Course areas
Digital Skills
Never has it been so important for adults of all ages to have the digital skills necessary for living in a modern technologically advanced world. Over the past few years, we experienced a period of isolation which highlighted the need for all adults to be able to communicate remotely. Whether that is for pleasure, keeping in touch with family and friends or to work from home.
Did you know over 80% of job vacancies now ask for digital skills?
The 2018 report found that in the UK:
- 3 million people (21%) lack the full basic digital skills
- 3 million (8%) have no basic digital skills at all
- 4 million working adults (10%) are without basic digital skills
- people with a registered disability are 4 times as likely to be offline
- 28% of those aged 60+ are offline
Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index survey
So developing your digital know-how is one of the most important things you can do to improve your employability, but that can be a scary prospect if you’ve avoided using computers up to now.
It’s easier than you think! We’ve helped millions of people gain the skills and confidence to use technology in all kinds of work settings, from shops and warehouses to restaurants and bars, even farms and building sites.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for Adults who have never used a computer.
What does this course cover?
This course provides you with the support to handle and use digital devices for the first time and to learn the following basic IT skills before enrolling on an entry level course:
- Turning on a device (including entering and updating any account information safely, such as a password)
- Using the available controls on a device (such as a mouse and keyboard for a computer, or touchscreen on a smartphone or tablet)
- Making use of accessibility tools (including assistive technology) to make devices easier to use (such as changing display settings to make content easier to read)
- Interacting with the home screen on a device;
- Connecting to the internet (including Wi-Fi) safely and securely, and opening a browser
- Opening and accessing an application on a device
Who is this course for?
These course is designed for adults with no or little prior experience of using digital devices or the internet.
What does this course cover?
This course provides you with the starting point for your digital future. If you have an android smart phone or iPhone, iPad, tablet or laptop and don’t know what it can do to support your everyday life, this is the place to start.
The course covers:
- Starting to use and controlling a device, for example a phone, tablet or laptop
- Using accessibility tools
- Interacting with device home screens
- Connecting to the internet safely and securely using WIFI and opening a browser
- Opening and accessing applications on a device
- Learn to use a word processing application, save files and create folders
You will also learn how to control your devices; find and evaluate information; manage and store information; identify and solve technical problems.
This is a very gentle introduction to digital skills and you’ll soon be surprising yourself and others with your knowledge!
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for adults with some experience of using digital devices and the internet but lacking secure basic digital skills.
This course is for those who may have android smart phone or iPhone, iPad, tablet or laptop for a while and dabbled with what it can do. You are fairly confident with the tasks you already use your device for but would like to know more.
What does this course cover?
You will progress to more complex activities such as:
- Using a structured filing system
- Using online tutorials
- Identifying and using appropriate online learning resources to maintain and improve your digital skills
You will become a confident user of Word, PowerPoint and Excel spreadsheets for entering, formatting and displaying text, editing images, formatting and sorting numerical data and charts.
This course will give you structure and direction to ensure you build confidence in your ability and the technology you are using to become digitally independent.
Who is this course for?
This qualification is for those who wish to extend their digital skills and prepare for employment, professional or personal gain. It prepares you for different sectors and roles where digital skills are required and develops your knowledge of the key areas.
What does this course cover?
This course offers a practical introduction to key digital and IT skills. Learners will engage with modules focusing on fundamental aspects of IT, including Word Processing software and spreadsheet software. This program is designed to provide a solid foundation for anyone looking to advance their skills in the digital world.
Module examples:
- Word Processing Software – This unit will develop learners’ ability to maximise the tools available in word-processing software to prepare, process and produce a wide range of sophisticated and professional documents accurately and efficiently.
- Spreadsheet software – Learners will develop an understanding of spreadsheet software tools and techniques to be able to produce spreadsheets. They will learn how to apply advanced formulae and functions to process data and use automated tools to aid productivity.
Who is this course for?
This is a Mandatory Unit Improving one’s own learning and performance.
The key skills are the skills which are most commonly needed to succeed in a range of activities – at work, in education and training and in everyday life. In developing the key skill of improving own learning and performance, you will learn to use and adapt your skills confidently and effectively in a range of settings and contexts.
What does this course cover?
This course covers learning about:
- The different ways and areas of learning which reflect own likes and/or dislikes
- How to use your own strengths, aptitudes and skills to determine learning targets
- How to plan how to achieve learning targets
- How to review own performance against action plan
Then choose any two from the following units:
Database (Microsoft Access)
This module sets out essential concepts and skills relating to understanding the concept of a database and demonstrating competence in using a database application. Learners will develop an understanding of what a database is and how it is organised.
Covering how to:
- Create a simple database and view the database content in various modes
- Understand what a database is and how it is organised
- Create a table, define and modify fields, and create relationships between tables
- Enter and edit data in a table
- Use filters and queries to retrieve specific information from a database
- Create a form to enter, modify and delete records and data in records
- Create routine reports and prepare outputs ready for print or electronic distribution
Microsoft Publisher
This module includes:
- Getting Started with Microsoft Publisher
- How to Explore the Interface
- Customize the Publisher Interface
- Create a Publication
- How to add Content to a Publication
The module covers:
- How to Add Text to a Publication
- Organize Text Boxes and Picture Placeholders in a Layout
- Control the Display of Content in Text Boxes
- Formatting Text in a Publication
- Apply Paragraph Styles
- Apply Schemes
- Editing Text in a Publication
- Present Content in Tables
- Insert Symbols and Special Characters
- Adding and Formatting Graphics in a Publication
- Add Graphical Objects to a Publication
- Manipulate the Appearance of Pictures
- Preparing a Publication for Sharing and Printing
- Save a Publication
- Preview and Print a Publication
- Share a Publication
Presentations Microsoft PowerPoint
This module includes:
- Getting Started with PowerPoint
- How to Explore the Interface
- How to develop sophisticated presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint
This course will benefit anyone wishing to develop their basic presentations for interactive shows, sharing data with other applications and using PowerPoint Internet features.
The module covers:
- How to use the additional Formatting and Editing Techniques
- Find and Replace
- Using Tab Stops
- Paragraph Indentation
- and Sharing Data with Other Applications
- Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) and creating Customised Templates
- Using the Slide and Title Master to change colour scheme, background and additional slide show techniques
- Slide transition (timings & other features)
- Advanced Build effects
- Hiding slides
- Moving within a Presentation
- Inserting Slides from another Presentation
- Custom Shows
- Using PowerPoint Internet Features
- Linking to a Web Page
Green Skills
One of the greatest challenges facing the world is climate change, with rising temperatures and severe weather threatening the existence of the planet. In response, the UK government has set a target for the country to become net zero by 2050 and has ambitious plans to lead the way globally.
The Bedford College Group are committed to the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. Providing opportunities for our communities to develop knowledge and understanding of the importance of nature, sustainability and the causes and impact of climate change.
Through our Learning Centres we will be offering our learners to opportunity to get skills in these vital areas.
Looking for a comprehensive overview of environmental sustainability in 2024 (and beyond)?
Our flagship course provides learners with a high-level introduction to key focus areas, including climate change, greenhouse emissions, carbon footprint management, biodiversity, conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and sustainability practices.
This course will allow you to:
- Develop Foundational Knowledge of Key Concepts
- Explore Interactive Briefs of COP26 and COP27 Outcomes
- Learn the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Introduction to Green Skills, Green Careers and Green Jobs
The green economy in the United Kingdom is growing, but there is a significant gap between the available ‘green skill’ positions and the skills readily available in the labour market.
This course aims to change that by making it easier for job seekers (and employment counsellors) to navigate this growing, future-oriented aspect of the domestic economy.
This course will allow you to:
- Interactively Explore the Emergent Hydrogen Economy
- View In-Demand Green Skills in Different Sectors and Regions
- Develop an Effective, Market-Ready ‘Green’ CV
Employment Courses
Level 2 Courses for Employment are aimed at learners who wish to gain skills within a variety of subjects for both professional and personal development.
This course covers:
- Providing administrative services
- Business document production and information management
- Communication in a business environment
- Employer organisations & Developing working relationships with colleagues
- Carrying out business administration tasks
- Understanding how to prepare text
This course covers:
- Initial steps for a business start-up
- Marketing for a business start-up
- Legal and financial considerations for a business start-up
- Developing a business plan
This course covers:
- Customer service
- Understanding customers
- Understanding employer organisations
- Understanding how to communicate with customers – verbally and in writing
- Knowing how to process information about customers
- Understanding how to resolve customer service problems and challenges
- Understanding how to develop customer relationships
This course covers:
- Principles of team leading & Understanding business
- Understanding how to communicate work related information
- Managing performance and conflict in the workplace
- Equality and diversity in the workplace
- Developing working relationships with colleagues
- Health and safety procedures in the workplace
- Understand how to develop and deliver a presentation
This course covers:
- Health and safety requirements in a warehousing environment
- The principle of warehousing goods
- The process of stock checking and preparing goods for dispatch
- The importance of customer service in a warehousing environment
This course covers:
- Customer service in the retail sector and the retail selling process
- How individuals & teams contribute to the effectiveness of a retail business
- How a retail business maintains health and safety on its premises
- Understanding retail consumer law
- How to deal with customer queries & complaints in a retail environment
- The handling of customer payments in a retail business
- The control, receipt and storage of stock in a retail business
This course covers:
- Exploring mental health
- Understanding how to support individuals with mental ill health
- Understanding a mentally healthy environment
This course covers:
- Communication in adult social care
- Personal development in adult social care settings
- Diversity, equality and inclusion in adult social care settings
- Safeguarding and protection in health and social care
- The role of the social care worker
- Understand person centered approaches in adult social care
- Understand health and safety in adult social care settings
- Understand how to handle information in social care settings
