If you're looking to give your CV a boost, improve your skills or even gain new ones, you might be surprised to know that you could do it for free at Gateshead College. Their Go>Grow training courses are funded by the European Union, and include everything from business management to social media. Go>Grow is ideal for those wanting to get back into learning.
The courses range in level from beginner to advanced, and there's a wide range to choose from; there's workshops on everything from Creativity to Hospitality. We've listed our top picks from the IT selection of courses below, but you can search through all of their free short courses here.
Microsoft Excel: Basic, Intermediate or Advanced
Excel is one of those features in Microsoft Office that consistently baffles people - whether you played around with it during your GCSEs or not. The Basic course is ideal for people who need to use simple Excel functions at work, including the screen and worksheet, ribbon, the task pane, cell and worksheet formatting and those confusing formulas. If you're confused by 90% of that, this course is for you.
Employability with Introduction to IT
If you feel like your lack of IT knowledge could be holding you back, this course is the perfect refresher. You'll be taught computer basics, as well as using the internet, email services, word processing, presentations and spreadsheets, as well as planning for your personal development. You're eligible to take this course if you're currently unemployed, or seeking work.
Data Analytics Foundation Course
So you've got to grips with Excel, what next? This Data Analytics Foundation Course will introduce you to data analysis, as well as deploying and using big data analysis tools effectively. You'll develop skills in Excel, APIs, VBA, node.js and IBM Watson Analytics, and understand how to use these programs to analyse data. You must be comfortable using spreadsheets to take this course.
Microsoft Power Point: Introductory or Advanced
This course is great for people who want to create professional looking presentations, or just up their PowerPoint game. You'll learn about creating PowerPoints, introducing charts, tables and data, formatting and gain a load of other skills in the process. On the Advanced course, you'll learn about custom animation, manipulating objects and using sounds - ideal if you've got a presentation coming up.
Microsoft Office 365
We're constantly talking about Office 365, as it's an effective way to collaborate on projects and documents. If your business is thinking about introducing Office 365, and you're worried about finding your way around, this course is ideal. You'll learn how to use web apps, Outlook Online and OneDrive - as well as how to work on shared files simultaneously. There are no formal entry requirements for this course.
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
This course isn't technically part of the Go<Grow scheme, but we're throwing it in here anyway because it's a great opportunity for those who want to learn about networking. You'll learn the ins and outs of maintaining small to medium sized networks, as well as how to design and build them yourself. This course will take you a year to complete, and is taught by industry professionals on weekday evenings at the Baltic Campus. Depending on your circumstances, this course could be free too.
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