Acquiring new skills and qualifications is a great way to get a new job or advance your career, but there are also financial benefits. For most people a higher paid future is in our own hands if we choose to invest time in learning – a recent survey shows you could boost your salary by up to £3000 per year by investing a little time and energy improving your skills. For more information about taking learning into your own hands visit http://www.inourhands.lsc.gov.uk/ or one of the other organisations on this page.
Train to Gain can help your business by ensuring your staff have the right skills to do the best job through information advice and guidance on your company’s training needs, funding for training, links to training providers and possibly help with the costs of releasing workers to study. Train to Gain may be offered to you by your employer. It is a chance to study to get your first level 2 or 3 qualification, usually for free.
For more information call 0845 751 2288 or visit www.traintogainse.co.uk
The BBC offers free online learning resources to help you improve your essential skills: reading, writing and looking after your money. For more information see the next page or visit www.bbc.co.uk/learning
The Worktrain website www.worktrain.gov.uk offers advice and guidance on helping you to change careers or gain useful skills by volunteering.
Apprenticeships allow you to work and study on the job, whilst being paid. To find out more ask a Connexions personal advisor (if you are under 19) or local Jobcentre Plus office (if you are over 19).
To find out more visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
If you are interested in organizing learning in your workplace, the national Campaign for Learning has set up a Workplace Learning Network to help you do just that. The network supports individuals and organizations to develop a culture of learning in the workplace. Membership is free and is open to anyone with an interest in workplace learning. Members are able to access a wide range of resources, share good practice via the online ‘expertise exchange’ and discussion board, receive updates on networking and events, as well as have a say on workplace learning issues.
Visit www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk and click on ‘learning in the workplace’
The Worker’s Education Association (WEA) - The WEA has many partnerships with trade unions and employers and it focuses on workers in the public and private sectors who have experienced little or no formal learning since leaving school. A wide range of learning opportunities, from basic literacy and numeracy at work, to university access courses are provided for adults who want to return to learning and further their personal and occupational development. The WEA works in collaboration with UNISON to promote lifelong learning in the NHS and in local government services. It also works with other trade unions to deliver workplace learning across a number of industries.
To find out more about the WEA or call 01634 298 600 visit www.wea.org.uk