UNEMPLOYMENT has hit its highest level for almost five years, with 1.72million now out of work.
So standing out from the crowd is key when trying to land one of the 578,000 vacancies out there. These four free initiatives can help jobseekers gain skills.
An Hour To Skill: This campaign urges you to set aside 60 minutes each week for online learning.
Companies including Amazon Web Services, Cisco and Microsoft offer more than 70 courses in areas such as computer essentials and professional development.
Apprenticeships and Skills minister Gillian Keegan said: “Research shows people who under-take further online learning can earn around £3,640 extra a year.”
- Find courses at theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk.
Jolt: This business school is creating hundreds of six-month work placements with top tech firms as part of its Kickstart scheme.
UK boss Oliver Beach said: “Not only will Kickstart offer young people the opportunity to work and learn with some of the country’s most innovative companies, we will give them the employability skills they need to build their careers, whatever they decide to pursue.”
After losing her job in the hospitality industry during the first lockdown, Holly Ashdown retrained with Jolt on its Switch course.
The 29-year-old Londoner said: “After many, many template rejection emails, I took the course to re-motivate myself. It covered all aspects of tech business combined with self-development, CV and LinkedIn guidance.
“It really brings your motivation back and you get to meet great people, increasing your network.”
- Apply at jolt.io.
Make It Click: This offers online learning resources, from beginner courses on word processing and spreadsheets to using social media and making presentations.
More than half of business leaders say digital skills are the most important thing they look for in potential employees.
Helen Milner, of the Good Things Foundation, which runs the scheme, said: “Mastering and accessing digital skills can have a hugely positive impact on employees and benefits their overall wellbeing and work performance.”
- See makeitclick.com for details.
Key 4 Life: This crime-prevention charity helps young offenders into work placements while building their confidence and developing employability skills.
Participants are four times more likely to be employed a year after release than other young former prisoners.
Founder Eva Hamilton said: “Business leaders have the capacity to unlock the potential of young offenders and provide employment, which is the key to breaking the offending cycle.”
- Learn more at key4life.org.uk.