Course opens doors to employment

Adults wishing to return to work can now enrol on a daytime office skills course based at MidKent College’s Maidstone Campus.

The part-time programme offers learners the chance to obtain a range of skills, including those in bookkeeping, typing and IT, and is specially designed for those who have taken time out of employment to bring up children or are looking to return to work after a period of unemployment. “We are committed to doing all we can to provide learners with the support they need to make a success of their time with us and get back into the world of work,” said college lecturer Susan Swabey. “Lessons start at 9.15 and finish at 2.30, enabling those who need to collect children from school to do so, and students are encouraged to learn from each other as well as their course tutors,” she continued.

“For many of our adult learners, the hardest challenge can come when they are expected to get to grips with some of the computer skills absolutely essential to the modern office environment,” she continued. “For this reason, we often combine this adult group with the younger students on our full-time Administration courses. Computer skills are second nature to many of our 16-19 year old learners, and they are always more than happy to provide their adult colleagues with some additional guidance and support.”    

Former catering unit manager Kim Phipps said the course has helped to increase her confidence. “It’s been lovely to be able to work alongside the younger students,” she said. “They bring a sense of fun and liveliness to the classroom and are often a great help – especially when we are asked to complete computer assignments. I’d never so much as touched a computer before I started this course. Now I’ve developed so much confidence using them, I’ve actually bought one for my family to use at home.”
 
Ms Phipps hopes the programme will enable her to make a total career change. “Before now I’d been employed within the catering industry for my entire working life,” said the 43 year old mother of one. “It’s definitely time for me to get out of the hot and sweaty kitchen and into nine-to-five employment,” she continued. “I’ve had to hold down two or three jobs at a time to make ends meet in the past. Now I’m looking forward to finding one that will support me and my family and help to fund my daughter’s university education.”

Further information on this course can be obtained by calling the college’s course information line on 01634 402020.