Essential Skills for the Workplace and Everyday Life
Free courses online and in London.
Join Essential Skills and learn the key skills you need to progress in work and participate fully in everyday life.
Our courses develop your communication, decision-making, problem-solving, team-building and analytical skills, at the same time as you improve your English, ESOL, maths, digital skills, and data literacy.
The classes are at all levels from beginner literacy to GCSE English, for new office-workers to experienced managers, from maths for life to data analysis in the workplace.
Join the courses below and develop the skills essential to your job success, well-being, and ability to express yourself in all settings, digitally and face-to-face.
Many of our courses are free to all UK and EU citizens living in London, and most are free if you are:
- on a Low Wage or
- on Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA) or Employment & Support Allowance (ESA), or
- receiving other state benefits (including Universal Credit)
To find out more, please read this information pack. You can also apply to our bursary if you need help with fees.
For help or advice, please contact us on 020 7492 2511 or email universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk. Most of our classes are now live online. You will need a computer with a microphone, a camera, and a good internet connection. Some courses are taking place in the City Lit building in London.
- Getting Ready for Maths functional skills level 2Course start date: Fri 9 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
You will learn techniques to understand the non-calculator section of the functional skills Level 2 Maths syllabus. You will develop your mathematical skills and knowledge to work with numbers including fractions, percentages, ratio and to work out area and perimeter. This non-accredited course (no exam) will give you the opportunity demonstrate a sound grasp of the underpinning skills and basics of maths appropriate to level 2, and to apply mathematical thinking to solve simple problems in familiar situations. By the end of the course, you will have an inhouse written assessment which will allow your tutor to progress you to the accredited course, where you can get your Functional Skills level 2 Maths qualification.Full fee £0.00 - ESOL and making podcasts: pronunciation, presentation, expression (level 1-2)
Course start date: Sun 11 May 2025 (and 1 other date)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 - Learning to use your iPhone Course start date: Wed 4 Jun 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Is your iPhone confusing you? Are you unsure how to make the most of its many features? This short course will help you understand your phone, troubleshoot problems and use some of its most popular features and apps. By the end of the course you will be confident you can use or find out how to use the key features of your phone.Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £34.00 Concession £25.00 - Learning to use your smartphone (Android)Course start date: Wed 18 Jun 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Does your smartphone confuse you? Are you unsure how to make the most of its many features? Understanding and navigating your way round a smartphone is now as important as being able to use a regular computer. This short course will help you understand your Android smartphone, troubleshoot problems and use some of the most popular apps. By the end of the course you will be confident you can use or find out how to use the key features of your phone.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £15.00 - Learn English - discover London, its history, culture and people (level 1-level 2) Course start date: Mon 7 Jul 2025 (and 2 other dates)
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 - Learn English - learn about London (entry 2-entry 3)Course start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025
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).Full fee £59.00 Concession £30.00 - Touch typing and keyboard skills Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you need to learn to type quickly and efficiently? Are you working or do you want to work in administration? Learn how to type with correct finger placement without looking at the keyboard. Build your speed with practice and speed tests. No previous experience required.
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 £189.00 Senior fee £151.00 Concession £95.00 - Grammar in practice: advanced (level 2+) Course start date: Wed 1 Oct 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Is your grammar holding you back? Learn how to communicate more effectively by analysing, discussing and experimenting with English grammar. This course will help you realise that grammar is really about meaning: understanding better the meaning of what someone is saying and expressing yourself more meaningfully.
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). The course runs over three terms (though you may start any term, places allowing).
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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £90.00 - Grammar in practice: upper intermediate (level 1-2) Course start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Unsure when to use present perfect or past perfect? Is reported speech still causing you problems? Do you need to practise your conditionals? Join this course and put your grammar into practice in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Gain confidence in using grammar effectively through high level and engaging tasks
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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £90.00 - Maths functional skills level 2Course start date: Wed 19 Feb 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Do you need to gain a national maths qualification to show you have a good level of mathematical competence? Functional Skills Level 2 Maths shows employers and others that your maths skills are at a good level and that you can use skills to solve complex issues in a variety of situations. You will develop your maths to become a problem-solver, analyser and decision-maker.
You MUST pass the first 6 weeks of the course. 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 Maths. For more information Click here
Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £70.00
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