Learning new skills, following a new career path, or finding a new creative passion is something you can do at any age. Reading is home to a number of training and upskilling institutions offering everything from basic Maths to Meteorology. You’ll find continual learning and Further and Higher Education available at both Reading College (Activate Learning) and the world-ranking University of Reading, both of which are a stone’s throw from Reading Town Centre.
Training and upskilling support in Reading:
- New Directions is the dedicated adult education service and the best place for refreshing your English and Maths skills, learning or improving English - as well as developing career skills, and following leisure classes.
- The University of Reading is a world leader in meteorology and climate studies, agriculture, food and nutrition, real estate and planning.
- Reading University is also home to the prestigious Henley Business School and the ICMA applied finance centre.
- Reading College (Activate Learning) is a state-of-the-art training centre for vocational studies. The college offers A Levels, HNC/HND, PGCE, Foundation Courses and Degrees in its curriculum. Subjects range from hospitality to construction, IT & Computing, and Healthcare.
- The nearby University College of Estate Management is also a leader in all aspects of land and property management.
Digital Skills:
Whatever job you're doing - or planning to move into - digital skills will be a big part of it. There are lots of opportunities to learn or improve your digital skills in Reading to make sure you're keeping up with technology. Here are some local organisations offering training and support with a variety of digital skills, from basic learning through to specialist skills:
New Directions offers opportunities to learn digital skills to help your job searches, interviews and career development. A complete range of digital skills training is offered, starting with everyday and essential digital skills through to ICT systems support, DevOps and Python programming. Find out more.
Activate Learning (Reading College) offers every level of accredited training, from entry level to specialist courses. Learning is based around a range of levels and they offer flexible schedules, with multiples times and days available. Find out more about Activate Learning's digital courses.
The Curious Lounge is Reading's dedicated digital training hub, offering a range of improver and specialist digital skills to support you to be work-ready. Courses are CPD accredited and there are even some fully funded and sponsored spaces available. Find out more about learning with The Curious Lounge.
The University of Reading provides higher level training in all aspects of Computer Science, for those looking to improve, and build upon, existing digital skills. From undergraduate through to Masters and PHDs, there are a number of courses available. Find out more about Reading University's Computer Science Department.
English and Maths:
Whether you want to improve what you learnt at school, or need to gain new qualifications, Maths and English skills can help you reach your career goals. Reading’s dedicated Adult Education Service, New Directions, provides a variety of classes to help you gain basic skills. If you need financial support, these classes are often fully funded (depending on your circumstances), so you can improve your skills no matter what level and situation you’re currently in. Find out more about Maths and English classes at New Directions.
For those looking specifically to improve their English language, Reading is home to a number of English Language Schools with a range of courses and accreditations. 'ELC' English, The English Language Centre, Eurospeak and Activate Learning all offer English language courses to support non-native speakers in Reading to improve their spoken and written English and develop vocabulary.
Rebel Business School
