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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Setting up and Arts and Crafts Business

This micro course is designed for those who want to explore how to turn their creativity into a business. The course will outline the very basics of what you need to know in order to set up, and start running, a successful arts and crafts business whether creating and selling unique artwork, unique home décor, or jewellery. The course covers how to identify and define your niche within the arts and crafts sector; the basics of pricing products to ensure profitability; key steps to setting up an online shop or selling at local markets; simple marketing techniques to attract customers, including using social media. This course is perfect for beginners and requires no prior business knowledge. By the end of the session, you will have a clear understanding of the first steps needed to launch their arts and crafts venture and make your creative passions profitable.
Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 29/04/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00021668
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
£18.50

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.
Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Tue 22/07/2025
Times:
9:30am - 1:30pm
Duration:
12 sessions
Location:
Breckland Council
Elizabeth House
Walpole Loke
Dereham
Norfolk
NR19 1EE
Tutor:
Chris George
Course code:
Q00018913
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £150.00

Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics (Level 1)

Work towards GCSE-level maths skills with this functional skills level 1 course. Progress your maths skills to help you access work and study opportunities. Functional maths improves your numeracy skills through real-life situations. Learn maths in context. Develop practical maths skills to help you in everyday situations such as organising your personal budget or applying discounts when shopping. This level 1 functional skills maths course can help you get a GCSE-equivalent qualification in maths. You’ll learn practical 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.
Dates:
Tue 29/04/2025 -
Wed 23/07/2025
Times:
9:30am - 12:00pm
Duration:
24 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Humera Mehrban
Course code:
Q00021593
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £203.50

Using Canvas to Learn

Studying online is a fun and effective way to learn. This course will teach you to use Canvas so that you can get the most out of WEA courses. You’ll learn digital skills to support you to study WEA online courses. This Canvas course is ideal for you if you’re considering taking a WEA course but feel unsure of your digital skills. It’s appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Thu 01/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 2:00pm
Duration:
2 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kailash Parekh
Course code:
Q00016994
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
£15

Level 1 Digital Skills

Become a tech-whizz and gain confidence with a variety of online tools. This Advanced Digital Skills training will help you feel comfortable with new technologies and in control of digital spaces. This advanced course is for anyone wanting to further develop their digital skills. You will learn skills for employment and everyday life in this digital skills course. This digital training aims to teach you advanced digital skills for everyday life. It can also help you progress to job roles that require digital skills.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 09/07/2025
Times:
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
WEA (Leicester)
101 Hinckley Road
Leicester
LE3 0TD
Tutor:
Chantal Ngounou
Course code:
Q00017246
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.80

Pre-Entry Digital Skills: Advanced

This course is for women only. It will be held at the Dolphin Women's Centre, Washwood Heath, Birmingham and is an ESOL course for learners at Entry Level 1. The course will help you to develop your basic speaking and listening, skills in English. This is an English course aimed at adults for whom English is not their first language. You will get lots of opportuntities to practice your new English skills in groups and individually, you will also be given homework tasks so you can continue to practice at home.. If you are suipporting someone to find an English class you have come to the right place. This course is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 16/07/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:30pm
Duration:
11 sessions
Location:
Watch Charity Ltd (Coventry)
10-12 Victoria Street
Coventry
CV1 5LZ
Tutor:
Shirley Bate
Course code:
Q00015621
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £42.00

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.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
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

Professional Development: Start Selling Online to Fund Your Summer Adventures

Learn how to sell online - whether it's your handmade products or making space in your wardrobe
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 21/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Karen Duncan
Course code:
Q00021578
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £29.60

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.
Dates:
Wed 30/04/2025 -
Wed 11/06/2025
Times:
9:30am - 11:30am
Duration:
7 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Mariann Meszaros
Course code:
Q00020529
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £300.00

Using Canvas to Learn

Studying online is a fun and effective way to learn. This course will teach you to use Canvas so that you can get the most out of WEA courses. You’ll learn digital skills to support you to study WEA online courses. This Canvas course is ideal for you if you’re considering taking a WEA course but feel unsure of your digital skills. It’s appropriate for complete beginners, so don’t worry if this is new to you.
Dates:
Thu 01/05/2025 -
Fri 02/05/2025
Location:
Online
Course code:
Q00016990
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £14.80