a comprehensive program designed to equip you with the essential skills needed for job hunting. This course covers writing effective cover letters, creating standout CVs, and mastering interview techniques. Through practical workshops and expert guidance, you'll learn how to present yourself confidently to potential employers and increase your chances of landing the job you desire. This course will help you examine your current skills and qualities and how they transfer to job related tasks. You’ll need access to the internet to take this ‘Step into Work’ program as our tutors use the WEA’s digital learning portal, Canvas, to send you important information and tasks.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 27/02/2025 -
Thu 03/04/2025
Location:
Hull Central Library
Albion Street
Hull
Yorkshire and Humber
HU1 3TF
Course code:
C00000008
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available

Award in Preparation for Work in Community Interpreting Level 2

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. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 27/02/2025 -
Thu 03/07/2025
Times:
9:15am - 12:15pm
Duration:
16 sessions
Location:
Dolphin Women's Centre (Birmingham)
Ward End Park
Washwood Heath Road
Birmingham
B8 2HB
Tutor:
Fozia Aslam
Course code:
Q00015534
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £300.00