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Learning for work

Whether you’re looking for a job or looking to get on in your career, improving your skills for work can open up new opportunities. There’s a huge range of courses available. Some are free, and you may qualify for financial help. There’s also plenty of free advice to help you decide what’s right for you.

Getting on at work

Whatever stage you’re at in life, learning new skills could improve your career prospects. Research predicts that in the future there will be fewer jobs for people lacking skills - meaning that skills are likely to become more and more important as time goes on. Free help and advice is available whether you’re currently working or not. There are different schemes to suit the needs of different people.

Advice on improving your work skills

Get free careers advice

Whether you’re looking for a new job, a promotion or a complete career change, you can get free advice from the Northern Ireland Careers Service.

You can also ask for an adviser to call back at a time that suits you, or send a question by email.

You may also be able to get advice in person from the Education Guidance Service for Adults.

Improving your work skills: getting started

There are plenty of options if you want to improve your work skills. If you’re looking for a job, there are several schemes to help you. Most give you the opportunity to learn while you’re doing so. See the section below on ‘Schemes to help you find work’ for more details. If you are working, you may be able to get training through your employer. See the section below on ‘Help if you’re already in work’ for details.

Search for training

See the 'What to learn, where to learn' and 'Your skills, your future’ sections for tips on choosing a course and finding the right place to learn, information on qualifications and advice if you’re returning to learning after a break. You may be able to get financial help while doing a course: see 'Help with learning costs: an introduction' for details.

Improving your English, maths and IT

For many people, brushing up on basic skills is the first and most important step in opening up new career options.

Schemes to help you find work

Steps to Work

Steps to Work (StW).is a new and fresh approach to assisting people find employment. This menu-based approach provides a flexible way to help you with your individual employment and training needs. When taking part in Steps to Work you will be allocated an Adviser who will provide support and guidance to help decide, from a menu of provision, which opportunities best meet your individual needs.

Other schems to help you find work include:

Apprenticeships

An Apprenticeship lets you learn on the job, gaining a qualification while you’re earning. Apprenticeships are available in many different areas, from business administration to engineering, beauty therapy or health and social care.

If you have a disability

If you have a disability, there are additional schemes to help you find work.

Getting training if you're already in work

If you’re looking to gain new skills relevant to the world of work - and you’ve already got a job - talking to your employer is often a good first step. Find out more about some of the training opportunities that may be available through your employer in ‘Getting training at work’.