The Skills Toolkit

Free courses to help you learn new skills or change jobs. Including general skills that apply to all sectors and more specialised skills.

2 courses to help with fractions, decimals and other maths skills for work and everyday life
  • The Open University

    Everyday Maths

    Maths skills to help with work and everyday life.

    This course covers:
    • fractions
    • decimals
    • percentages
    • how to read diagrams and charts
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 48 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Office administration, bookkeeper, payroll administrator
  • The Open University

    Numbers, units and arithmetic

    Learn the basics of working with positive and negative numbers and how to multiply and divide with fractions and decimals.

    Find out about:
    • whole numbers and decimals
    • multiplication and division
    • fractions
    • the best units for a task
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 5 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs

5 courses to help you use a computer, the internet and office programs like spreadsheets and word processors.
  • Good Things Foundation

    Learn My Way

    Collection of resources to help you use the internet.

    Learn things like:
    • how to use your computer or device
    • find a job online
    • use public service
    • use office programs like Microsoft Word or Excel
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: Under 4 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • Microsoft

    Get the best out of Microsoft Outlook

    Learn how to use Microsoft Outlook, an email program used in the workplace.

    Find out how to do things like:
    • send an email
    • book a meeting
    • manage your calendar
    • organise a to-do list
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: Under 4 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Office administrator and other office roles
  • Lloyds Bank

    Learn for life

    Over 30 resources to help with digital skills, organisation and finance.

    Find out about things like how to:
    • improve your employability skills
    • stay safe online
    • use office programs, like Microsoft Word
    • work with digital devices
    • improve your CV
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: Under 4 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • Accenture and FutureLearn

    Digital Skills: Digital Skills for Work and Life

    Find out how digital is changing our personal and professional lives. Develop the skills to succeed in a digital world.

    You will learn:
    • the meaning of 'digital'
    • how digital is changing the ways we work and live
    • its impact on jobs and industries
    • the opportunities and challenges of digital
    • how to adopt a 'growth mindset'
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 2 hours
    Study type: Scheduled, no instructor
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • The Open University

    Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world

    Find out how to use digital technology safely and critically.

    Learn how to:
    • be confident about your online identity
    • choose and use the best online tool for a task
    • use technology confidently and critically
    • identify digital skills to develop further
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs

1 course to help recognise your strengths and develop resilience.
  • The Open University

    Developing career resilience

    Find out how to take control of your career and deal with the challenges it can bring.

    Learn how to:
    • identify strengths of resilient people
    • recognise the strengths you already have
    • understand changing trends in the job market
    • identify tactics for goal setting
    • overcome setbacks
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs

8 courses to help with communication skills, your professional online presence, leadership and collaboration.
  • Google

    Communicate Effectively at Work

    Find out how to:
    • hold a team meeting
    • collect feedback
    • create and share a proposal
    • present information to an audience
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 9 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • The Open University

    Returning to Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)

    Find out how to return to STEM after taking a break.

    Learn how to:
    • find STEM jobs online
    • be visible to employers online
    • create an action plan and CV
    • identify mentors and networking opportunities
    • understand work-life balance and flexible working
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most STEM jobs
  • The Open University

    Personal branding for career success

    Find out how to present yourself to employers and enhance your profile at work.

    Learn how to:
    • apply marketing techniques to yourself
    • define your own brand
    • promote yourself to employers
    • devise a plan for your brand and career
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • The Open University

    Leadership and followership

    Find out what makes a good leader and how to improve your leadership skills.

    Learn how to:
    • analyse leadership styles and approaches
    • recognise leadership skills
    • define followership
    • overcome common challenges with leadership
    • develop your leadership skills
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • The Open University

    Working in diverse teams

    Learn about the benefits and challenges of teamwork, and how to articulate these to an employer.

    Find out about:
    • the value of team working for employers
    • different team roles
    • different stages of team development
    • the benefits of team diversity
    • how a virtual team differs from other teams
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • The Open University

    Exploring career mentoring and coaching

    Find out what mentors and career coaches do and how to become one.

    You will learn:
    • the difference between mentoring and career coaching
    • the importance of self-awareness
    • how to choose a mentor or coach
    • how to become a mentor or coach
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • The Open University

    Effective communication in the workplace

    Learn about the importance of communication in the workplace and how to improve your communication skills.

    Find out about:
    • different types of communication
    • the skills required for effective communication
    • the impact that communication can have
    • how effective communication can overcome challenges in the workplace
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs
  • The Open University

    Internships and other work experiences

    Find out about internships and work experience, and the experience they can provide.

    Learn how to:
    • identify different types of internship and work experience opportunities
    • build on existing skills through an internship or work experience
    • define personal goals for an internship or work experience opportunity
    • build a personal brand
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs

7 courses including project and business management, bookkeeping and sales.
  • The Open University

    Introduction to Bookkeeping

    Introduction to the essential skills and concepts of bookkeeping and accounting.

    This course covers:
    • double-entry bookkeeping
    • how to prepare a trial balance
    • balance sheet
    • profit and loss accounts
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 8 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Bookkeeper, accountant
  • Google

    Manage a Project with Digital Tools

    Find out how to efficiently manage and organise projects, using digital tools like Google Docs and Google Sheets.

    Learn how to:
    • plan a team project
    • track its progress and costs
    • prepare a summary report
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 9 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Business manager
  • LinkedIn

    Become a Sales Representative

    Collection of resources covering different skills in sales.

    Learn how to:
    • develop sales strategies
    • connect with customers
    • negotiate
    • handle objections
    • close sales
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 8 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Sales representative
  • LinkedIn

    Become a Customer Service Specialist

    Collection of resources covering different skills in customer service.

    Learn how to:
    • make customers feel valued
    • solve problems for customers
    • build rapport with customers
    • handle challenging, upset or abusive customers
    • use web chat and SMS text
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 6 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Customer service assistant, banking customer service adviser
  • LinkedIn

    Become a Project Manager

    Collection of resources covering different skills in project management.

    Learn how to manage:
    • requirements
    • schedules
    • budgets
    • teams
    • communication
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 18 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Project manager
  • LinkedIn

    Become a Financial Analyst

    Collection of resources covering different skills in financial analysis.

    Find out about:
    • strategic planning for organisations
    • financial accounting
    • financial modelling and forecasting
    • using spreadsheets to track and evaluate data
    • financial ratios and economic theories
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 18 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Financial analyst
  • The Open University

    Entrepreneurship - from ideas to reality

    Find out how to set up and run your own business.

    Learn how to:
    • develop and refine a business idea
    • identify gaps in resources and capabilities
    • create a business plan
    • pitch an idea
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Entrepreneur

6 courses including user experience design (UX), graphic design, app design and social media.
  • FutureLearn

    Digital Skills: Social Media (for business)

    How social media can help businesses. For people who want to work in social media for a business or promote their own business.

    Learn how to:
    • set campaign objectives
    • identify target audiences
    • choose the right channels
    • create engaging content
    • measure success
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 2 hours
    Study type: Scheduled, no instructor
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Social media manager
  • Google

    Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

    Market goods or services online. Learn using a series of short video tutorials and knowledge quizzes.

    Find how to advertise using:
    • search engine optimization (SEO)
    • social media
    • email
    • content
    • data insights
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 40 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Digital marketer, market research data analyst, social media manager
  • FutureLearn and Accenture

    Digital Skills: Digital Marketing

    Find out how to grow your business or career using digital marketing.

    Learn about these marketing techniques:
    • display advertising
    • pay per click
    • search engine optimisation (SEO)
    • email marketing
    • targeting customers
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 4 hours
    Study type: Scheduled, no instructor
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Digital marketer, market research data analyst, social media manager
  • FutureLearn and Accenture

    Digital Skills: Mobile

    Understand the importance of mobile technology in the digital world.

    You will learn:
    • what is meant by 'mobile'
    • about the growth of mobile technology
    • the benefits of mobile
    • concepts to help design and build a mobile app
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 4 hours
    Study type: Scheduled, no instructor
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: App developer, user experience (UX) designer
  • LinkedIn

    Become a Digital Marketing Specialist

    Collection of resources covering different skills in digital marketing.

    Find out about:
    • Google Analytics and Google Ads
    • search engine optimization (SEO)
    • content marketing
    • social media marketing
    • email and newspaper marketing
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 27 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Digital marketer, market research data analyst, social media manager
  • LinkedIn

    Become a Graphic Designer

    Collection of resources covering different skills in graphic design.

    Find out about:
    • layout and composition
    • typography
    • colour
    • tools and software, including Photoshop
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 29 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Graphic designer

16 courses including cybersecurity, computer networks, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.
  • The Open University

    Discovering Computer Networks: hands on in the Open Networking Lab

    Learn about the principles of computer networking: how computers and other devices connect and work together.

    Find out how:
    • computer networks operate
    • data is sent around the internet
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Network engineer, network manager
  • The Open University

    Introduction to Cyber Security: Stay Safe Online

    Learn how to stay safe online at home and at work.

    Find out about:
    • malware and viruses
    • network security
    • identity theft
    • risk management
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: IT security co-ordinator, cyber intelligence officer, forensic computer analyst
  • Google

    Introduction to Machine Learning

    Computers can be programmed to learn from data and information.

    Find out how to:
    • train a computer
    • make recommendations using data
    • consider the ethics of machine learning
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 5 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Data scientist, machine learning engineer
  • Accenture and FutureLearn

    Digital Skills: Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is used in many businesses to improve the way employees work.

    Learn about artificial intelligence's:
    • past, present and future
    • potential in the workplace
    • working relationship with humans
    • predicted skills and ones needed to work with AI
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 6 hours
    Study type: Scheduled, no instructor
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Machine learning engineer
  • FutureLearn, Institute of Coding and Lancaster University

    Introduction to Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality

    There are immersive technologies known collectively as Extended Reality (XR). They either fully virtual or blend the virtual with reality and include Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR).

    You will learn:
    • tools and technologies that support extended reality
    • concepts used to create extended reality experiences
    • ethics involved in extended reality
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 4 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Software developer, user experience (UX) designer
  • FutureLearn and Accenture

    Digital Skills: Web Analytics

    Find out about the role of analytics in business and why it is important.

    You will learn how to:
    • create a measurement plan
    • measure objectives
    • use Google Analytics
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 4 hours
    Study type: Scheduled, no instructor
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Data analyst-statistician, market research data analyst, entrepreneur
  • FutureLearn, Institute of Coding and Lancaster University

    Introduction to Physical Computing

    Explore microcontrollers, the technology used in smartphones, smartwatches and smart kettles.

    You will learn:
    • what physical computing is
    • the structure of a physical computing system
    • the ethics of physical computing
    • careers in physical computing
    • what the Internet of Things (IoT) is
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 4 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Product designer, software developer
  • Amazon Web Services

    AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials

    The Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud is a popular cloud computing platform, used by many large tech companies. Find out how AWS Cloud works.

    You will learn:
    • what cloud computing is
    • how AWS works
    • how to interact with AWS
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 6 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: IT service engineer, project manager
  • Amazon Web Services

    Data Analytics Fundamentals

    Find out how to plan for data analysis using Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the processes you need to follow. To get the most out of this course, you will need some understanding of databases and enterprise IT systems.

    You will learn:
    • about different data analysis solutions and when to apply them
    • how to define different types of data
    • how data is stored
    • different techniques used in data analysis
    • the difference between data and information
    • how to use data to produce reports
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 3.5 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Data analyst-statistician, data scientist, technical architect
  • Amazon Web Services

    AWS Security Fundamentals

    Learn about cloud computing and Amazon Web Service (AWS) security concepts.

    Find out about:
    • security benefits of AWS cloud computing
    • how to secure sensitive information
    • network security
    • risk management strategies
    • auditing AWS security infrastructure
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 4 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: IT security co-ordinator, IT support technician
  • Microsoft and LinkedIn

    Become an IT Administrator

    Collection of resources covering different skills needed for information technology (IT) administration and networking.

    Find out about:
    • computer networks
    • internet protocols
    • wireless, cloud and mobile networking
    • Microsoft technologies, like Azure Administrator and 365 Administrator
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 43 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Network engineer, network manager
  • LinkedIn and Microsoft

    Become an IT Support Specialist

    Collection of resources covering different skills needed to work in information technology (IT) support, or on an IT helpdesk. This prepares you for the industry recognised CompTIA A+ certification.

    Find out about:
    • computer hardware
    • CPUs and RAM
    • computer storage
    • monitors, graphics cards and projectors
    • computer networks
    • the internet and cloud computing
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 35 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: IT support technician
  • LinkedIn and Microsoft

    Become a Data Analyst

    Collection of resources covering different skills in data analysis.

    Find out about:
    • terms used to describe data
    • statistics
    • data visualisation
    • tools, including Microsoft Excel and Power BI
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 30 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Data analyst-statistician, market research data analyst
  • Microsoft

    Azure Fundamentals

    Find out about Azure, a popular cloud computing service.

    You will learn:
    • concepts from cloud computing
    • the benefits of cloud computing in Azure
    • strategies for transitioning to Azure
    • about services available in Azure
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: 10 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Software developer
  • Microsoft

    Accessibility Fundamentals

    Learn how to make accessible content and use accessibility features in popular Microsoft products.

    You will learn:
    • what accessibility is
    • about accessibility features in Microsoft products
    • how to make accessible content for the web and mobile apps
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: 3 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: App developer, software developer, user experience (UX) designer
  • The Open University

    Digital thinking tools for better decision-making

    Find out how digital thinking tools, like Google Search, help us solve problems and make decisions. Then apply those tools to practical issues.

    Learn how to:
    • use digital thinking tools
    • describe how digital tools help us
    • discuss the future of digital tools and artificial intelligence
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most jobs

6 courses including HTML, CSS, Python, C, C++.
  • The Open University

    Learn to Code for Data Analysis

    Learn programming to analyse and visualise open data. Visualising data helps show patterns and trends. You will learn to code in Python during this course. You do not need any prior coding knowledge.

    Find out how to:
    • access open data
    • clean and analyse data using code
    • produce visualisations
    • present your analyses
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 24 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Data analyst-statistician, market research data analyst
  • Cisco Networking Academy

    Programming Essentials in Python

    Learn to code in Python: a programming language used by small companies and tech giants.

    Find out how to:
    • write your own computer programs
    • design a web or desktop app
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: 70 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: App developer, software developer, computer games developer
  • Google Digital Garage

    Understand the Basics of Code

    Learn what code is and why understanding it is useful.

    Find out:
    • how code works
    • why so many coding languages exist
    • which coding languages are suited to specific tasks
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: 1 hour
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Useful for most technology jobs
  • Cisco Networking Academy

    Programming Essentials in C++

    Learn to code in C++: a popular programming language commonly used in video games development. You don't need any previous programming experience or knowledge to do this course.

    You will learn:
    • syntax, semantics and data types of C++
    • principles of object-oriented programming
    • how to write in C++
    Certificate of completion: Yes
    Total study time: 70 hours
    Study type: Scheduled, instructor-led
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Video games developer, software developer
  • Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University

    Cloud Computing Basics for Developers

    Find out about the basics of cloud computing and Microsoft Azure.

    You will learn:
    • the history of cloud computing
    • major cloud providers and types
    • what resources are available through the cloud
    • economic benefits of cloud computing
    • data centres
    • how to build apps using the cloud
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: 7 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Software developer
  • Microsoft

    Take your first steps with C#

    Find out about how to build simple applications using C#, a popular programming language.

    Learn how to:
    • write in C#
    • store and manipulate data
    • execute functions from code libraries
    • add logic to your code
    Certificate of completion: No
    Total study time: 4 hours
    Study type: Self-paced
    Cost: Free
    Related jobs: Software developer
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