Update your skills
Improving your skills is the ideal way to increase your job security in an uncertain employment market. There is a huge variety of vocational qualifications and work-focused training courses out there, many of which can be fitted flexibly around your existing work commitments.
Foundation degrees
If you love your job and want to make sure that it stays secure, why not show your boss you mean business by gaining a nationally recognised qualification?
If you don't already have a degree, a Foundation Degree could be a good bet as, unlike many Honours Degrees, they're very work-focused and designed specifically for people working in certain industries.
Did you know that you can also use a Foundation Degree as a stepping stone to an Honours Degree further down the line?
Find out more about OU Foundation Degrees
eLearning
If you want to improve or update your professional skills but don't have the time to commit to a longer period of study, a flexible online course could be the perfect solution.
eLearning courses can easily be picked up and put down as and when you have the time, and because they're delivered online, you can study wherever you like - on your lunch break at work for example, or when the kids have gone to bed.
We currently offer eLearning courses in business and management, computing and technology, the food industry, travel planning and updating teaching practice among other things.
Find out more about flexible online courses from the OU
NVQs
Competence-based qualifications like NVQs are a great way to show commitment to your own personal development and to improve the way you do your job. They're based on national occupational standards and require you to gather evidence of your ability to perform crucial parts of your job function.
They're available at a range of levels (1-5) with levels 3, 4, and 5 generally felt to be most applicable to professionals.
Most NVQs don't have to be completed in a certain time frame and can be completed 'on the job'. When you start you will be allocated your own assessor who will sign off elements of the qualification as you complete them.
Find out more about NVQs available through the OU
BTECs
Designed for anyone who's keen to undertake specific work related training, BTEC Nationals and Higher Nationals are built around the needs of employers and are internationally recognised by business, industry and professional bodies.
There are more than 250 BTEC National and Higher National qualifications to choose from including Art and Design, Hospitality, Engineering, Applied Sciences and Children's Care, all of which are available exclusively from Edexcel.
For more information contact Edexcel directly on 0844 576 0026 or visit their website at www.edexcel.com
Ever thought about volunteering?
It's the perfect way to gain experience in an industry or test your suitability for a certain career. There are a wealth of resources out there to help you find appropriate opportunities in your local area. Try some of the following for inspiration:
www.csv.org.uk
The UK's largest volunteering and training organisation
www.do-it.org.uk
Search over 1,000,000 volunteering opportunities and apply online
www.volunteerscotland.org.uk
Scotland's volunteering gateway
www.volunteering-wales.net
Register, search and apply for opportunities in Wales
