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.
- English and maths for life (pre-entry)
Course start date: Thu 18 Apr 2024Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Do you need help with reading and writing English? Can you write the letters of the alphabet or do you need to practise? Do you need to improve your spelling? Can you use numbers and count up to 100 or do you need help? On this course you will learn how to write individual letters, spell whole words, write simple sentences, read whole words, read simple sentences and understand notices. You will become confident in your speaking. And you will also practise the maths you need for everyday life so you can shop, use money and measure things 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).
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 and in person. 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 - Grammar in practice: upper intermediate (level 1-2)Course start date: Fri 3 May 2024
Location on this date: Online
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
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information. - Maths functional skills level 2Course start date: Mon 26 Feb 2024
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 hereFull fee £0.00 Senior fee £0.00 Concession £0.00
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