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Education and learning
Improving your skills: getting started
If you invest some of your time in learning, you’ll be equipping yourself for the future. You’ll have a better chance of improving your career or finding a new job. There are many ways to learn, plus free advice and even money from the government to help with the costs.
Why are skills so valuable?
Research shows that improving your skills can increase your salary on average by up to £3,000 a year
Having the right skills is more important now than ever before. This is because in less than ten years there will be very few jobs that require no skills at all.
As well as boosting your career prospects, improving your skills can also help if you plan to go on to further study.
Skills are also useful in all sorts of situations in life, and can give you more confidence. You can also gain new qualifications at the same time.
Get free, impartial advice
If you are not sure where to begin, there’s lots of free, impartial advice from services like Careers Advice and nextstep.
They will be able to tell you about your options and about any free money you could get to help pay towards your learning.
You can meet a trained adviser face-to-face, have a conversation over the phone or contact an adviser by email.
Boost your basic skills
If you need help with reading, writing or maths, there is plenty of help available.
There are also lots of ways to improve your computer skills, whether you are a complete beginner, or want to improve your existing skills.
Learn in a way that suits you
Everyone has the ability to learn new things, whatever your age or circumstances
If you decide to improve your skills by going on a course, there are almost a million in the UK to choose from. So, you’re bound to find one that interests you and fits around your home and work commitments.
You can choose where and when you learn – you don’t have to sit in a classroom. For example, you may be able to get training at work. You can learn full or part time, for a few hours or for several years – whatever suits you best.
Get paid to improve your skills
If you decide that you want to improve your skills but are concerned about how much it will cost, don’t worry. There’s lots of financial help available. Exactly what you could get will depend on your personal circumstances.
You could get financial help through a number of different programmes like the Adult Learning Grant and Career Development Loans. You could also get help with childcare costs.
Thinking about higher education?
Getting a higher education qualification can increase your career prospects and life opportunities. It will also give you the chance to experience new things and meet new people.
It’s not just about getting a degree. There are lots of different courses like HNCs and HNDs, or Foundation Degrees that mix study with workplace learning. You can learn at college or university, full or part time.
There’s also a range of grants, loans and bursaries to help you meet the costs. If you get help through a grant or bursary, you don't have to pay it back.
Additional links
Personal learning and careers advice
Get one-to-one advice from a personal adviser in your local nextstep office
