The Bedford College Group is offering a range of part-time courses to help people upgrade their skills as they seek for jobs in the ‘new normal’.
Many courses lead to qualifications that are industry-approved and sought after by employers who have vacancies and people can give themselves a head start by signing up this season.
Online classes are part of some of the courses and subjects cover a wide range of skills from upgrading a hobby or creative pastime into a career, or updating practises ready for the 2020s.
Of course Technical skills are the most sought after, these are covered by course headings such as: IT Essentials; PC Maintenance & Networking and Database Design and Programming
As more and more people become self-employed, the demand for those with accounting and bookkeeping skills are on the increase, as is supporting people with their wellbeing as a counsellor or personal trainer, as well as those we found out during lockdown, we can’t live without such as hairdressers and beauty therapists.
On a more practical level, there’s Light Vehicle Maintenance, Vehicle Accident Repairs and Forklift Truck Driving.
The Outdoor life and links to gardening are also areas of employment and Bedford College offers courses in:
- Agriculture tractor driving
- Practical Horticulture RHS
- Floristry
- Garden Design
- Safe use of chainsaws and other equipment like wood chippers
- Self-drive lawn mowers
- Tree management
Construction is booming with employers crying out for skilled workers. The College offers Electrical, Electronic Engineering courses across a range of City & Guilds and Higher qualifications, including Carpentry and Joinery, Plumbing And Gas Safety, Heating, Bricklaying, Painting and Decorating, and Civil Engineering.
Creative talents leading to employment could include: Photography, Media Production, Music Technology, Fashion Production.
Progressing into Management is always a pathway too and at Bedford College there are courses in Principles of Management CMI, as well as HR Management CIPD, and if you have expertise and experience then teaching could be the next job move for you. Teaching English and maths, and Educational Practice are both on offer.
Full details of all courses can be found at www.bedford.ac.uk.
