Digital Skills Training for Individuals Looking to Upskill

A range of free opportunities to learn new digital skills for individuals who may be unemployed, looking to change career or thinking about upskilling.

Interested in AI?

Google

As a starting point for the basics on AI try this – linked to the Grow Google resources is this online course called the Learn the basics AI. This self-paced course created by Minna Learning and the University of Helsinki encourages a broad group to learn what AI is, what can and can’t be done with AI and how to start creating AI methods.

There are more options to choose from on their Learn AI and Machine Learning Guide including:

New AI training to unlock job opportunities – read their blog here or go directly to the course options here
Make Sense of AI – This guide offers simple, bite-sized explainers to help you understand what AI is and how it’s changing the world around us.
Explore AI and learn from Google’s experts – Just learning to code or a seasoned ML practitioner, you’ll find resources to develop your skills and advance your projects here.

In May/June 2024, and then available on demand/pre-recorded, Google with be running – 4-weeks of live, hands-on classes led by our experts who will teach you how to build chat apps, agents and bots using Gemini. Sign up here.

Microsoft Co-Pilot

The Microsoft Learn programme – Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 executive challenge – Microsoft states that this training programme allows you to, “discover how Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 elevates workplace productivity and innovation.” It is tailored to provide insights on crafting contextual prompts for Copilot and includes engaging use case exercises that showcase seamless integration into daily workflows”.

It gives a 30min introduction to Copilot (can be done as a standalone module) and how it fits with Microsoft 365. A second 30min module covers how to craft effective prompts. A final 1 hour executive productivity module covering topics such as creating a slide presentation or a speech using Copilot, enhancing content creation and collaboration skills and summarizing chat and channel threads using Copilot in Teams.

Or you could just look at a 30-40min sessions on Exploring the possibilities with Copilot for Microsoft 365 or want to take your skills further and optimise and extend Copilot for Microsoft 365 and look at best practice, effective prompts and plugins.

If you want to learn more about Microsoft Azure and AI, you could start with this Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals self-directed programme – click here or search the learn.microsoft.com website for the vast array of options available.

Local Support to Learn Digital Skills

Lancashire’s Skills Bootcamps

Skills Bootcamps are intensive and flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector specific skills and fast track to an interview with a local employer.

Designed with employers, participants will gain the in-demand skills to move into or progress in their chosen sector. Participants will be offered a GUARANTEED job interview for real job upon completion.

Bootcamps are presently available in cyber security, data analytics, digital marketing, electech and software development. More will be available later in the year.

For more information on all the available Skills Bootcamps, click here.

Lancashire Adult Learning have a wide range of online flexible or live courses and in-person courses for Lancashire residents that can introduce you to a range of topics to develop your digital skills – click here to explore their offer or call 0333 0031717.

There are videos to watch and help sheets you can read covering things such as: Signing Up and Using , Zoom Download, BorrowBox, Apps icons – reference sheet, WhatsApp instructions and staying safe online.

Blackburn with Darwen Adult Learning

For Blackburn with Darwen residents, they have a wide range of IT an Digital courses. For more information click here. Or call: 01254 507720. Or Email: adultlearning@blackburn.gov.uk.

Blackpool Learning Rooms – Adult Skills

For Blackpool residents, please check out Blackpool Learning Rooms – ICT Provision

Want to learn more general digital skills? (Online Options)

Broadband Savvy

If you want to learn more about Broadband – learn the jargon, how to fix common household problems and read buyer’s guides – the Broadband Savvy website would be a good starting point.

Barclays Digital Wings

The Barclays’ Digital Wings platform offers a wide range of online training modules and webinars in four categories – essentials, home, work and business. The work related training includes communication for work, learning more about using Office 365 or Google platforms. There is also modules for those that need more support with the basics of using digital tools. To have a look – click here.

Google’s Applied Digital Skills

The Applied Digital Skills content consists of 250+ hours of video led content to use to learn a wide range of digital skills. Originally designed to be used by teachers with students or by students independently, if you focus on the Post 16 content this resource can be used by those not in school or college to upskill.

Content includes: Use Google to get a new job, manage a project with digital tools, use digital tools for everyday tasks, organise files on your drive. Sign up for free here!

The Open University

The Open University has a variety of free courses available. You can find more information here.

Learn My Way

Learn My Way from The Good Things Foundation has a section on Employment and Work. They have a variety of courses available to develop your basic digital skills including courses on Google, Outlook, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. The go back to basics such as “How to create a Word document” or “What is Office 365?”

Lloyds Bank Academy

The Lloyds Academy is packed with free digital skills learning for any level. There is a wide range of courses available to choose from such as these trending programmes –

The iDEA Award

The iDEA Award (The Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award) is described as an international programme that helps you develop digital, enterprise and employability skills for free. You complete a series of online challenges and collect badges when successful. Each badge has points and 250 points gets you your Bronze Award, an industry-recognised award. Read more about it here.

If you want to speak to someone about doing the IDEA Award, why not drop in to your local Lancashire Library. All the staff can help you and you can go online in any library.

Office 365

Whether you want to learn the basics of office apps such as Excel or Word or work smarter, after learning new tips and tricks, the Office 365 Training Center offers a range of training for you to access for free.

Open Door to Success

The Department for Work & Pensions has partnered with The Open University OpenLearn courses will enhance your digital and employability skills, so you can work towards your career aspirations. There are also courses to help you improve your functional English and Maths skills.

Interested in a new topic and want to dig deeper?
Whether it’s a 5-minute exploration or a 24-hour expedition into learning that you’re after, you’ll find it on OpenLearn for free. OpenLearn is a free online learning platform, delivered by The Open University.

You will find over 1,000 free courses, topical and interactive

What is OpenLearn?
OpenLearn courses are freely accessible to all DWP customers regardless of previous education, learning experience or disability.

Click here for more information.

Want to learn specialist digital skills for jobs in the industry? (Online Options)

AWS – Amazon Web Services

AWS—Amazon Web Services offer some free training on a variety of topics from analytics and big data to machine learning and application integration. There are also links to other training you can purchase, so please ensure you filter for the free digital training.

Skills for All from Cisco

Free online courses for tech jobs – take courses and gain digital badges that can demonstrate your skills to potential employers. Click here for further info.

Google Grow My Career

Grow with Google has a full library of online courses covering a wide range of topics with both interactive live webinars and in-depth courses that can take you form ‘beginner to job-ready professional’ – or Google Career Certificates. Topics covered range from AI, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security and Coding to Data and Digital Marketing.

Institute of Coding

Offering a wide range of industry-inspired courses co-designed by a network of employers and education. Courses are there if you want to find out more about digital, learn new skills, or prepare for your career by studying for a degree. Find more information here. – but please ensure you filter to free courses!

Microsoft UK Digital Skills Hub

Microsoft have developed a training offer across 10 Digital Career areas.

These 10 jobs were identified as having the greatest number of job openings*, have had steady growth over the past four years, pay a liveable wage, and require skills that can be learned online.

*Number of job openings posted globally on LinkedIn in 2020

Job roles include: software developer, sales representative, project manager, IT administrator, customer service specialist, digital marketer, IT support/helpdesk, data analyst, financial analyst, graphic designer.

Have a look at the offer here.

Microsoft Learn

With Microsoft Learn you can learn skills required to advance your career and gain Microsoft Certification. You can filter course by beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Courses cover:

.Net e.g. .NET core
Azure e.g. Azure Active Directory
Dynamics 365 e.g. AI for customer service
Power Platform e.g. Power BI
SQL Server
Visual Studio e.g. App centre
Windows
Microsoft 365 e.g. Cloud app security
Office 365 e.g. Sharepoint framework

OpenSAP

OpenSAP provides free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) open to everyone interested in learning whether you are a professional, career changer, student or just interested. Find out more about OpenSAP here.

Support with CVs and Job Applications

BT Skills for Tomorrow

Help with getting a job is just one aspect of the free training available through the BT Skills for Tomorrow website. You could start with CV writing and interview help and also learn digital skills for daily life and for work life.

Click here to find out more.

BT and their partners are also holding a number of ‘Work ready – Smarter Job Seeking’ webinars including some on CV creation and how to be a hit at interviews.

Click here for full list of webinars.

Google Digital Garage

Google Digital Garage Training includes a range of free learning programmes designed to jump-start your career. You can learn by selecting individual modules, or dive right in and take an entire course end-to-end. Use the Job Search filter to see all the relevant courses,

Lloyds Bank Academy

The Lloyds Academy is packed with free digital skills learning for any level. There are courses to help you improve your CV, prepare for interviews and to have a successful online video interviews. Such as – Find and secure your dream job.

Learn My Way

Learn My Way from The Good Things Foundation has a section on Employment and Work. They have a wide range of digital skills training but the Employment and Work section covers areas such as help with online job searching, help getting a job and preparing for work. You will need to register for an account.

Open Learn with DWP (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work & Pensions has partnered with The Open University OpenLearn courses will enhance your digital and employability skills, so you can work towards your career aspirations. They also have advice on CV’s – click here for more information.

Getting Stuck with the Jargon?

You could always visit the O2 jargon buster to get definitions of common terms used.