Adults across Dorset looking to improve maths skills can enrol for free courses and activities. This is thanks to a £3.3 million investment, focusing on increasing progression opportunities and secure well paid jobs.
The free courses and events include numeracy, money management skills and upskilling for jobs and careers. There is also intensive short courses and longer more flexible qualification courses. There will be opportunities for all levels of maths, from entry level up to level 2, such as GCSE or Functional Skills equivalent. They are available to adults in Dorset, including the general population as well as focused groups, such as parents, prisoners and care leavers. For more information please visit: https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/subjects/multiply-free-maths-courses/
People who improve their maths skills are more likely to be employed, be paid more, and have an improved sense of wellbeing. Currently, around 17 million adults in England don’t have Level 2 maths. Poor numeracy skills or simply not having the right qualifications can hold people back from having the confidence to get on in life and into work.
Skills & Learning Adult Community Education has been awarded the funds from the government’s £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which will be used to offer tailored courses to meet the needs of the Dorset community. This is part of the wider rollout of the government's Multiply programme.
Multiply will offer adults living in the UK, aged 19+, who do not already have a GCSE grade C/4 or higher in Maths or equivalent, free flexible courses that fit around their lives and help them reach their goals.
Lesley Spain, Principal Learning Manager at Skills & Learning Adult Community Education, said:
Skills and Learning is reaching out to local people who want to be more confident with maths/numeracy, whether it’s to help them manage their finances, help their children with homework or improve their job prospects. We are pleased to be able to offer a wide range of free Multiply courses with our partners at times and places that will suit most people.
Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board, said:
“We are pleased to see the Government working closely with councils and devolved authorities to get the Multiply programme up and running at speed, as they know how best to deliver this much-needed investment and tailor it to local need."
Businesses that develop their employees’ numeracy skills can also boost productivity, increase profits and improve employee retention. Dorset based employers will also benefit from the scheme, with courses and activities tailored to a particular area or jobs at no cost to them offered to their employees to help boost their numeracy skills.
To get involved in delivering or supporting delivery of Multiply, please contact us on enquiries@salbcp.com.