Free Courses for Job Seekers
BMet offer an exciting selection of short free courses supported by local job centres, leading to accredited qualifications. We teach skills that are valuable to local employers and help you back into work. Our teachers use a wide range of well-planned teaching, learning and assessment activities to help you achieve your best.
Our specialist adult education centres in Birmingham City Centre and Merry Hill Shopping Centre offer friendly, safe and comfortable environments in which to study, gain confidence and meet new people. We run ‘Job Club’ twice weekly, offering lots of opportunities to support you to find work.
Your course is free if you are aged 19 years and over (before 31st August 2019) and receive Universal Credit (UC), Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA) or Employment & Support Allowance (ESA).
An in-depth interview and assessment will be conducted to ascertain your level of English and suitability for the programme of study. These courses are offered in partnership with DWP- learners will need to have Job Centre approval prior to starting a course.
Contact Us
Call us on 0121 362 1174 to book onto a course and find out more or you can email us at jobskills@bmet.ac.uk. (lines open Monday to Thursday, 9am-5pm and Fridays, 9am-4pm).
Foundation - Basic Skills Courses
These courses are available at regular intervals throughout the year:
| JCP Reference | |
| ESOL Speaking and Listening If English is not your first language and you would like to improve your English through speaking and listening, reading and writing skills we can help you. This course is for all learners from beginners to advanced level. | ERG/34605 PRO-016476 |
| Basic IT/ Digital Skills for Job Searching This is a great basic computer course, teaching IT fundamentals, emailing, social media awareness and using the internet to find work. There will be training on Universal Credit and how to use Find a Job to improve online job search. | ERG/33657 PRO-016502 7 weeks, 2 days a week 9.30am – 3.30pm |
Microsoft Office Skills Level 1 This course is designed to help you improve your knowledge and skills for 3 of the most important software packages for an office environment.
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ERG/35260 PRO- 231700 5 weeks, 2 days a week 9.30am – 3.30pm |
| English for Work (Entry Level 2 to Level 2) This is an intensive course aimed at helping people gain an accredited Literacy Functional Skills qualification. We can offer support at Entry Level 2, Entry Level 3, Level 1 and Level 2 on this programme. | ERG/34682 PRO-134279 8 weeks, 2 days a week 9.30am – 3.30pm |
| Maths for Work (Entry Level 2 to Level 2) You can gain a Functional Skills Numeracy qualification on the fast-track 8 week course. We can offer support at Entry Level 2, Entry Level 3, Level 1 and Level 2. | ERG/33654 PRO-134272 8 weeks, 2 days a week 9.30am – 3.30pm |
Skills Training Courses
These courses are available at regular intervals throughout the year:
| JCP Reference | |
| Retail Knowledge Level 1 This course is suitable if you want to study and work in the retail environment. The aim of the course is to provide you with knowledge based skills to work in a retail sector through gaining the understanding to carry out the job role. | ERG/20070 PRO-016512 5 days 9.30am – 3.30pm |
| Cleaning Operative Skills Level 1 This practical course is aimed at operatives wishing to work in Facilities, Cleaning, Waste Management, Hospitality and Catering. This covers a great amount of knowledge related to becoming a proficient cleaner. | ERG/20123 PRO-016478 6 days 9.30am – 3.30pm |
| Health and Social Care Level 1 This short course is aimed at people who would like to develop their knowledge and skills required for working in the health and social care sector. Units covered include: Service provision and roles, Principles and values, Protection and Safeguarding, Equality and Inclusion. Person-centred support and Healthy Lifestyle. | ERG/33731 PRO-016432 4 weeks 9.30am – 3.30pm |
| Business Administration Level 1 With this course you can gain valuable office and business skills, areas covered are: using a computer in business administration, working in business administration, creating business documents, how to research and apply for Job opportunities, creating a CV and how to use different documents in an office environment. | ERG/34656 PRO-016412 |
| Customer Service Level 1 Learn the skills required to deliver efficient and reliable customer service. You will gain an understanding of customer expectations and needs, you will be able to deal effectively with customer queries and complaints. | ERG/23577 PRO-016472 3 days 9.30am – 3.30pm |
| Food Safety Level 2 This 1 day course is aimed at those people looking for employment or who are employed within the catering or hospitality setting where food is prepared, cooked and served. | ERG/34117 PRO-016488 1 day 9.30am – 4.30pm |
| Rail Engineering Level 2 If you’re looking to start work in the Rail Sector, this is an excellent course to gain a blend of theoretical know how and practical skills. You will be taught by an industry expert. This course will help you to get an Employer Sponsor in order to get Sentinel support, Medical/ DA Testing, Personal Track Safety Course (PTS), an Industry Common Induction (ICI) and a Track Induction Course (TIC). | ERG/34475 PRO-193438 8 weeks Monday-Friday 9am – 4pm |
| Health and Safety at Work Level 2 This course covers information about Health and Safety Legislation, the workplace and workplace equipment, risk assessment, manual handling, hazardous substances, ergonomics and workstation design, noise and vibration. | ERG/28513 PRO-016491 1 day 9.30am – 4.30pm |
| Carpentry Skills Level 1 You will work in the state of the art wood-working workshops using industry standard equipment. You will learn about timber types, constructing halving/ housing joints, fitting locks and latches, hand/ power tools (saws, chisels, etc.), hanging doors, fitting skirting-boards and much more. | ERG/31986 PRO-032583 9 weeks, 2.5 days a week 8.30am – 3.30pm |
| Electrical Skills Level 1 The programme provides comprehensive practical skills training and assessment with associated construction theory in safe working practices and building methods. You’ll learn about connecting flex to common apparatus, installing one/ two way lighting circuits and much more. | ERG/30731 PRO-017768 9 weeks, 2.5 days a week 8.30am – 3.30pm |
| Plumbing Skills Level 1 This course is a great introduction to the plumbing industry and will prepare you for the world of work. Units include bending and joining copper tubes, connecting pipes and fittings to appliances and installing rain water goods. | ERG/29756 PRO-016463 9 weeks, 2.5 days a week 8.30am – 3.30pm |
| Bricklaying Skills Level 1 This course covers the basics of bricklaying including the use of different materials, the use of specialist tools to spread and joint mortar and cutting bricks or blocks to size. We also cover Health and Safety, COSSH signs, PPE. | ERG/29921 PRO-016446 9 weeks, 2.5 days a week 8.30am – 3.30pm |
| Painting and Decorating Level 1 On this course you’ll study painting and wall paper techniques, giving you a good introduction to this industry. Topics include preparing surfaces for decorating, applying paint by brush and roller, applying foundation/ plain papers and much more besides. | ERG/29755 PRO-016453 9 weeks, 2.5 days a week 8.30am – 3.30pm |
| Childcare Level 1 This course is suitable for people wishing to gain an understanding of and participate in childcare in an early year’s setting. | ERG/33110 PRO-099700 6 days 9.30am – 3.30pm |
| Practical Horticulture Skills Level 1 Includes a broad range of practical horticulture skills, including ground preparation, planting, propagation, pruning, lawn care and plant identification (dependent on season). | ERG/27557 PRO-016425 6 weeks, 3 days a week (Mon/Wed/Fri) 9.30am – 3.30pm |
Distance Learning Courses
We also offer a range of free Distance Learning Courses which can be studied from anywhere in the UK. These popular online courses enable you to study for and gain recognised accreditation that is of value to your work and personal development.
BMet holds Distance Learning Open Days each month at James Watt College. These are optional to attend and offer an opportunity to understand the assessment of the course and to ask any questions before you get started. These are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 10.30am.
Apply Online
If you are interested in starting a training course at BMet, please complete this form and we will respond with an invitation to see the tutor at the next enrolment date.