Free training courses for unemployed people - Skills Connect

Skills Connect is a series of free training and upskilling courses. The courses can include work placements to support you if you've lost your job. You can learn new or extra skills, that will help you get a new job in the same industry or find a new role in a new industry.

Skills Connect programmes are free, online and offer structured support for career development.

By taking part in a free Skills Connect training programme, you will:

• build your confidence
• develop new skills
• improve your employability
• access practical, industry-based work placements

Skills Connect programmes are delivered by Skillnet business networks across many industries. These are industries where there is high employment and demand for talent, including:

• technology
• agri-food
• medtech
• cyber security
• logistics
• energy efficiency and retrofitting
• customer experience (CX)
• law
• digital marketing

You are eligible for Skills Connect courses if you are entitled to one of these Department of Social Protection (DSP) payments:

• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Jobseeker's Benefit
• another type of DSP payment, including the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)

You can keep your payments, if you meet the Back to Education criteria of DSP. You should always check whether you can keep your payment with Item was unpublished or removed.

Read the full Skills Connect eligibility criteria.

You can apply directly to the Skillnet business network that is delivering the course you're interested in.