Retrain or refresh for your career move

We are aiming to help the county’s workforce get back on its feet with a range of free courses designed to help jobseekers refresh, retrain and prepare to re-enter the workplace, whether they are long-term unemployed or have recently been made redundant. 

Our successful JobSmart programme supports unemployed people, aged 19 and over, return to work, with a focus on transferable skills needed to stand out to employers. The courses are tutor led and learners are supported every step of the way. 

These are generally short courses that develop personal, social and work-related skills such as building confidence, writing a CV, how to apply for jobs, preparing for interviews, self-assessment, communication, goal setting and basic computer skills, including using the Internet, emails, cloud storage and Microsoft Office programs. 

Courses available include: 

• Using Employability Skills  
• Computer Confidence for Work 
• Confidence for Work 
• Customer Service  
• Interview Skills 
• Personal Development for Employment 
• Principles of Providing Security Services 
• Professional Employment Toolkit 
• Warehousing and Storage 
• Working as a CCTV Operator 

While a few courses have start dates in August, most start from September, and all are free of charge to those aged 19+ in receipt of certain benefits, or working and earning less than £16,009.50 annual gross salary. 

In fact, all Level 1 courses are free for adults to study, if they are fall under the above-mentioned criteria. Level 2 and 3 courses can also be free of charge to study for those aged 19 to 23, if the course is their first qualification of that Level. A Level 2 qualification is equivalent to five GCSEs, and a Level 3 is equivalent to two A Levels. 

Amie Nutbrown, Head of Commercial, said: “Now is an uncertain time for those who have been long-term unemployed or may soon be made redundant, in a job market that has become more competitive than ever before. 

“Our dedicated Jobsmart Team can help jobseekers choose the right course for them, whether they want to retrain for a career in a new industry or brush up existing skills to feel confident in their job search and themselves as a candidate. 

"We have courses to suit any age or ability, including short courses, intensive courses and professional courses, in addition to our full-time and part-time options, with funding available to those who need it. Our team can support you every step of the way on your journey to getting your next job.” 

We offer a huge range of career-focused courses covering everything from construction, catering and counselling, to business, engineering and computing, with full-time courses requiring on-campus attendance for just three or four days a week to fit in around existing home and work commitments. 

To see the full range of courses, and apply online, visit www.gloscol.ac.uk/jobsmart  

For more information please call our Jobsmart Team on 01452 563278 or email jobsmart@gloscol.ac.uk