Adult learning, skills and training

There’s lots of ways you can continue to learn new skills and get qualifications. You may want to try something new, get a new job, take up a hobby or meet new people. There are formal or informal courses available in Newcastle. Many courses are free.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship gives you the chance to learn in a real job. You learn at college and get paid a wage too.

Learning on the job, working with experienced people in an organisation gives you real life skills. It helps you to get ready for working life. This kind of training is very popular and many people apply for apprenticeship vacancies.

To be ready to apply for an apprenticeship you need to have basic literacy, numeracy skills and employability skills. Help to develop your employability skills is available in Newcastle.

Any person, of any age, can become an apprentice. You’re employed by the organisation you do your apprenticeship with. This means you have the same rights as any other employee. You get a contract of employment and paid holidays.

The wage you earn depends upon your age and the organisation that employs you. There is an apprentice rate of pay which is the minimum an employer can pay you for the first year of your apprenticeship. This must increase to the national minimum wage for your age, after the first 12 months. Find out more about what you should be paid at www.gov.uk.

There are lots of apprenticeships to choose from with different employers. It’s important to make sure that you do the right apprenticeship for you. Think about where it’s based and travel costs. It can take between 1 and 6 years to complete an apprenticeship. The time involved depends on which apprenticeship you choose and what level it’s at. You can find out which apprenticeships are available in your area of interest at www.gov.uk.

As an apprentice, your employer must allow you to spend 20% of your paid time at work to learn, new knowledge, skills and behaviours. This means if you’re employed full-time, you can spend up to 6 hours a week on “off-the-job training”. (This training is the learning activities delivered by your training provider and planned within the workplace.)

If you didn’t get GCSE Grade C or 4 in English and/or maths at school, you’ll need to work towards Functional Skills as part of your apprenticeship. The training provider who delivers your apprenticeship will support you to achieve these in addition to the off-the-job training.

Apprenticeships are a great way to get qualifications and experience in a real job. They can be a great pathway to success.

For more information and a chat about how to work towards getting an apprenticeship contact the Apprenticeship Team at Newcastle City Learning.

Newcastle City Council have more information about how to find and apply for an apprenticeship.

Colleges

Local colleges offer a wide range of formal courses, classes and informal learning sessions. Some courses are free. Funding may be available to help with course fees for other courses. Contact the College to find out more about the courses that are available and how to enrol. Classes include:

health and beauty
life skills
catering
pottery, painting and art
auto mechanic
computer skills and web design
fitness, yoga,
social care and early years

Newcastle City Learning have learning centres at Westgate College, Fenham, Heaton Centre, and the Gosforth Library and Learning Centre. You can choose from foundation or entry level courses, through to level 5. Courses include:

Apprenticeships
Employment Skills training
full-time programmes for young people
vocational subjects
English and Maths
Skills for Life for people with learning disabilities or autism
adult learning programmes
ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)
HEFC (Access to Higher Education Diploma)
Teacher training
fun learning opportunities to try something new and meet new people, like learning arts and crafts or holiday Spanish
Health & Social Care Academy: a 4 week course to try out and prepare for a career in care work

Newcastle College on Scotswood Road, offers a range of qualifications and classes including:

English language classes (ESOL)
workplace training and apprenticeships
Chefs’ Academy and Bistro
Employability courses

ReCoCo: The Recovery College Collective run a variety of creative, educational and support-based classes. All courses are free and open to anyone who would find them helpful in their recovery from mental illness, substance misuse, trauma or distress, or who might find them beneficial to their wellbeing.

It’s a place where people who experience or have experienced mental health difficulties can come together, make connections and develop their knowledge and skills in relation to recovery. It’s also a safe place to go when individuals feel that they are in need of extra support.

They have 2 centres. One at Carliol Square in Newcastle and the other is in Gateshead in Saltwell Park.

Gateshead College has 4 campuses where you can take part in a range of courses. Their main campus is in Gateshead Baltic Quays. Their Sport Academy is at Gateshead Stadium. Their Skills Academies for Construction and Automotive, Engineering, Manufacturing and Logistics are at Team Valley.

Community centres and groups

There are lots of community organisations in Newcastle who run learning sessions, groups and courses. Read more about Community centres and hubs on InformationNOW

There are lots of groups to choose from who run learning activities including:

Newcastle U3A
Workers Education Association (WEA)
Bill Quay Community Farm
Millin Centre
Walker Learning Hive
West End Women and Girls
First Step North East helps migrant women living in Newcastle’s West End. Creche available.

Computer classes and digital skills

There are lots of places where you can learn how to use a computer, get online and digital skills in Newcastle.

English as a second language (ESOL)

Many community groups offer free English conversation sessions and classes to help you improve your language skills. Colleges offer formal English lessons and qualifications, where you can get a certificate. There may be a cost for formal lessons, but funding is sometimes available to help pay for classes. Read more about ESOL classes on InformationNOW

Literacy, Maths and English

You may want to improve your literacy, reading and maths skills for day to day life. Or to help you move onto another course or job. Local colleges offer these courses and funding may be available. Contact them for more information about the times of the courses. Some colleges may run evening classes. Local Colleges that offer Maths and English courses are:

Lifelong learning

There are a number of different options open to you if you are thinking about learning a new skill or developing an existing interest further. Courses can be formal or informal and range from one-off workshops, to longer courses that can last for weeks or months.

You can take part in art, culture, history, public lectures, community classes and much more.

Find out more about Lifelong learning in Newcastle.

Preparing for work or employability skills

Support is available to help you prepare for work, improve your confidence, to apply for jobs and prepare for job interviews.

Starting your own business

Starting your own business means that you are in control. You make the decisions. It can allow you more flexibility and the chance to use your skills and experience. Deciding to set up a business is a big step but support and advice is available.

Universities

Universities offer formal qualifications such as undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, Masters, PhD, research opportunities and more. To begin learning at university you need some qualifications such as A Levels. You may be able to do a bridging or entry level course, if you don’t have A Levels.

You need to complete a UCAS application, to apply to a University. If you don’t get the qualifications that you need to get your place at University you may be able to go through ‘clearing’. This is where you contact the University you want to attend directly and check if they will let you take part in the course.

You pay fees for each year that you study at University. Some Universities have scholarships, bursaries and grants that you can apply for to help to pay for your fees. You can find out more about what help is available from the university you want to study at.

Universities offer some flexible learning opportunities. They have full time and part time degrees. Some Universities offer online learning, short courses and summer schools.

Find out more about the courses and qualifications that are available by visiting the University websites or call their admissions office. The local Universities have a campuses across the North East.

Newcastle University is in Newcastle City Centre.

University of Northumbria is in Newcastle City Centre. It also has a campus at Coach Lane in Heaton.

Sunderland University is in Sunderland City Centre.

Teeside University is in Middlesborough.

Last updated: August 18, 2023