Skills for life

Skills for Life - Free Employability & Skills Courses

Develop the skills you need to participate fully in modern life, make progress at work and express yourself with confidence.

Whether you are a cleaner or a junior manager, office or construction worker, beginner or advanced level, our courses will help you develop the most in-demand workplace skills and at same time improve your general communication, English, ESOL, Data Literacy, Maths and Digital Skills. Our courses will also improve your skills and competences for life outside work from going to the doctors and filling out forms to talking about politics and discussing art.

Inside and outside work, in all types of jobs, at all levels, adults need to be problem-solvers, analysers, decision-makers, team-players, to see the bigger picture and be detail-oriented. Join our courses, online or face-to-face, and develop these universal essentials skills with our motivating, innovative and professional tutors.

What is the best course for me?

You need to do a pre-course assessment. You can also do it online, but a face-to-face assessment is best. 

  • Online assessment - click ‘Start Assessment’ on the course page
  • Or book a face-to-face assessment - call 0204 582 0423 or contact us by email at universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk for an appointment. You can also come without an appointment.

Times:

  • Every Monday 12- 2pm
  • Every Wednesday 6-8pm
  • Every Friday 11am-1pm (23rd August – 6th October)

Our in-person digital and computer skills pre-course advice and assessment sessions are every Monday 11am-1pm. We also have advice sessions on:

04/09/2023        Mon      11am – 1pm
06/09/2023        Wed      5pm – 7pm
08/09/2023        Fri          11am – 5pm
11/09/2023        Mon      11am – 1pm
13/09/2023        Wed      5pm – 7pm

 

Most of our courses are FREE if you are on a low income or claiming benefits. You will also usually need to do a pre-course assessment. For more details contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk or click the links below.

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  1. Business English communication skills: communicating, managing, selling (level 2)
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 6 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Do you want to work in business but lack the confidence? Do you already have a job but feel that your language skills are holding you back? This course will help you improve your business and work English so you can be confident in your communication skills and that you have the right language to manage others and engage in sales. You will focus on tasks typically associated with management and sales including conducting meetings, writing formally, creating plans, building rapport, identifying needs, presenting solutions, answering objections and closing the sale.



    You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).



    This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £95.00
  2. Bitesize maths: becoming confident with shapes, space and measuring (level 1-2)
    Course start date:  Thu 9 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    We measure so much we forget how important it is. Time is a measurement - how many seconds does it take to read this? We measure how much data we use on our phone. We measure our success in maths by counting how many marks we get in a test. There is all the measuring we do when cooking, decorating, making things, weighing things and people, using liquids. And think of all the different shapes in the world, 2D and 3D. And how we use these shapes in sewing, baking, gardening so on. This course will provide you with all the skills and understanding you need to be confident you can measure accurately and make the calculations you need.



    You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page.



    Free course: This is a Multiply course. Multiply is a new government programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills. This course is free for Londoners aged 19 or over. For more information Click here
    Full fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00
  3. ESOL and making podcasts: pronunciation, presentation, expression (level 1-2)
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sun 12 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Do you want to improve your pronunciation, learn more about how you sound when you speak English and develop your speaking? A podcast is a digital recording, which can be used in a very practical way to help develop your English. On this course, you will discover how to make and edit a podcast to record yourself as well as what to say and how to say it. You will be able to practise speaking on your own and interviewing others as well as learn how to prepare what to say and how to say it. Podcasting is a fantastic way of improving your pronunciation, your vocabulary, your spoken accuracy, and your fluency.



    You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).



    Please note you will need to download the free Audacity software and have a headset with mic to do this course.



    This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £65.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  4. Workplace communication skills: how to write a successful CV and be confident in interviews (entry 3-level 1)
    Course start date:  Wed 15 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Do you want to learn how to write a CV that will attract an employer's attention and get you an interview? Do you want to learn how to prepare for that interview and answer the questions confidently when you are there? This course will help you do that. By the end of the course you will be confident you have all the skills you need to write a job application that meets the criteria the employer is looking for, in language that impresses them, and that you will perform well in any job interview.



    You need to do a pre-course activity to make sure this is the right course for you. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for information and to book a pre-course assessment. Or you can click the Start Assessment button on this page.



    This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
    Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £15.00
  5. Communication skills: develop your English for social media - podcasting (level 1-level 2)
    Course start date:  Thu 16 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Are you new to podcasting? Would you like to start podcasting but unsure you have the communication skills? Or are you looking to improve your general speaking skills? This course will provide you with the skills you need. You will work on the key features needed to sound fluent and engaging. You will practise how to reduce your hesitations, sounding natural while also being controlled. You will develop techniques for changing and adapting your volume, tone, pitch and pace as well as breathing and pausing. You will work on how to prepare for speaking on a public platform whether through questioning or longer monologues and on how to create suitable scripts. Whether you are wanting to become a professional podcaster, produce family podcasts or simply improve your overall communication skills, this course will provide you with the tools you need.



    You need to do a pre-course activity to make sure this is the right course for you. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for information and to book a pre-course assessment. Or you can click the Start Assessment button on this page.



    This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
    Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £65.00
  6. Preparing for maths GCSE
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 4 Jun 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Do you want to gain a Maths GCSE but are not ready yet to achieve this in a single year? Do you need to test your abilities before attempting the qualification course? Then this Preparing for Maths GCSE is the course for you. It will prepare you for the accreditation and familiarise you with its content, level and expectation. You will need to complete and pass an initial assessment before starting this course to demonstrate at least a Level 1 Functional Skills level of Maths.



    You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).



    Free course: This is a Multiply course. Multiply is a new government programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills. This course is free for Londoners aged 19 or over. For more information Click here



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00
  7. Learn English - discover London, its history, culture and people (level 1-level 2)
    Course start date:  Mon 8 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Do you want to improve your English and learn about London, its history, culture and people at the same time? On this course, you will visit places of interest and learn about the history of these places especially about the different people and cultures who have lived there, and about important events which have shaped the city. You will do your own research and so improve your reading and writing skills as well as your speaking and listening. In addition, you will feel more at home in London and able to participate in its rich and diverse life.



    You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).



    This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £35.00
    Rating:
    87% of 100
  8. Learn English - learn about London (entry 2-entry 3)
    Course start date:  Tue 9 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Do you want to improve your English and learn about London at the same time? This course will help you feel more confident about living in London and using your English. You will visit interesting places and learn about the history of the city and the people who live there. You will also learn about important events in the city in the past and now. You will improve your speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will learn a lot of new words to describe people and places and how to express yourself fluently and correctly.



    You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 8078 0489 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name).



    This course is FREE if you are employed and on a low wage or you are claiming benefits. For more information Click here
    Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £47.00 Concession £30.00
  9. English pronunciation: stage 1 (intensive)
    Course start date:  Mon 15 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  David John Gwillim
    Improve your pronunciation of Standard English on this intensive course, each day for one week, which includes detailed study of vowel and consonant sounds, and work on clarity and intonation. This course is for speakers of other languages who are fluent in English. Some homework required.
    Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £167.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  10. English pronunciation: stage 2 (intensive)
    Course start date:  Mon 22 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  David John Gwillim
    Ideal if you have completed 'English pronunciation: stage 1', the course develops fluency and clarity and explores diphthongs and triphthongs, inflexion and intonation, and the rhythms of standard English.
    Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £167.00
  11. English pronunciation: stage 2
    Course start date:  Fri 27 Sep 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  David John Gwillim
    Designed for people who have completed ‘English Pronunciation: stage 1’ although new students with sufficient skills can join. Develop confidence and clarity, explore diphthongs and triphthongs, inflection and the rhythms of Standard English. This term the course will be taught online.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00
    Rating:
    96% of 100
  12. English language GCSE
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 7 Sep 2023

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Are you excited by the English language? Do you want to engage with fiction and non-fiction? Do you need to improve your writing and critical thinking across a range of topics and themes? An English Language GCSE is an essential qualification for anyone wanting to practise higher-order reading skills and use these to develop fluent and effective writing. It is one of the most commonly required qualifications by employers and universities, and will enhance your job and education prospects. This specification will ensure that you can read fluently and write effectively, demonstrate a confident control of Standard English and write grammatically correct sentences, deploying figurative language, and analyse texts.



    Please note: you MUST pass the first 7 weeks of the course, and then the next 7 weeks. You must attend every class and do the necessary homework. If you do not, you will not be able to continue the course.



    You need to do a pre-course assessment. Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423 for a face-to-face assessment or click the Start Assessment button on this page. Log on with your email address (not name)..



    This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
    Full fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00
  13. Maths higher GCSE
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 12 Sep 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Are you excited by the language of Maths? Join this GCSE course after completing Maths higher GCSE (introduction) and learn how numbers, symbols and formulas enable us to identify and solve problems as well as find patterns and structure in the world. This course will extend your analytical and problem-solving skills and help you develop logic to plan and manage activities. A Maths GCSE is one of the most commonly required qualifications by employers and universities and by achieving it you will enhance your job and education prospects.







    Please note the Thursday classes are not every week, but approximately every third week.



    Please note: you MUST pass the first 7 weeks of the course, and then the next 7 weeks. You must attend every class and do the necessary homework. If you do not, you will not be able to continue the course.



    Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423 for information and to book a pre-course assessment. You can also click the Start Assessment button on this page.



    This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in Maths. For more information Click here



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00
  14. Maths foundation GCSE
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 12 Sep 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Are you excited by the language of Maths? Do you want to understand how numbers, symbols and formulas enable us to identify and solve problems as well as find patterns and structure in the world. This course will extend your analytical and problem-solving skills and help you develop logic to plan and manage activities. A Maths GCSE is one of the most commonly required qualifications by employers and universities and by achieving it you will enhance your job and education prospects. Please note the Friday classes are not every Friday, but approximately every third week.



    Please note: you MUST pass the first 7 weeks of the course, and then the next 7 weeks. You must attend every class and do the necessary homework. If you do not, you will not be able to continue the course.



    Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423 for information and to book a pre-course assessment. You can also click the Start Assessment button on this page.



    This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in Maths. For more information Click here



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00
  15. English Functional Skills (Level 2)
    Last Few Places
    Course start date:  Tue 6 Feb 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Do you want to develop your English skills and gain a qualification? Do you need to show employers you can read and write accurately? Do you want to speak well in different situations? If so, you may want to do a Level 2 Functional Skills English qualification. This is equivalent to a GCSE and often needed for work or education.







    The course will ensure you are confident in the three areas of literacy: Reading, Writing and Speaking, Listening & Communicating. It will help you to understand and use the English language in the most effective way for different real-life situations.







    Please note: You MUST pass the first 6 weeks of the course. You must attend every class and do the necessary homework. If not, you will not be able to continue the course.







    Contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423 for information and to book a pre-course assessment. You can also click the Start Assessment button on this page. This course is free for learners who meet the residency criteria and have not achieved a GCSE grade 4 (or C) and above or an equivalent Level 2 qualification in English.







    See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.



    This course is free for learners who have not achieved a GCSE grade C (4) and higher in English. For more information Click here
    Full fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
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