Often we hear about the incredible opportunities that are available or accessible to us, yet still are left ultimately feeling as though they are inaccessible or unaware of how to start climbing that ladder. Adult education and apprenticeship programs are incredible opportunities for everyone at every level, and far more accessible than you may think.

First is an awareness of your goal in general. You may be recently unemployed and seeking a new career path, you may be wanting to explore different avenues of work but struggling due to external circumstances. Either way, knowing what you’d like to learn and how you’d like to learn it is a significant first step. Many education courses can offer numerous methods towards gaining the qualification you require depending on your chosen learning style, your preferences and what fits around your timetable.

Once you have a vague idea of what you’re looking for, you are able to browse courses that are available to you based on your time restrictions, needs and goals. There are numerous courses or plans that will span over months or years, part-time or full-time, depending on you. You can gain qualifications in counselling or ESOL, learn more about subjects you feel you missed out on and many more. Many adult education providers that require in-person structured learning will have childcare services available, for example, to help those who may be struggling with feeling like education opportunities aren’t quite as available to them.

If unsure about what exactly you’re looking for, don’t shy away from the task anyway. Do something that might interest you anyway, or contact the adult education service for advice and help. A useful tool, here to help you can provide support through your journey as well as offering continued and sustained career advice, or general advice surrounding your learning.

Following this, all you have to do is explore the opportunities available to you and, after checking the time commitments, take the final step to enrol. Before enrolment you may wish to speak to a member of the team to make sure what you’re choosing to do is as it says it is, via email or a phone call, which is a good idea to smooth over any concerns and make you feel as secure as possible in your journey forward.

The bottom line here is understanding things are much more accessible to you than you may be allowing yourself to think. Learning, qualifying and skilling up are all within reach to you through an array of different courses and learning speeds/styles, so don’t back down from an opportunity that you may regret not making the most of. Shed fear, doubt or insecurity and explore what you can do to help yourself and continue learning.