Hundreds more free and discounted courses available

You can access a wide range of online and distance learning courses at a time and place that suits you.

Whether it is IT, Digital Photography, Family History or some other area you are interested in, we have a wide range of free courses that members can access right now.

The CWU has just secured an innovative partnership with distance learning provider The Skills Network to expand the selection of training, development and education opportunities available to members. Members will be able to access a wide range of accredited distance learning qualifications at no cost, through government funding streams.

CWU members can now take nationally recognised level 2 qualifications in subjects such as health and social care, childcare and education, business and leadership, retail and hospitality, and public services.

Courses will be available via either an online learning platform or as paper-based workbooks, giving our members the flexibility to undertake further education through distance learning methods. They will also benefit from receiving support from a subject specialist tutor and designated learner support advisor throughout their course. (Due to the education budget being devolved to the nations these free level 2 courses are only available members in England. There are alternative arrangements for learners in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – please contact your branch Union Learning Rep for more details.)

Speaking on the new partnership, Joe Cox, Head of Business Development at The Skills Network, said: “The Skills Network are delighted to be partnering with the CWU and enabling members to access lifelong learning opportunities through fully funded distance learning qualifications. We’ve seen outstanding success when working with unions across the country, and we are looking forward to seeing CWU members take advantage of the new partnership for their personal and professional development.”

CWU members will also be able to take advantage of discounted level 3 and level 4 courses should they wish to take their learning further, with these extended qualifications being available at a 10 per cent discount to members.

This is in addition to our existing partnership with eCareers who deliver our Left Click Plus suite of over 500 professional and accredited courses in subjects such as IT & Networking, Accountancy & Bookkeeping, Project Management, Business & Marketing, Design & Creative and many more. Once again all of these courses are delivered at a 10% discount to CWU members (just quote the CWU10 discount code).

The CWU has also newly signed up to Wranx to providing free bite-sized Maths and English revision online. The content for each module has been written in conjunction with Gateshead College; rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Wranx uses an innovative learning style called spaced repetition, which means you do just 2-3 minutes on the app each day, building your knowledge as you go. This makes it very flexible and accessible.

“The partnerships with The Skills Network, eCareers and Wranx provide significant additions to the range of courses that we offer via our website,”said Paul Dovey of the CWU Education & Training Dept, “For many years members who were lucky enough to have a union learning centre close to them have been able to benefit from the courses offered there. This is a significant step in ensuring that such courses are available to all CWU members – no matter how remotely they may work or what shift patterns they might be on. Why not give it a go?”