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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Multiply - Maths for the Healthcare Sector

Here at the WEA we believe in bringing education within reach of everyone Our maths course is designed to give everyone the opportunity to learn and develop the essential numeracy skills they need to succeed at any age. We want to help people to improve their ability to understand and use maths in daily life. This Maths for work course is an opportunity to learn new skills to support you no matter what role you play in work. You will be able to understand how to use new maths skills to support your children's homework, along with managing finances and supporting you in your career progression

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 28/08/2024 -
Mon 16/09/2024
Times:
9:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Humera Mehrban
Course code:
Q00018245
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Personal Development: Gaining Confidence to Sign

This exciting learning opportunity is intended to help the participants to gain knowledge and confidence in using BSL. The intention is learning for further education, community engagement and possibly employment. The skills learnt on this course may help someone looking to secure employment in a school/college setting to learn some basic greetings to enable them to communicate at a basic level with someone in the deaf community. This course will be taught for 7 weeks in 2 hour sessions and will total 14 guided learning hours. The learning will take place over Zoom using Canvas as a Virtual Learning Environment.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 02/09/2024 -
Mon 21/10/2024
Times:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Caroline Cleghorn
Course code:
Q00018084
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

Beginners Microsoft Word & PowerPoint

What would improved digital skills mean for your career or everyday life? No matter what your job role is, the chances are your day-to-day life would be easier with enhanced computer skills. This beginner’s Microsoft Word and PowerPoint course will help you learn the basics of Word and PowerPoint. This knowledge can help you in a wide variety of routine situations. These can include creating CVs, helping your kids with their homework, or preparing presentations for family events. You will learn how to Enter and Edit text in a document, save and print your work, format and align text, add images, create a poster and customise Templates in Word. Create Striking Presentations with images, and designs. Run slide shows and produce audience notes.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 02/09/2024 -
Mon 21/10/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Mark Turk
Course code:
Q00009572
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

Beginners Excel and Spreadsheets

Did you know you can use spreadsheets to make hundreds of everyday tasks easier? You can use them to efficiently keep track of job applications, birthday lists, inventories of collectible items, or anything else. Never opened a spreadsheet in your life? Don’t worry. This is an Excel course for beginners, and we’ll cover all the basics. This beginner’s Excel course aims to teach you computer skills for everyday life. You will learn how to navigate spreadsheet cells, format data, add currency and change decimal places. Save and Print a worksheet. Add borders and colour to text and cells. Use basic formulas and create charts from selected data.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 02/09/2024 -
Mon 21/10/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Mark Turk
Course code:
Q00009575
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

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

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 09/09/2024 -
Fri 27/09/2024
Times:
10:00am - 3:00pm
Duration:
15 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Susan Bell
Course code:
Q00015988
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Award in Education and Training Level 3

Kickstart your education career with this introductory teaching qualification. Experience the buzz of learning environments and get a view into the profession. Learn essential teaching skills and open doors to further education jobs in this Education and Training course. This course prepares you for teaching jobs working with adults. These can include roles as a tutor, learning assistant, teaching assistant, or trainer in universities, Sixth Form colleges, or other adult learning settings. This Level 3 Award in Teaching and Education is the first step towards a fulfilling career in teaching. If you want to get a teaching qualification, this foundational course can give you a taste of the industry before you move onto higher level qualifications.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 09/09/2024 -
Mon 04/11/2024
Times:
9:30am - 4:30pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Gillian Hunt
Course code:
Q00016040
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £300.00

Confidence to Learn: Study Skills

"Are you currently studying? On this Confidence to Learn course, you will develop study skills that will help direct you to a more focused way of studying. If you have not studied for a long time, or worried about how to start an assignment, or manage your time, this is the course for you. You will have the opportunity to personalise your approach to study and learning. Over the course you will find out what works best for you. General study skills are not for a specific subject, they are skills that cover all subject areas. The study skills you will develop at this level will help as you go through each topic on the course. To develop your study skills, you will practise a variety of tasks such as time management, active listening skills, note taking and many more. This will help you become more confident in the way you study. Study skills are not just for this course, they can be used in a variety of ways, for example solving problems in everyday life and managing your time successfully and learning to remain focused on a task. "

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 10/09/2024 -
Tue 03/12/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Natasha Abrams
Course code:
Q00017658
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

Pre-Entry English: Functional skills English for work

Do you want to feel empowered and confident using English in your professional setting? This course is designed for anyone who wants to take their communication skills to the next level. You will: Develop a strong foundation in business English vocabulary and grammar. Practice writing clear and concise emails, reports, and presentations. Master the art of delivering impactful presentations and participating effectively in meetings. Build confidence in negotiating, giving feedback, and handling difficult conversations. Through interactive activities, role-plays, and real-world case studies, you'll gain the practical skills you need to succeed in today's global workplace. By the end of this course, you'll be able to communicate clearly and confidently with colleagues, clients, and superiors, making a strong impression and advancing your

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 12/09/2024 -
Fri 01/11/2024
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
16 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Reed
Course code:
Q00016524
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £103.60

Preparing for a Level 3 Work in a Support Role in Schools

Have you completed an introductory or a Level 2 helping in schools’ course? Then this introductory course is right for you. It will provide you with the necessary knowledge and study skills needed to prepare you for a Level 3 course. It will also provide you with the opportunity to practice using these study skills as you move through the course. The tutor will guide you through each new skill using quizzes, case studies and related texts. You will get the chance to discuss each new topic with other learners, ask and answer questions. You will also be given a brief outline of what you will learn on your course. Your tutor will give you constructive feedback to ensure you are ready for your Level 3 qualification.

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 13/09/2024 -
Fri 20/09/2024
Times:
9:30am - 3:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Bimbola Olawanle
Course code:
Q00017621
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

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:
Mon 16/09/2024 -
Thu 26/09/2024
Location:
Online
Course code:
P00000098
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available