Advice

antaean

I am currently on job seekers allowance i find it impossible to get a job as i have no qualifications.

Does anyone know who how i would get a grant so i can go to college to get qualifications?

I cant afford to pay for college as i have no income and my parents cant afford to help me out.

I am really good at computing / I.T but without a piece of paper saying that i can do I.T no one will give me a job.

ukdickie31

Hi

You won't be able to do FULL TIME courses and remain on JSA. Even with PART TIME courses, you still have to be available for work,

Learn Direct offer lower level qualifications but these can be a starting point for many careers as they are able to get the basic entry level criteria for many jobs, although not specialist qualifications (CLAIT, ECDL etc)

For the more advanced / specialist qualifications (IT Industry standards), Microsoft Certified etc, you are talking several thousand pounds. A career development loan is an option.

Many colleges offer heavily discounted courses for unwaged but these will be full time for the advanced / specialist qualifications so benefits would be affected.

exil

You can take out a student loan and grant, you would presumably qualify for the full amount based on your and parents' low income.

rachnbri

Most college courses are free (or only a nominal charge) if you're on benefits. You can only do 16 hours a week on JSA though and you would be expected to give it up if you were offered a job. Difficult to really offer any advice without knowing more specifically what kind of thing you want to do!

antaean

If needed i would stop claiming if this would effect me being able to go to college.

I am looking to get enough qualifications to start pc/laptop repairs
I know i will need to take english and math too so iv been told by learn direct but that isnt a problem as i was told those courses are free.

Its just the whole I.T side of things. I am very good at what i do but i have no qualifications to back this up.

I want to be able to get a job like working for pc world in the tech/repair centre repairing computers.

If i cant get these qualifications etc then i guess i will just have to go self employed and put a add in my local paper advertising my pc services only problem with that is transport ( i cant drive yet )

iceicebaby

You could work somewhere like asdas or tescos part time while you study in college ?

I did this while I got my qualifications. Means you can study but also have some money too.

It also gives you work experience too which employers will look for when you are trying to find a job after you have qualified. Any work experience is better than none. Customer service experience would be good for when you hopefully get your job in pc world.

Good luck in whatever you do

mrsspendalot

The Open UNiversity do some great courses, and some are in computing too - web applications, etc. You would get funding on a low income and some help with costs too for materials, internet costs etc. It also doesn't affect JSA as you can still claim JSA and do OU with it being designed to fit in with work life.

You don't need any qualifications to get in either - its open to all.

CFC

antaean wrote: »

If needed i would stop claiming if this would effect me being able to go to college.

I am looking to get enough qualifications to start pc/laptop repairs
I know i will need to take english and math too so iv been told by learn direct but that isnt a problem as i was told those courses are free.

Its just the whole I.T side of things. I am very good at what i do but i have no qualifications to back this up.

I want to be able to get a job like working for pc world in the tech/repair centre repairing computers.

Have you spoken to a manager at PCWorld and asked what they look for in their technicians? I suspect you'll find that basic qualifications (or even none) might be fine. They do a lot of scut work (eg installing RAM, loading software) and I'd see them as starting people on scut work quite happily with no qualifications, and getting them onto something perhaps a little more complex after a while. Possibly they only move people off the shop floor into that kind of job as well - a kind of career progression. Go speak to them or their equivalent in your area.

Emmzi

Do a web search on learn direct. You can talk to their advisers who can help you find a course near you, and tell you about your money options.

Do your job centre have an adviser who works with local colleges? Worth asking, some do.

0800 100 900 is the learn direct number

antaean

Thanks guys i think i am either going to go on a learn direct course or try for a job in pc world.

bristol_pilot

Have you ever thought of working for the NHS (in IT or otherwise)? They seem to take on people into the lower grades with no qualifacations whatsoever even in patient care roles, then after a short while they will send you on courses to get proper qualifications.