Course Advice

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Free courses for job seekers

If you are currently unemployed and looking for work, our employability courses could help you to develop your skills, gain new qualifications. They also provide support with finding employment and using job boards, CV/job applications and interview techniques.

Course List

  • Introduction to the Games, Animation and VFX Industries

    This Bootcamp is designed for those wanting to gain the employability skills needed to enter into the Games, Animation or VFX industries.

    The course is suitable for anyone inspired to work in GAVFX, whether you have existing technical skills, experience in creating GAVFX, or are a novice.

    Enquire 

  • Induction for Sector Based Academy Programmes

    This induction is designed to prepare Sector Based Academy Programmes (SWAP) applicants to develop core employability, digital skills, customer service, and interview and CV skills required for their pathway into employment.

    Applicants to SWAP programmes must complete this induction before undertaking the programme.

    Qualifications

    • Entry Level Award in Employability Skills 

    Enquiry

  • Security Sector-Based Work Academy Programme

    This course is designed to support the development of the required skills to pursue employment as a door supervisor. By the end of the course, you will have developed an understanding of the following themes:

    • The main characteristics of the private security industry
    • The importance of safe working practices
    • Drug-misuse legislation
    • Recognising, assessing, and reducing conflict
    • Physical intervention 
    • Emergency First Aid at work

    Upon successful completion of this course, you can progress onto employment or higher-level study programmes. 

    Southwark College will pay for your initial licence if you complete 85% attendance and the programme components. All learners must have a 5-year checkable resident history and suitable ID. 

    Before applying, applicants are advised to check their eligibility for this course here https://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/home.aspx

    Qualifications 

    • Level 1 Certificate in Progression
    • Level 2 Award in Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry 
    • Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work

    Enquiry

  • Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust Sector-Based Work Academy Programme

    This programme is delivered in partnership with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and has been designed to support those looking to secure jobs in the Health and Social Care sector.

    You will study a range of sector-specific units including; Introduction to the Health & Social Care Sector, Introduction to the Values and Principles of Guy's & Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Awareness of Roles and Responsibilities of working within the sector and more.

    You will develop a range of employability skills whilst building confidence, enhancing your CV and understanding the application process by undertaking mock interviews and practice tests.

    All learners who successfully attend at least 85% of the course and complete the assignment are invited to an interview with Guys and St Thomas Hospital to Join the Agency Bank.

    Qualifications:

    • Level 1 Award in Awareness of Safeguarding & Prevent
    • Level 1 Award in Introduction to Health & Social Care
    • Level 1 Award in Customer Service
    • Level 1 Essential Digital Skills
    • Level 2 Award in Understanding Prevention, Protection and Infection Control

    Enquire

  • Employability for Business and Service Sectors - Sector-Based Work Academy Programme

    This programme is designed to support students in understanding the core skills required to prepare for roles in the business administration, customer service and hospitality and catering sectors.

    You will learn job search and application processes, develop face-to-face and virtual interview techniques, and understand the range of skills required for entry-level roles in hospitality and catering, business, service industries and other relevant sectors.

    Upon successful completion, you can apply for job vacancies or progress to Into Work and other employability courses.

    Qualifications 

    • Level 1 Award in Business and Retail
    • Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Employment, Tranining and Personal Development 
    • Entry 3 Certificate in Progression

    Enquiry

  • Introduction to a career in the Met Police Sector-Based Work Academy Programme

    This course has been developed in partnership with the Metropolitan Police and includes student visits to experience the work environment.

    In this course, you will be able to meet police officers, hear about their experiences, and learn about the pathways available in the police force. You will also develop the required skills to progress to higher-level study programmes or policing apprenticeships. 

    Qualifications

    • Level 1 Certificate in Progression
    • L1 Certificate in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development
    • Non-accredited learning: Behind the Badge

    Enquiry

  • Becoming a Childminder

    This course is designed for individuals seeking employment in home-based childcare settings as childminding assistants, nannies, au pairs, or other home childcarers.

    In this course, you will develop the skills required to become a childminder. Upon successful completion, students can progress to home-based childminder roles such as registered childminders, childminding assistants, nannies, au pairs and other child carers in home-based settings.

    Qualifications

    • Level 3 Award in Preparing to Work in Home-Based Childcare  
    • Level 2 Award in Safeguarding 
    • Level 2 Award in Progression  

    Enquire

  • 50+ Digital Skills for Employment

    This course is available in Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2. It is designed to support adults over 50 to develop core skills to help them familiarise themselves with work-related digital skills. This course aims to support the development of digital skills in preparation for work search and enhance employment opportunities.   

    In this course you will learning essential digital skills modules for the workplace, including email and instant messaging, word processing, social media for business, web-based research and problem-solving, data entry and handling and behaving safely and legally online, as well as Microsoft Office Suite apps, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.  

    Upon successful completion of this course, students can progress to higher-level digital skills programmes or pathways into employment. 

    Qualifications

    Digital Skills for Employment Entry 3 

    • Certificate in Progression Digital skills units 
    • Digital Skills (non-regulated) 

    Digital Skills for Employment Level 1 

    • Level 1 Certificate in Progression 
    • Digital Skills (non-regulated) 

    Digital Skills for Employment Level 2 

    • Level 2 Award in Digital and IT Skills 
    • Level 2 Award in Progression 
    • Digital Skills (non-regulated) 

    Enquire

  • Introduction to a career in Data Analysis

    This qualification is designed to help students who want to improve their knowledge and skills in data analysis to support them in developing the required skills to pursue a career in data management.

    In this course, you will focus on the study of data analysis, learn key core knowledge and acquire a number of practical and technical skills. Upon successful completion of this course, you can progress to higher education or entry-level roles in data management.

    Qualifications 

    • Level 2 Certificate in Data Analysis 
    • Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development

    Enquiry

  • Train to Work in Adult Care

    As the need for adult social care continues to rise, care workers must have up-to-date support and guidance to provide the best care possible for the people they work with. If you are interested in pursuing a career in adult social care, this online course will help you gain an appreciation of what it's like to work in the sector. 

    In this course, you will learn about person-centred care and safe working practices, the importance of safeguarding, equality and diversity, and the duty of care to support students in developing the required skills and knowledge to work in adult social care. 

    Qualifications 

    • Level 2 Certificate in Health and Socials 
    • Level 1 Award in Assertive Behaviour 
    • Level 1 Award in Safeguarding 

    Enquiry

  • Start your own Business

    This course guides students through the steps for starting their own business, including choosing a business structure, considering operations, marketing, business and financial planning to support the development of the required skills and knowledge to start your own business. 

    In this course, you will work on a range of downloadable resources designed to help you draft business plan to start your business.

    Qualifications:

    • Level 1 Certificate in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development
    • Level 2 Award in Preparing for Self-employment

    Enquiry

  • ESOL for Business and Retail

    This course is available in Entry 3 and Level 1. It is designed to help students develop the English language skills needed for everyday life and work, gain qualifications in their chosen pathway, and enable progression into further learning at the same or higher levels, ranging from Entry 3 to Level 1.

    In this course, you will build on the relevant basic skills and knowledge required to enter employment in your chosen pathway or progress onto higher-level study programmes.

    Enquiry

  • ESOL for Childcare Entry 3

    This course is designed to help students develop the English language skills needed for everyday life and work, gain qualifications in their chosen pathway, and enable progression into further learning at the same or higher levels, ranging from Entry 3 to Level 1.

    In this course, you will build on the relevant basic skills and knowledge required to progress to employment in your chosen pathway or higher-level study programmes.

    Enquire

  • ESOL Digital Skills

    This course is available in Entry 3 and Level 1. It is designed to help students develop digital skills through ESOL learning using various engaging activities that will also support language progression to support them in gaining the skills required for a pathway into employment. 

    In this course, you will build on the relevant basic skills and knowledge required to progress onto employment in your chosen pathway or higher-level Digital Skills programmes.

    Qualifications 

    • Essential Digital Skills 

    Enquiry

  • ESOL for Employment

    This course is designed to focus on the context of employability to help students move towards securing employment. It includes contextualised work-related reading and writing topics to enable students to build on their confidence, take an active part in their local communities, and develop their understanding of life in modern Britain.

    In this course, you will build on the relevant basic skills and knowledge required to progress onto employment in your chosen pathway or higher-level study programmes.

    Enquiry

  • ESOL for Hospitality and Catering

    This course is available in Entry 3 and Level 1. It is designed to support the development of skills to pursue employment in the Hospitality and Catering sector, and to help students develop the English language skills needed for everyday life and work, gain qualifications in their chosen employment pathway, and enable progression into further learning at the same or higher levels, ranging from Entry 3 to Level 1.

    In this course, you will build on the relevant basic skills and knowledge required to progress onto employment in your chosen pathway or higher-level study programmes.

    Enquiry

  • ESOL for Health and Social Care

    This course is available in Entry 3 and Level 1. It is designed to support the development of skills to pursue employment in the Health and Scoial Care sector, and to help students develop the English language skills needed for everyday life and work, gain qualifications in their chosen employment pathway, and enable progression into further learning at the same or higher levels, ranging from Entry 3 to Level 1.

    In this course, you will build on the relevant basic skills and knowledge required to progress onto employment in your chosen pathway or higher-level study programmes.

    Enquiry

 

ENQUIRE TODAY

You will benefit from:

  • Having access to a tutor or assessor 
  • Gaining additional skills and qualifications needed in the workplace
  • Developing knowledge to further your professional career
  • Learning at your own pace

Study for free

These courses are fully funded for those who live in England, are aged 19 and over on 31 August and meet the following criteria:

  • Not currently in full-time education
  • Had permanent lawful residency in the UK/EU for the last three consecutive years
  • Not previously completed any part of the requested qualifications and/or similar qualifications
  • Currently in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance or Universal Credit.

All courses are subject to availability, eligibility and accessibility needs. You will not be guaranteed a place on a course until you have fully enrolled and received your Learning Agreement.

Key information

We want to get you on a course and working towards your career as soon as possible. But there are some things you need to know...

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Coronavirus update

Southwark College is closely monitoring all communications and guidance as it becomes available. This information is for students and staff and reflects updates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Public Health England (PHE). We are prepared to escalate our contingency arrangements in the event of change.

The government is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to work with the WHO and international community. For staff and students, it remains business as usual across our sites and our workplaces.

Please note that, at present, this advice refers only to arrivals from Wuhan, and not the remainder of China. If you have returned from Wuhan you should:

General guidance for those planning visits to Wuhan or other destinations in China

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) maintains updated travel advice for those planning a trip to Wuhan or other destinations in China. This is available at:

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china

Note

This advice is derived from The Department of Health and Social Care will be publishing updated data on a daily basis at 2pm until further notice:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public#situation-in-the-uk

Supplementary Q&A for individuals wishing to know more around how the UK is managing the risk:

https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/