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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Personal Development: Intermediate Language at Work

The course has been developed in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council which refers learners to this and other programmes hosted at the Old School, which is a community centre run by Blakenhall Action Community Forum. This course is particularly suitable for students who are unemployed and are looking for work, who may have been referred by Job Centres to improve their spoken and written English and thereby pick up the skills and confidence to get themselves closer to the job market.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/01/2025 -
Wed 09/04/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
The Old School Building (Wolverhampton)
The Old School
73 Dudley Road
Wolverhampton
WV2 3BY
Tutor:
Saima Gulzar
Course code:
Q00015662
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £92.40

Professional Development: Are You Ready to be a Manager?

What makes a good manager? What are the difference between the skills you need to employ as a good manager and those you demonstrate as a competent team player? What is the difference between a manager and a leader and what style of management or leadership may be appropriate for you and your organisation? We will investigate whether there are any personal skill gaps and how you might fill these. Bringing together both theory and practice, this course will help you plot your course to a future management role, and help you plan your route to your new role. You may be a newly promoted manager, or perhaps you want to identify whether you are ready. Join this class to find out more.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/01/2025 -
Wed 22/01/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00012169
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £11.10

Professional Development: The Secrets of Investigative Journalism

If you wonder how people uncover information in the public interest that would usually remain in the dark, this course on investigative journalism is for you. This introductory course highlights the skills needed by investigative journalists when they conduct public interest investigations. Participants explore ways of reporting and editing stories, especially those which usually go unreported. The course will cover definitions of investigative journalism; how to find and plan an investigative story and which sources might be available. It gives a brief introduction to some of the legal and regulatory aspects of journalism.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 22/01/2025 -
Wed 05/03/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rebecca Eliahoo Charles
Course code:
Q00018052
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £33.30

Personal Development: Advanced Language at Work

This Advanced level course will build on skills gained in the Pre Entry and Intermediate courses that you may have studied previously, or you may be assessed by the tutor as ready for this course straight away. It has been developed in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council which refers learners to this and to other courses hosed at the Old School based in Blakenhall, Wolverhampton. This course is particularly suited to students who are unemployed and have been referred by a Job Centre to improve your spoken and written English and thereby develop the skills to empower you to get that job.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/01/2025 -
Thu 10/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
The Old School Building (Wolverhampton)
The Old School
73 Dudley Road
Wolverhampton
WV2 3BY
Tutor:
Saima Gulzar
Course code:
Q00015663
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £92.40

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

Confidence to Learn: Get ready for Maths Entry Level 3

Prepare to strengthen your foundational math skills with our Get Ready for Maths Entry Level 3 course. Tailored for learners looking to enhance their basic numeracy, this course covers essential topics such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and understanding simple fractions and measurements. Through practical exercises and real-world applications, you'll gain the confidence to handle everyday math tasks, from budgeting and shopping to interpreting data. Ideal for those preparing for Entry Level 3 Functional Skills Maths assessments or seeking to improve their math for personal or professional use, this course provides the stepping stone to numeracy success. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority. The Dolphin Centre is a women's only centre.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/01/2025 -
Thu 10/04/2025
Times:
10:00am - 3:00pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Dolphin Women's Centre (Birmingham)
Ward End Park
Washwood Heath Road
Birmingham
B8 2HB
Tutor:
Humera Mehrban
Course code:
Q00017614
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £115.50

Professional Development: Mentoring and Professional Development

This practical course aims to help you to establish a mentoring relationship, initiate productive mentoring dialogues and to challenge people to identify goals and grow professionally and personally. You would need to mentor someone, for instance, a colleague as this is a practical course covering key skills including: questioning, goal-setting collaboratively and encouraging personal and professional growth.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/01/2025 -
Thu 13/03/2025
Times:
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Rebecca Eliahoo Charles
Course code:
Q00018032
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £51.80

Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics (Entry 3)

Take your maths skills to the next level to help you with work or study opportunities. Adult maths teaches you practical numeracy skills for everyday life. This entry 3 functional skills maths course offers a practical way to learn maths as an adult. Functional skills maths courses aren’t like studying maths at school. You’ll learn maths in context. Develop maths skills to face real-life situations such as organising your personal budget or applying discounts when shopping. This entry 3 functional maths course is right for you if you want to enhance your maths skills to work or study. It can help you learn essential maths skills employers look for. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/01/2025 -
Thu 17/07/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
22 sessions
Location:
Faith Centre Burnley Campus Social Ente
Barden Lane
Burnley
BB10 1JD
Tutor:
Andy Dowd
Course code:
Q00016604
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics (Entry 2)

Build up your basic maths skills to help you progress towards work and study opportunities. Adult maths teaches you practical skills for everyday life. This entry 2 functional skills maths course offers a practical way to learn maths as an adult. Understand maths through real-life situations. Functional skills maths entry 2 courses expand your understanding of basic calculations. This can help you learn to manage your personal budget and do other daily tasks. This entry 2 functional maths course is right for you if you want to build on your basic maths skills to work or study. It can help you show employers that you have the essential skills they look for. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/01/2025 -
Thu 17/07/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:00pm
Duration:
23 sessions
Location:
Faith Centre Burnley Campus Social Ente
Barden Lane
Burnley
BB10 1JD
Tutor:
Maura Rose
Course code:
Q00016592
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

Professional Development: Introduction to Counselling

To explore the basics of counselling and the profession and discuss how skills in counselling could support interactions in the workplace. We will examine a range of core counselling skills including 3 core conditions and analyse how these skills can be used in a helping relationship. Located in a relaxed and friendly environment, this course is ideal for those looking to start a career in counselling and a step towards further/higher education or employment.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/01/2025 -
Thu 03/04/2025
Location:
Somerstown Central Community Hub (Souths
Rivers Street
Somerstown
Southsea
PO5 4EY
Course code:
Q00009661
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

Functional Skills Qualification in English (Level 1)

Develop skills to help you read, write, and communicate in English with confidence. Improved language skills open doors to work and study opportunities and help you learn key skills for employment. Level 1 functional skills courses are not like learning English at school. They’re created by adults for adults, and aim to teach you practical English skills through real-life situations. Strengthen your writing skills and learn reading techniques to help you tackle everyday situations at work or while studying. This adult English course helps you develop your language skills through real-life situations. Functional Skills level 1 is a government-funded accredited English course for adults. Functional Skills qualifications are free if you don't already have a GCSE in English or Maths at grades A*-C, or 4-9. We'll check your level and any previous qualifications before you start. This ensures you are on the correct course.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 23/01/2025 -
Thu 10/04/2025
Location:
Holyoake House (Manchester)
Holyoake House
Hanover Street
Manchester
M60 0AS
Course code:
Q00016138
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free