SKILL UP - The Flexible Skills Fund

Free short-term courses to improve skills

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The Flexible Skills Fund has been established to help upskill and reskill individuals to meet the needs of the economy as we emerge from the pandemic and continue to grow the Economy beyond it. The fund is aligned to the Northern Ireland Skills Strategy and will provide learning opportunities reflecting the key objectives outlined within the strategy. It will serve to boost participation in lifelong learning and reduce key skills imbalances in areas such as digital, leadership and healthcare.

Digital Skills Courses

CourseDurationDelivery MethodDelivery Date
OCN NI Level 4 Award in Social Media and Digital Marketing - Online (Flexible Skills)12 weeksOnline

14/09/23

OCN NI Level 4 Certificate in Cloud Computing - Online (Flexible Skills)15 weeksOnline

13/09/23

OCN NI Level 4 Certificate in Data Analytics - Online (Flexible Skills)15 weeksOnline

13/09/23

OCN NI Level 4 Certificate in Cyber Security - Online (Flexible Skills)15 weeksOnline

13/09/23

OCN NI Level 4 Certificate in Object-Oriented Programming - Online (Flexible Skills)15 weeksOnline

13/09/23

OCN NI Level 5 Certificate in Artificial Intelligence - Online (Flexible Skills)15 weeksOnline

13/09/23

OCN NI Level 4 Certificate in Software Programming - Online (Flexible Skills)15 weeksOnline

13/09/23

Level 3 Award in Creative Arts & Digital Technologies15 weeksBlended

14/09/23

Green Technology Courses

Course Title

Duration

Delivery MethodDelivery Date
Passivhaus Tradesperson4 DaysBlended

02/11/23

Passive House Designer2 weeksBlended

18/09/23

Level 2 Domestic Retrofitting4 weeksOnline03/10/23

Healthcare & Life Sciences Courses

Course Title

Duration

Delivery Method

Delivery Date
OCN L2 Introduction to Mindfulness and reducing Anxiety in Children - Online (Flexible Skills)4 weeksOnline

TBC

OCN Level 3 Award in Working with Children and Young People with Special Needs - Online (Flexible Skills)8 weeksBlendedTBC

OCN L4 Cert in Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences & Building Resilience - Online (Flexible Skills)

15 weeksBlendedTBC
Level 2 Managing Challenging Behaviours in Children4 weeksOnlineTBC
Level 2 End of Life careTBCBlendedTBC

Advanced Manufacturing Courses

Course TitleDurationDelivery MethodDelivery Date
Level 2 AutoCAD 2D2 weeksOnline

09/10/23

Level 2 Welding & Employability6 weeksFace to faceTBC
Level 4 BIM/Revit20 weeksBlended07/11/23
Level 2 Assembling and Testing Fluid Systems20 weeksOnline

TBC

Leadership & Management Courses

Course TitleDurationDelivery MethodDelivery Date
ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership & Management - Online (Flexible Skills)8 weeksOnline

07/09/23

ILM Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management - Online (Flexible Skills)12 weeksOnline

17/10/23

How do I apply?

Applications for the 2023/2024 courses are now open for classes starting from September 2023 onwards

APPLY NOW

    Eligibility

    The Flexible Skills Fund programme will be accessible to all groups, those in employment and unemployment. To be eligible for these courses participants must be:

    • over 18 years of age;
    • eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
    • settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
    • is a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK

    Industry Courses Prospectus