Digital Skills

Digital Skills

Digital Skills

Learning new digital skills can be daunting and sometimes you may not know where to start. Our digital skill workshops and courses will help to develop your online confidence and skills, whether it’s to use in your everyday life, at work or for your studies.

We have a large range of programmes that you can choose from including digital skills for beginners, digital essentials, Microsoft for work and digital marketing. We will help you to learn how to use different devices and applications so that you can easily communicate and share with others, manage your online activities, find, manage, and store information, protect your privacy and data, and use online services to buy things securely.

“I learnt how to make my own CV and upload it to different companies and job vacancies. The digital skills also helped with introducing me to Zoom to have an online interview. I also had a careers appointment and discussed my strengths & skills and job opportunities.’’

Jane

How will I be taught?

All our digital skills courses are delivered in person with classroom-based learning.

You may also be required to carry out some level of online independent study in between sessions and will need a smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC and a good internet connection to do this. You will need access to a laptop or PC to complete assignments throughout the course.

Don’t worry if this is a new way of learning for you – our tutors will explain how this works and support you to do this.

Classroom of learners in a lesson all sat around computers
A woman and man sat in a classroom reading a book together

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary for each of our courses and before you start you will be assessed to ensure you join the right level course for you. 

You will be able to find more information about the requirements needed for your chosen course by contacting our support team on 0161 291 6733, dropping into your local adult learning centre or emailing us at maes.info@manchester.gov.uk.

Digital Skills courses

Select the course that you are interested in from the list below to find out more.

This workshop is for you if you want to access services, learn how to use a particular device, search for information quickly, save money or improve your employment prospects. Whatever your motive, your needs will be built into your workshop sessions at a level which is right for you. 

Our Skill Up workshops are casual, no commitment sessions so you can drop-in whenever it suits you!

  • Abraham Moss: Thursdays 9:30am-11:45am
  • Forum: Wednesdays 9:30am-11:45am
  • Greenheys: Mondays 12:30pm-2:45pm
  • Gorton Hub: Tuesdays 12:30pm-2:45pm
  • Longsight: Fridays 9:30am-11:45am
  • The Avenue: Fridays 9:30am-11:45am
  • Withington: Wednesdays 12:30pm-2:45pm

On this course you will be introduced to different devices, develop your confidence, and start you on your journey in using your digital skills and the internet more often. You will have the opportunity to progress to another course after 6 weeks or extend learning in a Skill Up Workshop.

  • Start date(s): January
  • Duration: 6 weeks
  • Location(s): Abraham Moss, Gorton Hub, Greenheys, Longsight, Withington
  • Day: Monday and Wednesday (Abraham Moss), Tuesday and Friday (Gorton Hub), Tuesday and Thursday (Greenheys), Tuesday and Thursday (Longsight), Wednesday and Friday (Withington)
  • Time: 9:30am-11:45am (Abraham Moss, Gorton Hub, Greenheys and Withington), 12:30pm-2:45pm (Longsight)

This course is for you if you want to develop your digital skills for work and at home. You’ll learn how to use different devices for handling information, creating and editing, communicating, and transacting while remaining safe, secure and responsible online. You will be able to gain a qualification on this course.

  • Start date(s): January
  • Duration: 13 weeks
  • Location(s): Abraham Moss, Forum, Gorton Hub, Greenheys, Longsight, The Avenue, Withington
  • Day: Multiple due to number of classes – Please enquire at centre. 
  • Time: Multiple due to number of classes – Please enquire at centre.

If you are looking to develop your skills and knowledge in using Microsoft applications for work, then this course is for you. Learn how to confidently use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and file management for the workplace. You will also become more efficient using 365 and Teams.

  • Start date(s): January
  • Duration: 13 weeks
  • Location(s): Abraham Moss, Forum, Greenheys, Longsight
  • Day: Monday and Wednesday (Greenheys and Longsight), Tuesday and Thursday (Forum), Tuesday and Friday (Abraham Moss)
  • Time: 9:30-11:45 (Abraham Moss), 12:30-2:45 (Forum, Greenheys and Longsight).

With this course you can expect to learn about cybercrime and protective methods to be cyber safe. You will explore different forms of cybercrime and motives, whilst understanding the risks and effects it has on individuals and organisations.

  • Start date(s): January
  • Duration: 13 weeks
  • Location(s): Greenheys
  • Day: Tuesday
  • Time: 5:30pm-7:45pm

Whether you’re looking to secure a new role or progress in work, this course will enhance your awareness of digital office essentials, develop your practical IT skills, and build your working knowledge of common software applications, including spreadsheets, word processing and presentations.

  • Start date(s): January
  • Duration: 13 weeks
  • Location(s): Greenheys
  • Day: Wednesday
  • Time: 9:45am-2:45pm.

This course is ideal if you have your own small business and want to develop your digital skills to promote it online or if you are considering a career in digital marketing. You will learn about presentation software, make a career plan and design a social media marketing proposal/campaign.

You will also gain a nationally recognised qualification.

  • Start date(s): January, February
  • Duration: 20 weeks
  • Location(s): Abraham Moss, Longsight Library Learning Centre
  • Day: Tuesday (Abraham Moss), Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (Longsight)
  • Time: 9:30am-2:45pm (Abraham Moss), 12:30-2:45pm (Longsight)

View more details about Level 2 Certificate in Digital Marketing.

Other learning opportunities

Alongside our digital skills course offering, we can also deliver bespoke provision depending on your situation.  

  • If you are a community venue and wish to increase your education activities, we can support your service users with digital skills for work, life, learning and health. Please email Kate Harrison at kate.harrison@manchester.gov.uk for more details.
  • If you have volunteer Digital Skills Champions and would like some training for your volunteers, please get in touch regarding our Volunteer Digital Mentor Course. Please email Emma Langlois at emma.langlois@manchester.gov.uk for more details.
  • If you are an employer and would like to arrange some digital skills ‘upskilling’ for your workforce, we can deliver essential digital skills development sessions and Microsoft for work sessions. Please email Emma Langlois at emma.langlois@manchester.gov.uk for more details.
Several ladies on computers with a lady instructing them

Help and support

You will find a range of support on offer when you study with MAES. From our friendly and enthusiastic business support team located in our learning centres to our well-qualified and committed tutors. 

We are also home to Make it Happen – a service run by our dedicated Careers and Progression team who will provide expert knowledge and personalised support to prepare you for the next stage in your career. Find out more below.