Taking your first step into learning or want to get on at work? We're here to help.

We have over 800 courses on a range of subjects - from improving your maths and English to IT and even university qualifications! Because we deliver most of them online, you can do them when and where you want and some of them are free. Learn at home, work or at a centre.

Our courses

We've hundreds of courses covering a range of topics and skill levels...

Our full range of courses fall into the following categories: skills for life, IT, Business & Management and Languages.

Skills for Life (111 courses)

We're here to help you brush up on your maths and English skills - and once you get started you'll find it's easier than you thought!

You could even get a qualification!

English (35 courses)
If you want to get by - and get on - reading and writing skills are essential. Once you've taken that first step you'll wonder what you were worried about!

Maths (61 courses)
Maths is a part of our everyday lives. Knowing the basics will help improve your prospects - and make life a lot easier!

Lifeskills / Lifestyles (6 courses)
Our range of lifestyle courses have been designed to help you with specific aspects of your life - whether it's finding a job, helping your child or staying fit and healthy.

Work Based (4 courses)
Whether you're looking for a job or just want to improve your prospects, developing your work-based skills will really help you stand out from the crowd.

English As A Second Language (5 courses)
If English isn't your first language and you'd like to improve your skills, this is the place to start.

Home and Office IT (103 courses)

Get started with the IT basics or build on what you already know. You can learn about email, the internet and software applications, improve your office skills or even learn about web design. You can buy some courses online and get learning right away!

Basic Computing (4 courses)
A great starting point for absolute beginners! A range of courses offering a straightforward, jargon-free introduction to the world of computers.

Using Computers (18 courses)
A comprehensive range of courses to help you build on your basic IT skills and get more from computers at home or at work.

Supporting PCs and Networks (2 courses)
These courses cover various aspects of PC support from hardware and software fundamentals to network support and data transmission.

The Internet and e-mail (16 courses)
Be part of the Internet revolution! Courses to give you all the skills you need to surf the net safely and use e-mail to catch up with family, friends and work colleagues around the globe.

Word Processing (14 courses)
Word processing can be one of the most useful skills you'll ever learn. Create eye-catching business documents, write letters to loved ones, design a CV...the possibilities are endless.

Spreadsheets (12 courses)
Knowing how to create and maintain spreadsheets can be a very useful skill. Use them to manage budgets and even keep track of your personal finances!

Databases (11 courses)
Databases are essential part of any business - and knowing how to create and manage them can be a great advantage. Use them to keep customer records, store employees' details and much more.

Computer Security (3 courses)
Viruses and Spam can vary from being an annoyance to a serious risk to you computer's security. Learn how to protect yourself and your data!

Presentations (9 courses)
Presentations are a widely used technique - and can be an effective business tool, whether you're selling to customers or putting a point across to colleagues.

Web Design (5 courses)
A range of jargon-free courses and step-by-step guides to give you all the skills you need to build a professional-looking website for business or pleasure.

Project Management (1 course)
Do you have all the skills you need to deliver projects on schedule and within budget? Learn new techniques to manage projects more effectively and ensure you reach your objectives.

Desktop Publishing (1 course)
It's one thing to know how to use a word processing package - and quite another to produce creative, eye-catching documents! Desktop Publishing lets you increase the benefit - and the fun! - you get from your computer.

Business and Management

From recruitment to customer care and time management, we have a range of courses to help you get on at work. Whether it's a course for you or your business, each course looks at a specific business issue so you'll see the results immediately.

Business Running/Growth (19 courses)
Successful day-to-day management of a business is an art form in itself. Help your business to grow by improving your key management skills.

Health and Social Care (3 courses)
If you already work within the care sector, or are hoping to get a job in that field, these courses will help you to build the core skills necessary to provide exceptional care.

The Apprentice (3 courses)
Based on the popular TV show, these courses will help you learn better management skills in the areas of leadership, sales, and negotiation.

Training (7 courses)
Your staff can be your business's most important resource, especially if you help them make the most of their potential.

Business Start-Up (2 courses)
Setting up your own business can be as rewarding as it is challenging. To give your business the best possible start, make sure you have a good understanding of all the different areas involved.

Change Management (11 courses)
Managing change successfully is a tough challenge for any business. Done badly, it can lead to employee disatisfaction. But when it's handled well, change can result in increased positivity and business growth.

Communication Skills (12 courses)
Learn to communicate with others more effectively in a variety or ways - from questioning skills to reading people's body language.

Complying with the Law (32 courses)
Whatever your business, it's essential to keep abreast of the latest requirements of employment law and health and safety.

Customer Care (13 courses)
Customers are the lifeblood of any business. So paying attention to the way you look after them makes good sense! These courses will show you how.

Finance & Cash Flow (14 courses)
Handling the financial aspects of a business can be a daunting task. Whether you're managing a budget or forecasting cashflow, finance skills are an absolute must.

Information Technology (11 courses)
Effective use of IT can mean the difference between business success and business failure. In today's market, a good knowledge of IT is essential for any business manager.

Management (108 courses)
We have a selection of courses focusing on different aspects of management that will give your business a greater chance of success. Choose from Managing People, Managing Resources and The Complete Manager Range.

Marketing (7 courses)
Effective Communication is absolutely crucial in any business. Whether it's dealing with customers, clients or colleagues, it can have a major impact on your business success.

Meetings (4 courses)
Learn how to run successful and focused business meetings, and find out how to make your contributions more effective.

Personal Development (51 courses)
Interpersonal skills are something we use day in day out. In a business environment, the way you communicate is especially important - whoever you're dealing with.

Negotiating and Persuading (3 courses)
If you've mastered the arts of negotiation and persuasion, you can save great amounts of money when making a deal.

Productivity (13 courses)
There are various techniques available to help you increase productivity in business - and many have been proved successful by some of the world's largest organisations.

Project Management (5 courses)
There's no mystery involved in successful project management - it's all about effective organisation. Improve your skills in this area and your projects will come in on time and within budget.

Quality (6 courses)
Managing business quality is about ensuring high levels of service, products, processes and much more. Successful quality management will set you apart from the competition.

Recruitment (20 courses)
Recruiting and keeping the right staff is the key to creating a successful organisation.

Specialist Sectors (4 courses)
Many business sectors have training needs specific to their area of industry. We have a range of courses that have been specially designed for certain business types.

The Practical Manager (111 courses)
Whether you work in the public or private sector, whether you manage a team of five or five hundred, the flexible and comprehensive Practical Manager range of courses will give you a sound understanding of modern management techniques.

Time Management (3 courses)
Get more out of your day at work by working smarter - not harder, with some great time saving tips and techniques.

Working in Teams (55 courses)
A well-balanced, focussed team is a potent business tool. Building that team could be easier than you think - it's simply a question of following some simple stages to develop your team in the right way.

Languages

Try one of our French, German or Spanish courses on CD-ROM. Whether you're a beginner or looking to brush up your existing language skills, there's something for everyone.

If English isn't your first language, we also offer several online courses.

French (4 courses)
Wish you knew your je ne sais pas from your je ne sais quoi? Why not take a look at one of our French courses?

German (4 courses)
Language skills are a real asset - useful both at home and abroad. Our German courses are suitable for anyone - whether you're an absolute beginner or want to brush up on your existing knowledge.

Spanish (4 courses)
Speaking another language is a great skill to have - and it will make your CV stand out from the crowd. Say Hola! to Spanish with one of our language courses. They suit all levels - from beginners to more experienced linguists.

English As A Second Language (5 courses)
If English isn't your first language and you'd like to improve your skills, this is the place to start.

From off the shelf courseware and modular programmes leading to qualifications, to bespoke and rapid course development learndirect Business offers a range of courses to meet your organisation's training needs.

Our courses help businesses like yours to:

• attract the best and improve staff retention
  
• give employees opportunities to attain recognisable and prestigious qualifications
  
• improve staff performance
  
• help reduce disruption to the working day
  
• be cost effective and get a return on your investment
  
• fill skills gaps quickly.
  
• Off the shelf online courseware

We have an extensive range of online courses in a number of key skill areas including: literacy and numeracy, IT, Business Improvement, Customer Service, Leadership and Management, Communication, Change Management, Call Centres, Legislation, Budgeting and Finance, Marketing, Team Work, Time Management and many more.

Whatever your organisational development needs we can work with you to select the most appropriate ranges and titles.

Qualifications

Our courses lead to a range of different qualifications, from Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy and NVQs - right through to university level qualifications.

Leadership and Management

A range of courses that cover the latest business thinking and management skills. Learning programmes can be tailored to individual employee's needs and lead to nationally-recognised qualifications from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

University Degrees with Learning through Work
Offered in partnership with more than 12 institutes of higher education, we can help you design a work-based university qualification to meet your organisation's and employees' specific development needs, done through projects in the work place.

NVQs

Work-related, competence-based qualifications that reflect the skills required to do a job. We offer NVQs in IT, Customer Service, Business Improvement Techniques and Health and Social Care.

IT

Comprehensive range of courses leading to the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) and CLAIT qualifications and the ITQ.

Food Hygiene

Comprehensive course leading to online certification from the Royal Institute of Public Health (RIPH).
Literacy and numeracy
Boost the effectiveness of your business with our

Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy.

Customisation

Courses can be customised to meet the specific needs of individual sectors and employers. For example, our Institute of Leadership and Management accredited courses offer a choice of eight sectors, which focus on applying learning to the workplace and include an assessment.

Bespoke development (tutorial, diagnostic, assessment)

In addition to our extensive range of off the shelf courses, which we can deliver through your own Learning Management System (LMS) or through a bespoke portal to ours, we also offer content tailored to the needs of your organisation. We can source content for you from one of our quality assured course suppliers, or develop it for you.

Rapid development

Rapid development is a 'microwave' e-learning development option. It's for businesses who want training on a generic issue but that can easily be tailored to reflect the needs and policies of their organisation e.g. Health and Safety, Recruitment, Sales.

Rapid development allows us to deliver courses that meet your needs, but in a much shorter timescale than traditional bespoke learning.

Wraparounds for blended learning

We can help you enhance your own e-learning resources with wraparound materials. You can use them to support workshops delivered by a third party or your in-house training team. They can include training plans, workbooks and other materials to help support your e-learning objectives.

Additional Services

In addition to course development we also offer a range of training consultancy, hosting, tutor support and other services. Contact us for more information.

What does learndirect Careers Advice do?
We give free, impartial information and advice on courses, training, apprenticeships, careers, returning to work, and childcare. We can even advise you on paying for your learning.

How can we help you?
If you're thinking about:

• doing a course
  
• changing your job
  
• planning a career
  
• getting back into work
  
• or are not sure what to do next, you may find that speaking to one of our advisors can help you move forward and increase your options.

How do I get in touch with an adviser?
Call free on 01983 810333

I know what job I want to do, how can I get more information?
If you know which job you're aiming for, why not check out our job profiles. We have information on over 700 different jobs. You can find out about the pay, the training, and how to get a first foot on the ladder.

View the job profiles.
I've decided on a career but I need some training first. We can help you find a suitable course or you can search our database. Our database has nearly one million courses from across the UK, from short courses lasting one day to longer courses lasting a few years.

Search for a course.
Can I get in-depth careers advice?
Our advisors can help you identify the opportunities open to you. You can talk in confidence about your skills and interests and the adviser will help you to decide on next steps.

Related sites:
Directgov (employment section)