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best short courses that lead to good jobs

If you're looking to change career, you may feel like you need to make that change as soon as possible. Short courses are designed to get you qualified in a shorter timeframe than traditional routes, which can be great for anyone who needs a new job quickly. If you're looking for short courses that lead to good jobs then you'll be keen to learn more about our intensive trade courses.

Learning a trade makes for an excellent new career - trade courses are some of the best courses for jobs in the UK because of the current skills shortage. Once you become qualified, it isn't difficult to find employers or clients in need of your services. There are countless opportunities for UK tradespeople currently, so there's really no better time to look into the short courses we have on offer.

Why Learn a Trade?

Tradespeople

The salary is a huge benefit of learning a trade. As you can see from the above image, even beginners do well in terms of starting a whole new career. Trades often pay more than the national average wage, which is why more people are turning to these short courses: so that they can get on this career ladder and gain more experience as quickly as possible. Other benefits include:

  • Job stability due to high demand
  • Less student debt as you won't need to attend university
  • Opportunity to be your own boss
  • Opportunity to progress
  • Every day is different
  • Opportunity to work all around the UK

 

Best Short Courses for Jobs from Access Training

With Access Training Academies, you can choose to learn a trade through our intensive, flexible courses. These courses are designed to teach you all the relevant theory and practical knowledge required to become a qualified tradesperson. Although this traditionally would take years in college and a length apprenticeship, these courses teach you what you need to know in a matter of months.

This allows you to start earning as quickly as possible and gain more experience whilst working on actual jobs. Click the links below to find out more about our courses and find the one that you feel most suited for.

Plumbing Courses >

Gas Courses >

Electrician Courses >

Plastering Courses >

Carpentry Courses >

Kitchen Fitting Courses >

Our courses are built to suit you and your lifestyle. If you have family commitments or other work commitments, you can talk to us and we'll help you to determine which course best suits your circumstances. You have the option to study full time or part time depending on what works best for you. We also offer payment plans to help you pay for your training as you study.

 

COVID-19: The global coronavirus crisis has left a lot of people out of work, but here at Access Training, we are helping people to learn new skills and switch to a career in the trades. Our live online learning programmes allow you to start training at home - for more information, see Changing Careers During COVID-19.

 

If you want any more information about any of our training courses, or if you're seeking advice from one of our expert advisors, we are more than happy to help. We want to help find the best course to suit you and your lifestyle, so feel free to contact us today.

Browse All Courses >

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen.

What Trade Should I Learn

If the office 9-to-5 life isn't for you, you're probably looking for a career that offers you diversity and a chance to get out and try your hand at new tasks. For this reason, you may have decided that you would be well suited to a job in the trade industry. However, with so many to choose from you may be having a difficult time pinpointing which to specialise in. You may be set on going into the trade industry but be asking yourself, what trade should I learn?

In general, trade jobs are appealing; they can result in good salaries and a chance to be your own boss, learn useful manual skills and a whole other range of opportunities. Of course, every job has pros and cons and your personal preferences will determine what trade you are best suited to learning. To help you make that decision, we've come up with a few key things you should consider before diving into a trade.

Whichever trade you decide to learn you will be able to find a course that suits you at Access Training, take a look:

Click here to browse all of our trade courses

 

Are you more interested in building something, or fixing something?

Manual work is great because it teaches you skills that you can use in your life as well as that of your client's. But some things may interest you more than others, perhaps you're a problem solver, who upon seeing a task is set on working it out and fixing the problem. On the other hand, you may not want to fix problems; you may be interested in creating things from scratch.

Building something: If you want the chance to create something then carpentry is a good move for you. From small projects to buildings, you'll be constantly creating with your ability to turn materials into something else entirely.

Fixing something: Plumbers and electricians are often called out when something goes wrong with someone's plumbing or electrical systems. It'll be your job to find out what is wrong and fix it.

 

Do you prefer working on one project for a while or a new one each day?

If you like the stability of working in one place for an amount of time then you may be more interested in a job in carpentry and other jobs that are needed in construction work. If you are working on a building site these projects can last a varied amount of time and you are likely to see your creation grow over time.

In comparison, electricians, plumbers and gas engineers often work on multiple jobs over the course of a single day. Moving from project to project offers you the opportunity to solve new problems in a short amount of time. Although you may be asked to work on bigger projects like wiring a house or constructing the plumbing system for a building.

 

Would you rather spend time working indoors or outdoors?

This will depend on what kind of job you are carrying out, as most of the trades will have jobs that are outside or indoors, so hopefully, you don't mind either! Of course, there are some trades where you are more likely to work inside more than others, such as a kitchen fitter. However, locations for electricians, plumbers and gas engineers will depend if you're involved with domestic work or industrial work - but again, this will depend on the job!

If you prefer working outside then you may enjoy construction work. Construction workers are often working outside building houses or other buildings.

Browse Our Construction Courses >

Do you get claustrophobic working in tight places?

Some trade jobs will require working in tight spaces more than others. Electricians for instance often will have to crawl into tight areas such as ceiling spaces to access wires and other electrical systems. Plumbers are also sometimes required to work in confined spaces to access pipes and drains and other tighter work areas.

If you know this isn't for you, then you are less likely to come across this when working in carpentry, plastering and kitchen fitting as you are often in larger areas. These trade jobs give you more opportunities to stretch your legs in general. However, you may then need to consider how you feel about working at heights and other factors. Our advisors are more than happy to discuss this with you further so contact us today.

 

Are you colour blind?

If you are colour blind, one trade you may want to rule out is a career as an electrician. If you have trouble distinguishing colour then working with colour-coded wires will be a problem, and this could be dangerous. Wiring mistakes can damage what you're working on or even lead to electrocution.

Luckily, this is less of a problem with the other trades, so you should still be able to find one that you'll love learning!

Training classroom

Here are links to some of the courses we offer:

DISCLAIMER: Of course, we've listed some things you may want to consider when choosing a trade to learn, but your daily works will depend on the type of job you end up doing - e.g. whether you are working on domestic or industrial projects. Once you begin learning your trade, you will learn more about how you can specialise and what these roles will involve.

If you are still unsure about what the benefits of learning a trade are, you may be interested in our two helpful infographics:

If you are still unsure which trade you are most suited for, get in touch with one of our expert course advisors. We pride ourselves on being able to help people find the career they love, so feel free to get in touch!

Contact Us >

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now offering live online training sessions that allow you to start learning your trade from home. Join our virtual tutorials, interact with your instructor, and ask questions just as you would in a classroom setting; then, when you attend our training centre in person, you will be ready to focus on developing your practical skills. Click here to learn more about our online training packages.

 

Trades For Women

How many women does it take to change a lightbulb?

One.

How many women does it take to install a state-of-the-art boiler system?

Still one, providing she’s had the appropriate training and gained the relevant qualifications.

Obviously.

The UK is currently undergoing a huge skills shortage, with too many jobs and too few workers (electricians, plumbers, carpenters, etc.) who are actually qualified to do them. This is putting a massive amount of pressure on the entire country; it’s something we hear about on the news, and it’s something we face when a pipe bursts and we actually have to find a plumber who can squeeze us into their busy schedule.

 

Britain is crying out for more people to learn these valuable skills. So why not women?

These industries have always been particularly male-dominated; when the words 'builder' and 'woman' are uttered in the same sentence, many people picture catcalls and wolf-whistles rather than a female bricklayer at work.

But why should this be case? Trade skills can lead to lucrative careers, and any determined, hardworking and intelligent person is more than capable of training up in one of these skills, regardless of their gender.

Lately, there has been an increase in the number of women entering these industries, hoping to benefit from all the same perks that tradesmen have been enjoying for years (e.g. good pay, rewarding work, choosing your own hours).

Gender equality within the trades won't change overnight - females currently make up just 6% of the workforce in certain trades, so it’s an uphill battle. However, the more women choose this path, the more women prove themselves just as capable as their male co-workers, and the more other women will feel encouraged to learn a trade themselves.

A fully-qualified woman is just as capable as a fully-qualified man, and therefore just as able to take advantage that this skills gap now provides.

 

Should women learn a trade?

If you enjoy working with your hands or don’t fancy a desk-based office job, then why not consider training up for a trade career and acquiring lifelong skills that will always be in demand? Being a woman should be no barrier, and there are lots of reasons why these industries make for desirable career paths, including:

  • Great pay – experienced carpenters, electricians and plumbers can earn annual salaries of £30,000+.

  • High demand – The current demand for people with these skills creates job stability as industries desperately try to fill vacancies.

  • Be your own boss – Tradespeople often have the opportunity to become self-employed. This means you can pick your own jobs, hours and what you charge your clients.

  • Less student debt – You don’t need a degree to learn a trade skill, and it no longer takes years to qualify. Training courses such as those available from Access Training Academies allow you to learn and get qualified quickly, so you can start earning as soon as possible.

 

How do I become qualified?

Training up to become a qualified tradesperson is much easier than it used to be. Traditionally, this career path would require years of studying in a college, with additional years working as an apprentice. Now training companies such as Access Training Academies allow you to study your chosen trade and learn the practical skills necessary on an intensive training course.

You can pick from several courses and several training centre locations across the UK to study your trade. We take a range of people all coming from diverse backgrounds - some just entering the world of work, some recently made redundant and looking to retrain, some just looking to carry out some DIY tasks around the home.

That’s why we understand that a training course can’t be a 'one size fits all' solution. We do everything we can to help you find a course that best suits your circumstances. It’s this flexibility that appeals to so many of our students - the ability to learn at your own pace while honouring family and work commitments. You can even start your training online!

Whether you want a complete change of career, some useful new skills, or an opportunity to top up the knowledge you already have, we're sure to have a suitable course for you. Access Training can take you from beginner to qualified worker, giving you all the skills necessary to get hired. If you aren’t ready to give up your current career, you can complete the course part-time and work while you learn.

 

Regardless of your age, sex, race or skill level, everyone on our courses is greeted with a warm welcome.

Call Access Training on 0800 345 7492 to discuss your goals with one of our friendly course advisors.

Browse Our Trade Courses >

 

Home Improvement Courses

Did you make any New Year's resolutions back at the beginning of January? Lots of people do it, and while resolutions differ greatly from each person, we can probably all agree that deciding to learn a beneficial new skill is a good resolution to make!

If you want to learn a new skill or to make some changes to your household this year, we have a number of home improvement courses that are sure to suit you. These DIY training packages are a great way to learn valuable new skills and take your home improvements back into your own hands.

When something goes wrong around the house - or when you just want to make some simple home improvements - it can be expensive to hire someone to do it for you. Being able to carry out certain tasks by yourself will give you far more freedom over your project, allowing you to save a lot of money in the process.

Although many of our training courses are designed to help students kick-start their careers in a chosen trade industry, we also cater to those who are simply interested in learning some essential DIY skills. Our home improvement courses will help you to be far handier around the house, and they'll also give you the satisfaction of gaining a useful new skill.

Here are some of the home improvement courses we offer:

Our courses are incredibly flexible, so you can learn at your own pace and around your work / family commitments. We are more than happy to talk you through each course and find the best way for you to study - please contact us today for advice!

Retrain as an Electrician

If you've grown tired of your unfulfilling job, you may be considering a change of career. There are many reasons why you may be looking to retrain as an electrician, and Access Training provides a great way to learn this vital trade and get your career started.

Whether you're a complete newcomer or a qualified trade professional who's looking to learn some new skills, you can retrain as an electrician with the help of Access Training Academies. If you're ready to enrol, you can skip straight to our list of electrical courses - but for more information on why you should retrain as an electrician, keep reading.

 

Why retrain as an electrician?

  • Good salary - Electricians are some of the highest earning tradespeople. On average, electricians earn around £32,000 a year. A fantastic salary worth working for.

  • Work anywhere - With the current skills shortage, it is possible to find work as an electrician anywhere in the UK. Whether you want to relocate or just want to travel more.

  • Be your own boss - Qualified electricians can pick the jobs that suit them, this freedom to work for yourself means you can pick your hours and take home all the money you've earned.

  • No degree required - With many jobs there is the assumption that a degree is necessary to do well. However, becoming successful in a trade is possible with a course, apprenticeship and by gaining steady experience.

 

How long does it take to retrain as an electrician?

Traditionally, training as an electrician took up to three years as it was necessary to spend years studying in college and then take on an apprenticeship in order to qualify. However, there are now ways in which you can become a qualified electrician in a much shorter timeframe.

Our courses are designed to get you qualified as quickly as possible, whilst still ensuring you are fully able and competent at the job. Depending on your levels of experience, determination and the programme you choose to follow, you could be qualified within a few months.

This will vary between students, for instance, some of our students choose to retrain as an electrician part-time whilst they maintain other job and family commitments which may take longer. Ultimately we will help all of our students achieve their ambition, no matter how long they choose to study for. We will work with you to find realistic study goals and stick to them.

ONLINE TRAINING: We now offer live online training sessions - join our virtual classroom, interact with your expert tutor, and learn the basics of electrical work from the comfort of your own home. Of course, a professional electrician needs a lot of hands-on experience, so the practical part of your course will take place at our training centre as usual. Get in touch now to find out more!

Our electrical courses include a number of industry-recognised qualifications - more information here:

If you're interested in retraining as an electrician or taking any of our courses we are more than happy to help. We will advise you on what course would best suit your goals and circumstances. To speak to one of our expert advisors, contact us today.

 

Time for change

As we get older, it can sometimes feel like our career options are slipping away from us; like once we have picked a direction, it’s impossible to change course. In reality, it’s never too late to retrain and learn some different skills – our adult training courses are designed to help you make the change you want, no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Whether you are a complete beginner or an established tradesperson hoping to enhance your skills, our adult training courses can help you to achieve the qualifications your need to achieve your career ambitions.

Some of the adult training courses we offer include:

For a full list of all the courses we offer here at Access Training, visit our homepage.

 

Why Get Qualified With Access Training’s Adult Courses?

We offer a diverse range of training courses to suit every one of our learners, whether you're a beginner or a professional. Our intensive adult training courses are designed to get you qualified in the shortest possible timeframe so that you can begin working as soon as possible. Rather than spending 3 to 4 years training in college and completing an apprenticeship, you can start earning within months.

Our courses are also perfect for adults who have other life commitments such as work or family, as they are flexible enough to be tailored to your availability. This means you can learn at your own pace whilst maintaining other work and home responsibilities. We even offer live online learning, so you can start your training course at home!

If you want to make a change in your career, our advisors are more than happy to help you find a course that suits your goals. We will work with you to get you to where you need to be - contact us today for advice!

Browse our training courses >

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen.

 

Last updated 5th July 2022

CCN1 Gas Core Certificate

If you want to have a career as a gas engineer, you'll first need to earn the qualifications that certify your ability to work safely and legally. One of these qualifications is the CCN1 gas qualification.

More...

If the office life isn’t for you because you prefer working with your hands and learning practical skills you should consider learning a trade skill. These skills are in high demand here in the UK due to a countywide skills shortage. Learning a trade skill can be fun and rewarding and you won’t need to spend years in University before starting your career. Here are more reasons why you should start training with Access Training Academies.

Should I Be a Plasterer or a Carpenter?

Gain these qualifications and learn the practical skills required with Access Training Academies.


Access Training intensive courses are built to suit you, whether you are a beginner wanting to learn a new skill, or a professional wanting to enhance your qualifications, there is a course to suit you.

If you'd like advice about any of the courses we offer we are more than happy to help. Feel free to contact us today.

The UK is currently suffering from a shortage of trade skills. As these trade skills are in such a high demand there has never been a better time to train. Working a manual trade is a rewarding career choice and you don’t have to spend years in University to start. Learn more about why you should qualify in a trade with Access Training from our trade infographic.

Should I Learn a Trade Infographic

 

You can complete the necessary qualifications and these specialist courses with Access Training.

Choose from Essential, Professional and Premier intensive courses – something to suit everyone whether you are a beginner or just enhancing your skills!

Contact Access Training now to find out more about any of the course packages we offer.

Get in touch to learn more about our training courses!

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