National Careers Week 2025

Inspire College offers a range of academic and vocational course options including Sports, Catering, Health and Social Care, Construction, Personal and Social Development, and more, for those aged 16-24. Our class sizes are much smaller than other providers in the area, meaning it’s a great environment for students, including those who may have additional needs. Our friendly tutors and dedicated careers advisors offer personalised support throughout and help you to achieve qualifications that will set you up for life, such as Maths and English GCSEs. PLUS, you can earn while you learn – earn up to £100 a month when you study with Inspire College!

Our careers advisors at Inspire College have been working hard to give students an insight into the world of work and encourage them to think about their next steps to achieve their career goals. Inspire College careers advisors are trained to provide Information, Advice and Guidance support, meaning they will help you to stay on track with your goals by ensuring you are working towards any necessary qualifications; help you to find and take part in work experience placements and make connections in your chosen industry; support you with applications, writing a CV, and interview skills; and more!

In the lead-up to NCW, students from Inspire College have been taking part in careers workshops with professionals from a variety of industries and sectors. Students at our Sutton-in-Ashfield base – who learn in purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities at the recently refurbished High Pavement Learning Centre – were visited by contracting company SKANSKA, who gave a presentation around job roles and CV completion top tips when attending an interview. The SKANSKA team brought VR headsets along with them so that our students could experience for themselves what it’s like to drive plant machinery!

Meanwhile, at our Inspire College base in Hucknall, our students got a visit from the police… who encouraged them to consider career options in law enforcement!

If you’re not sure about your career next steps, or if you like the idea of a college environment with small class sizes, personalised support and tutors who will take the time to understand your specific needs: find out more about Inspire College, and listen to what our students have to say about their experience!

Our next Inspire College Open Events will take place in April – click here to learn more.

Also for young people aged 16-24, we offer traineeships which can help you to make connections and gain crucial skills in your chosen area. A traineeship is a skills development programme that includes a significant work experience placement and contains vital training and study to support you to develop your employability skills. Here at Inspire we partner with reputable local businesses and industries to provide a range of high-quality traineeships which can prepare you for an apprenticeship and for the world of work in general!

Our traineeship programmes prove to be extremely rewarding, with trainees and employers alike benefitting mutually from the arrangement and building strong professional relationships with support from Inspire tutors!

Build confidence and self-esteem while you gain work experience and learn key skills related to your chosen industry. Work flexible hours that suit you, and pursue a Level 2 qualification in Employability. As a trainee, you may also be eligible for a bursary to support you financially alongside your training! Find out more about traineeships, and discover whether it could be the right next step in your career journey – click here to learn more.

Inspire Learning isn’t just for young people – we also offer hundreds of courses scheduled each term throughout the year! Our courses are budget-friendly and low-cost for all, or even free if you’re in receipt of eligible benefits, and there’s an enormous range of choices. From healthy living and arts and crafts to science, IT skills and maths, we have plenty of options to inspire you! Learn brand new skills or perfect existing ones, nurturing your passions as well as your career – with support and tips and tricks from our friendly tutors, perhaps you’ll gain the confidence to launch that small craft or beauty business you’ve been daydreaming about!

Browse our courses by category, or view our complete Course Guide.

In addition to our huge Adult Learning course catalogue, we offer Accredited Courses specifically to support your career and boost your employability. If you're looking to upskill, get back into work or study, or enhance your CV with qualifications recognised by employers, our accredited courses could be the perfect next step for you. Our free and part-funded qualifications will give you the skills you need, to get the job you want. Approved by a professional awarding body, our accredited courses can make you more desirable to employers, whether that’s being offered a better salary, the chance of promotion, or just getting your foot in the door.

Our Level 1, 2 and 3 courses in a range of fields, delivered in-person or online, will help you to develop crucial knowledge and skills to support your career. Level 1 and 2 courses are funded through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), meaning your course could be fully or part-funded, depending on your circumstances, and some of our Level 3 courses could even be free if you meet certain funding criteria. Other kinds of financial support are also available for enrolled learners, so you can get the qualifications you need without the stress of financial burdens weighing you down.

Perhaps your tech and computer skills have been letting you down when it comes to applying and interviewing for, or securing and keeping a role long-term; our range of accredited IT and digital skills courses might be exactly what you need to get over that final hurdle in job-searching or advancing your career. Get qualified in using key computer programmes and software including spreadsheets, word processing, creating presentations, and managing emails, or enrol on one of our other employability skills courses, and show employers that you really mean business!

If you’re looking for something more specific to your career path, we have a range of qualifications you can work towards, including courses which will be beneficial to those pursuing a career in the health and social care sector. You may even want to enrol in our Access to Higher Education: Health and Social Care course, which prepares you specifically for further education, such as a nursing degree.

Learn local, go far, and unlock your full potential with Inspire Learning’s Accredited Courses!

If you’re finding that your level of maths, English, or digital skills are creating a bump in the road of your career journey, our FREE Functional Skills Courses could be the way forward!

You’ll study either in-person or online in small groups with other learners, and our experienced, friendly tutors will offer personalised support as you work towards your qualification, at a level that is right for you. All courses are broken down into accessible units, with homework to complete and an exam at the end. Upon successful completion, you will receive a qualification recognised by employers which will enhance your CV, improve your confidence and set you up for further study!

If you’re out of work or looking to take on a career change, you can drop in to one of our free Job Clubs, led by careers experts who can offer helpful advice and guidance regarding job-searching, navigating the application-process, writing a CV and cover letter, and interview techniques. Check if your nearest Inspire Library hosts a Job Club, and drop in to the next session for free advice and support, no matter your age or experience!

Inspire Libraries make job-searching accessible for those without at-home access to a computer or the internet, as most of our libraries are fully-equipped with public PCs and printing, photocopying and scanning facilities. Computers and the internet can be used completely free of charge by all, which is helpful when searching for job opportunities, communicating with potential employers, and writing a CV or cover letter. Inspire Libraries also allow you to access the Learn My Way website which has many short and simple tutorials to teach you computer basics if you need a helping hand with the digital aspect of today’s job market.

Anyone in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance can use Inspire Libraries with printing facilities to print up to ten pages worth of their CV each day completely free of charge, and our Library Customer Service Advisers are always on hand to offer a short word of encouragement and a smile if you’re looking for a calm space to prepare for any upcoming interviews! Our staff members will also be happy to help you find books on employment and careers, including how to start your own business, bookkeeping and financial advice, business and commercial law and lots more!

Find your nearest Inspire Library here, or register in-person or online to become a Library Member for free and browse our full catalogue of books including work and business-related material!

Inspire provides information to everyone about careers, learning, work and life choices, through its information service Ask Inspire and at each library through its staff, books and electronic resources. Inspire as a training provider offers courses for young people (16 to 19 years) and to adults and will support each learner to consider their future career and learning aspirations.

The Information, Advice and Guidance Hub brings together useful sources of information and resources that are available to our customers and learners from across Nottinghamshire. 

If you’re a small or independent business-owner or if you have dreams of becoming one but don’t know where to start, Inspire’s partnership with the BIPC National Network provides access to over £5 million worth of online resources to help your business thrive!

Whether you’re just setting out, need advice on protecting your intellectual property, or simply have a brilliant idea you want to discuss, our Business Support and Skills Officer is here to guide you. You can book a free one-to-one meeting with an expert at one of our Library BIPC bases to get personalised advice and guidance.

Find out more about the BIPC and what it offers!