Free training in Ashfield

If you are looking into boosting your career, you may first have to explore the skills that you need to reach your goals. You can develop these skills by accessing local training courses that are free within the Ashfield district.

Looking for free training courses?

Find out here the top 10 skills that local employers were looking for in their job postings in 2025.

Top 10 specialised skills

Warehousing
Auditing
Continuous improvement processes
Mental health
Loading and unloading
Finance
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Personal care
Machinery
Autism spectrum disorders

Top 10 common skills

Communication
Management
Customer service
Detail oriented
Teaching
Planning
Sales
Operations
Problem Solving
English Language

Free training opportunities for Ashfield residents

Basic and Life Skills courses - Adult Skills Fund

As part of the East Midlands Combined County Authority allocation of the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), basic and life skills courses are available for communities within the Ashfield district.

ASF funding aims to engage adults aged 19 and over in learning and provide them with opportunities to help attain new skills and knowledge to gain employment, progress in work, or to further their education.

Through ASF, basic and life skills courses needed for the workplace are available, including English, maths, information technology, confidence building, budgeting skills and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Local providers that deliver ASF include:

closing date: 31 July 2027
website: Access Training (East Midlands) Ltd
website: Adult learning courses - Academy Transformation Trust Further Education (ATTFE)
website: Adult learning - Inspire Learning
website: Professional and short courses - Nottingham Trent University
website: Construction Skills People Group
website: Vision West Nottinghamshire College

Connect to Work programme

Connect to Work is a supported employment programme for individuals that have relevant barriers into work. Support will be individually tailored and responsive to each participant’s needs, capabilities, and evolving employment status. It should help the person learn on the job and sustain their role, empowering them to identify and access further support independently.

closing date: 31 March 2030
website: East Midlands Combined County Authority - Connect to Work
website: Connect to Work expression of interest form

Local providers delivering the programme are:

website: Futures
website: Standguide

Free courses for jobs

Free courses for jobs is a funding stream which sits within the Adult Skills Fund but is managed as a distinct delegated allocation and is part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

The funding is aimed at enabling those without a level 3 qualification or higher to achieve a recognised qualification fully funded. Those who already hold a level 3 but earn below the national
living wage, and those who are unemployed are also eligible for Free courses for jobs.

Local providers that deliver free courses for jobs include:

closing date: 31 July 2026
website: Academy Transformation Trust Further Education (ATTFE)
website: Construction Skills People Group
website: Work, skills and employment courses - Inspire Learning
website: Vision West Nottinghamshire College

Skills bootcamps

Skills Bootcamps has free flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for people looking for a new role or job opportunity.

The fully funded courses that are currently available in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are:

Construction, Green Construction and Renewable Energy
Digital
Early Years and Education
Engineering and Manufacturing
Leadershup and Management
Logistics and Transport

Visit the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Skills Bootcamps website and find the right course for you:

closing date: 31 July 2027
website: Skills Bootcamps - Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire

Local providers that deliver Skills Bootcamps include:

website: Vision West Notts College - Adult Learners