Learning Opportunities

With just 0.8% [1] unemployment in the borough, competition for staff in Basingstoke and Deane is high:

89% of the borough’s employers say they have problems recruiting suitable staff [2]
29% of local unemployed people do not have any qualifications. [3]
Investing in the training and development of your current workforce is one of the easiest ways for you to ensure you  have the right staff and skills for your business.

This section of the website takes you through the wide range of options available to employers, including apprenticeships, essential skills training, degrees and evening courses.

Basingstoke and Deane offers a wide range of adult and community learning opportunities, which may provide you and your staff with a flexible way of learning.

You can learn anything from an introduction to computing or web design, languages, setting up your own business, maths and much more.  Many of these courses lead to qualifications.

Click here for a list of adult and community learning providers in Basingstoke and Deane.

Apprenticeships offer training in a wide range of areas from business administration to specialist skills like engineering. They make a contribution to your business from day one and help you retain motivated people to help your business stay ahead.

Click here to find out how Apprenticeships can help your business.

Colleges and university

We have two main colleges in Basingstoke and Deane: Basingstoke College of Technology and Queen Mary’s College where you can study from GCSE to degree level.

The University of Winchester is now also in the town offering Foundation degrees and much more.

Click here to learn more about the learning opportunities available at these institutes.

One in four adults needs to improve their English and maths skills to get on at work, or in the home. If you feel your staff could benefit from improving their numeracy, literacy or communication skills, there are lots of courses to choose from. Any essential skills courses your staff attend will be FREE and many will help them to work towards a first qualification.

Click here to find out how the Essential Skills Support Unit (ESSU) can help your business.

Or contact their Outreach Worker, Gillian Bennett on:

 07796 145367.

learndirect Advice is a free and confidential telephone help-line and website for adults looking for impartial information and advice on courses and careers.

Our 200 qualified advisors can give information on around one million courses, plus advice on funding learning.

Click here for more information, or call free on

 0800 100 900 seven days a week between 8am and 10pm. 

The Basingstoke Consortium brings together representatives from secondary schools, colleges, training providers and local industry to promote more effective education and training for young people.

The Consortium aims to:

• Extend and enhance the activities of young people in learning related to work
• Improve local understanding of skills issues
• Agree priorities for action with local economic development partners.

Recent Consortium activities include:

• Extended work placements for young people
• Employability / taster days
• Business challenge
• Young Enterprise
• The local labour market website project.

If you are a local business and would like to know more about working with the Basingstoke Consortium to promote work related learning to young people please contact: Jackie Calvert

 01256 840710

Jackie.calvert@bs-consort.org.uk   

Whether you’re looking for a full-time, part-time or day release course, GCSE, NVQ or professional qualification, hundreds of courses are available throughout Basingstoke.

Click here to start your search.