There are a number of ways to access free support and training, help to find a job, or to take the next steps in your career once the current situation changes.

Skills Support to the Workforce (ESF) - this is for people aged 16 and above who are employed, furloughed, or at risk of redundancy.  If you run a business you can contact this scheme to get free training for your staff.  To find out if you are eligible for the free training:

Call - 0300 330 1520 or Email - sswadmin@hcuktraining.co.uk  

Skills Support to the Unemployed ESF - supports school leavers, people who are unemployed and jobseekers to gain skills and qualifications. To find out if you are eligible for this free training: 

Call Andrew Sale - 07425629929 or Email - Lincolnshire.skills@peopleplus.co.uk 

Many local Further Education Colleges and Training Providers are involved in delivering the schemes above, as well as other online courses for young people and adults, regardless of age, and you can contact them directly. See a list of local training organisations here.

2aspire:  Lincolnshire County Council's Adult Skills & Family Learning Service provides a wide range of courses to engage adults in learning which supports and enables them to enhance their quality of life, and progress to other learning, training and volunteering opportunities. Working with training providers across Lincolnshire, the Service is committed to providing the best learning opportunities for everyone, find out more on the 2aspire website. 

The Open University offer a wide variety of free courses in a range of subjects: find out more at Open Learn.

Future Learn offers free courses, including writing applications and how to succeed at interviews: find out more at Future Learn.

National Careers Service - If you would like advice or guidance about the next steps in your career, or the training that would be most useful to you:
Call for free: 0800 917 9419 (if you are in Lincolnshire or Rutland)
Call for free: 0800 100 900 (if you are in North or North East Lincolnshire)

Take a look at the website: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

Universal Credit

You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you are on a low income or out of work. There is no limit to the number of hours you can work a week if you get Universal Credit. Your Universal Credit payment will reduce as you earn more.

To apply for Universal Credit:

Sign up online: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim 

Contact the Universal Credit helpline: 0800 328 5644

Further Support

Free courses are available through The Skills Toolkit. This gives people access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects.

These skills are highly valued by employers and sought after in a wide range of jobs. With more people working and studying remotely, the platform offers a great opportunity to learn new skills to help to get ahead online. Courses on offer cover a range of levels: from everyday maths; tools for using email and social media more effectively; to more advanced training. Individuals will be able to access courses, helping them to create great online content developed by the University of Leeds and the Institute of Coding, to understand the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing from Google Digital Garage and to learn how to code for data analysis from the Open University. All courses are online and flexible, so people can work through them at their own pace. Find out more information here.

New Lifetime Skills Guarantee - Free level 3 qualifications for adults

Any adult aged 19 and over who wants to achieve their first full level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to an advanced technical certificate or diploma, or A levels, can now access hundreds of fully-funded courses.

This offer is part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee announced by the Prime Minister in September 2020. It represents a long-term commitment to remove the age constraints and financial barriers for adults looking for their first level 3 qualification so that they can access training to enable them to progress.

Courses are available in a variety of lengths, to support adults to get the skills they need to boost their careers.

19 to 23 year olds can also access additional courses for free through their legal entitlement to a first full level 3 qualification.

Details on the new National Skills Fund can be found here - National Skills Fund

Page Updated 14th April 2021

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