Employability, training and skills centre
Your one stop shop to your next job opportunity.
If you are struggling to find work, would like help making your CV stand out from the crowd, considering a change in career, or if you simply want to improve your skills, we can help. Enquire now!
is for Journey: We offer a personalised career and learning pathway for you, to help you find your next employment opportunity. Receive help with job searching, CV writing, and applications. Enrol on courses to update your existing skills or learn new skills.
is for Opportunities: Tap into our expert’s contacts and resources to help find your next job, or enrol on a course to either retrain or improve a skill you have.
is for Basic Skills: Ensure your basic skills (English, maths, and IT) are at the level employers require. Joining one of our basic skills courses will help to build your confidence, whilst also improving your employability.
is for Support: Receive one-to-one support from our dedicated coaches and teachers to help move you closer to your next job opportunity.
Learn more about our employability, training and skills centre programmes
Employability skills
At Activate Learning we have a variety of programmes and projects that can help you to find work, gain new skills or retrain. Enrolling on a project will give you direct access to your own coach who will support you on your personal journey. Projects are all fully funded through ESF, The Big Lottery and DWP, so you can access support and courses for free.
To find out more about our projects and the one that best suits your needs check our employability projects or view a list of employability courses to help you get back into employment.
Alternatively, if you would like to talk to one of our friendly team please call 0800 488 0378 or complete the enquiry form and we will be in contact with you as soon as we can.
Upskilling and retraining
Learn the skills to get you back into work
Across our regions and beyond, Activate Learning offers free training to individual adults and organisations. We aim to meet your needs by delivering high-quality training to enable people to develop their careers.
We access a number of funds including the ‘Adult Education Budget’ and the European Social Funded ‘Skills Support for the Workforce’ which mean a lot of our delivery is free of charge to adult learners.
We offer courses in;
- Personal Development
- Digital Skills
- Forrest School
- Leisure and Hospitality
- Leadership, Management and Teamwork
- Healthcare and Mental Health
- Customer Service and General Business operations
- Fitness Instructing
- Bicycle Maintenance
- Construction trades
- Horticulture
Please read our online brochure, and if you’d like to know more, or find out if you are eligible, call us today on 0800 488 0378 or contact us through our enquiry form.
Basic skills: English, maths and digital
Choose from one our many courses below!
If you're not sure where to start, fill out the basic skills enquiry form or call us on 0800 488 0378. We would be delighted to hear from you and help you find the right course for your work and life!
English and maths are essential skills for work and life
Are you looking to improve your English or maths skills? We offer part-time, daytime and evening classes at all levels, both in person and online. The good news is that if you don't already have a GCSE Grade 4 (C), you could study for free.
Most of our courses lead to a nationally-recognised qualification, either Functional Skills or GCSE.
Functional Skills Level 2 qualifications are accepted as alternatives to GCSEs by many education providers, but please check if you have a particular course in mind.
Is English your first language?
If English is your first language, but you don’t already hold an English GCSE Grade 4 (C), you can take our GCSE or Functional Skills courses for free.
Applying is easy!
- Visit our Adult Education website and select the college nearest to you
- Find an English course for you and click 'Apply Now'
- You will be invited to talk to a tutor about which class is right for you!
English for non-native speakers
Maths
Enrol on our maths GCSE or Functional Skills courses for free if you don’t already hold a Maths GCSE grade 4 (C).
Applying is easy!
- Visit our Adult Education website and select the college nearest to you
- Find the maths course for you and click 'Apply Now'
- You will be invited to talk to a tutor about which class is right for you!
Digital Skills
Technology is playing an increasing role in our lives from smartphones to internet banking to buying and selling online. Our free courses aim to ensure everyone has the basic digital skills required for work and life in today's world.
Our courses are set at a range of levels so we can cater to your needs, and the topics we cover include:
- handling and organising information, and solving simple technical issues
- creating and editing written documents, posters and more
- communicating online and using different types of device
- buying and selling online
- using technology safely and securely
To apply for a course or make an enquiry please get in touch by filling basic skills enquiry form or calling us on 0800 488 0378. We would be delighted to hear from you.
For employers: Kickstart scheme
Employer funding available
Activate Learning wants to help local employers access the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme and give young people out of work a chance to get back into employment.
The Kickstart Scheme will provide £2billion of funding for employers across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey, to access to fund new roles for people aged between 16 and 24, who are currently on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment. The Government will fund 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance contributions, and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
Why Activate Learning?
As an employer taking on new staff as part of the Kickstart Scheme, there will be an expectation that you will provide training and support to those employees you are recruiting under this initiative.
Which is where working with Activate Learning as your Gateway Organisation is an advantage.
As a Further Education (FE) group and supplier of employability training to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), we are able to deliver specialist coaching and training support to those you take on as work placements on your behalf.
We will also ensure all placements are of high quality, effective and the right fit for your business. Our Kickstart project team will work closely with your organisation to monitor the candidates and ensure you are reaping the full benefits of your placements.
The Kickstart Programme: benefitting your business
The programme has been designed to help young people back into working environment which delivers key benefits to your business;
- Reduction in recruitment costs
- Train and retain talent
- Increased productivity from staff who are hungry to learn and are motivated to get back into the world of work.
- Staff to meet your business needs
- Full funding available including 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, the associated employer National Insurance contributions, and a payment to you per learner (agreed with the Gateway Organisation) at the start of the scheme to help with setup costs, support and training.
How to apply
Don’t delay! Get in contact with us today. Email us now or call us on 0800 488 0245 to Kickstart your business.