During this time in lock-down, we have the perfect opportunity to sharpen our skills and pick up new ones.
Whether it’s a new skill you’ve been wanting to learn, would like to gain employability skills or develop your career profile, there is a wealth of knowledge online that you can access at your fingertips.
AKEPB has collated a growing list of excellent (mostly free) online resources, covering coding and technology skills, digital and business skills and career and language courses. AKEPB is also offering 1-to-1 assistance with your CV, cover letter or interview preparation. Please contact us on [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.
To get started, use the menu below or search by keyword or category by hitting CTRL + F (Windows) or ⌘ CMD + F (Mac) on your keyboard. We've got something for everyone.
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General | Coding & Technology | Digital Skills | Business Skills | Careers
General
Coursera
Coursera is an online education provider that offers online courses, Massive Open Online Courses, from top universities around the world. Currently it has over 200 partners from 48 countries. These partners include Universities & companies like IBM, Google, and PwC — these companies are also launching courses on Coursera. Active catalog of 3,800+ online courses. As well as these individual courses and 16 online degrees, Coursera offers 400 groups of courses known as Specializations, MasterTracks, and Professional Certificates.
Free & Pay (certification) https://www.coursera.org/
Udemy
Udemy is an online learning platform aimed at professional adults and students. Courses in over 65 languages. Udemy also has over 5,000 enterprise customers and 80% of Fortune 100 companies use Udemy for employee upskilling. Students take courses largely as a means of improving job-related skills. Some courses generate credit toward technical certification. As of 2020, there are more than 150,000 courses on the website
Free & Pay https://www.udemy.com/
Vodafone / Udemy
Vodafone is making a new range of online educational and training support available to customers and employees for free, including online e-learning courses from Udemy and extended access to Perlego’s online library of academic text books and publications
Free with Vodafone https://www.vodafone.com/news-and-media/vodafone-group-releases/news/fre...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. Math, science, computer programming, history, art history, economics, and more. Partnered with institutions like NASA, The Museum of Modern Art, The California Academy of Sciences, and MIT to offer specialized content.
Free https://www.khanacademy.org/
Alison
Alison is a large global online learning platform for education and skills training dedicated to making it possible for anyone, to study anything, anywhere, at any time, for free online, at any subject level. Members of the Jamat can sign up for programmes free of charge and, through a partnership with AKEB, gain certificates on completion of the programme. You can complete courses in a range of courses, from certificate in Digital literacy or Leadership skills in Business, Diploma in Health studies or Human Nutrition and many others. This is a unique opportunity to continue your learning journey by gaining new skills and enhancing your CV.
Register via AKEB in IIUK
Free https://headstart.iiuk.org/our-courses/
NESCOT
NESCOT college offers distance learning for a range of NVQ level (National Vocational Qualification) recognised courses. Register via AKEB at IIUK
Free https://headstart.iiuk.org/our-courses/
Future Learn
Jointly owned by The Open University and The SEEK Group. 100 + partners worldwide. These include many of the best UK and international universities, as well as institutions with a huge archive of cultural and educational material, such as the British Council, the British Library, the British Museum, and the National Film and Television School. Work with a range of internationally renowned organisations - from professional bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), to businesses like the BBC and Marks & Spencer, to the UK Government
Free & Pay (certification) https://www.futurelearn.com/
Open Learn
Free taster courses aimed at those considering Open University but everyone can access it. Adult level, but some e.g. nature and environment courses could well be of interest to young people.
Free & Pay https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
Class Central
Free online courses from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale. - article to online course sites
Free & Pay (certification) https://www.classcentral.com/collection/ivy-league-moocs
EdeX
Access 2000 free online courses from 140 leading institutions worldwide.
Free & Pay (Certification) https://www.edx.org/
LinkedIn Learning
Professional skills - business, creative and technology
Free & Pay https://www.linkedin.com/learning/
Open Culture
Free educational media. Find thousands of free online courses, audio books, textbooks, eBooks, language lessons, movies and more. Free http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
Course Buffet Find free college/degree equivalent online courses (MOOC) from top free course
Free https://www.coursebuffet.com/
Ted Ed
Engaging educational videos
Free https://ed.ted.com
Skillshare
Skillshare offers video-based courses in areas like animation, design, illustration, lifestyle, photography, film, business and writing. Free & Pay https://www.skillshare.com/classes/free
Coding & Technology
GlobalKnowledge
The Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report provides informative and revealing insights into the inner workings of worldwide IT departments. This report is split into four sections—Salary and Certifications, IT Decision-Maker Insights, Professional Development and Job Satisfaction, and Looking Forward.
Free https://www.globalknowledge.com/us-en/content/salary-report/it-skills-an...
Microsoft
Whether you're just starting or an experienced professional, our hands-on approach helps you arrive at your goals faster, with more confidence and at your own pace.
Free https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/
Udacity
Online courses in programming, data science, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and more.
Free & Pay (certification & courses) https://www.udacity.com/
Free Code Camp
Learn to code with free online courses, programming projects, and interview preparation for developer jobs.
Free https://www.freecodecamp.org/
Skill Crush
Online classes in web design, coding, and other marketable digital skills
Free & Pay https://skillcrush.com/
Code Academy
Coding/programming lessons
Free & Pay (pro) https://www.codecademy.com/
Learn Code the Hard Way
Learn Code The Hard Way courses are the most effective system for learning the basics of computer programming, designed specifically for complete beginners
Pay https://learncodethehardway.org/
Scrimba
Scrimba is the next-generation platform for learning how to code. Our screencasts enable you to interact with the code directly in the player. This way, you'll have more fun and learn faster
Free https://scrimba.com/
Digital Skills
UK Government, The Skills Toolkit
Digital skills can be anything from using social media and staying safe online to coding, programming or digital marketing. You can choose from a selection of high quality courses put together in collaboration with experts.
Free https://theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk/
Microsoft / LinkedIn Learning
Start developing your skills for free with learning paths from LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn, then practice tech skills in the GitHub Learning Lab
Free https://opportunity.linkedin.com/en-us
Digital transformation
This requires organizational and individual mindset shifts, and it invites us to work and collaborate in exciting new productive ways. This learning path complements the Digital Transformation for Leaders and Digital Transformation for Tech Leaders learning paths, highlighting key ways to collaborate and communicate in the modern workplace.
Free https://www.linkedin.com/learning/paths/digital-transformation-in-practi...
Simplilearn
Simplilearn is one of the world's leading providers of online training for Digital Marketing, Cloud Computing, Project Management, Data Science, IT, Software Development, and many other emerging technologies.
Free & Pay (some courses & certification) https://www.simplilearn.com/
Plural Sight
FREE access to 7000+ Pluralsight courses during the month of April. THE technology skills platform with expert-led, online courses for technology, software development etc
Pay (Free in April) https://www.pluralsight.com/
Typing Club
Learn how to touch type
Free https://www.typingclub.com/
Wordstream
PPC University is a totally free online learning resource created by WordStream, to help build your PPC and digital marketing skills.
Free https://www.wordstream.com/learn
ConstantContact
The Social Media Quickstarter offers the step-by-step instructions you need to start building your social media presence across all of the top social networks.
Free https://blogs.constantcontact.com/social-media-quickstarter/
QuickSprout University
Quick Sprout has everything you need to become a world-class digital marketer
Free https://www.quicksprout.com/university/
Chatbot University
Evolve customer communication with automated private messaging in the most popular chat applications today. Learn chat marketing for Facebook Messenger, SMS and native web chat in Chatbot University, MobileMonkey’s free chatbot tutorial.
Free https://mobilemonkey.com/chatbot-tutorial
Search Engine Journal
How to Dominate Social Media: A Complete Strategy Guide
Free https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media/
Adobe Photoshop
Learn the basics, or refine your skills with tutorials designed to inspire
Free https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/tutorials.html
Behance
Behance is a platform with videos, tutorials and allows many people with web design careers to showcase their portfolios of visual work such as graphic design, fashion, illustration, photography, and more.
Free https://www.behance.net/live
Business Skills
Accountancy Coach
AccountingCoach.com was launched in 2003 to help people throughout the world learn, refresh, and deepen their understanding of introductory accounting and bookkeeping at no cost. The free website (option #1) contains explanations, quizzes, Q&A, and more for 30 major topics.
Free & Paid (tests) https://www.accountingcoach.com/
Open Learn
Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting
Free https://www.open.edu/openlearn/money-business/introduction-bookkeeping-a...
EdX ACCA
A variety of courses from the ACCA. Courses can be audited free or students can choose to receive a verified certificate for a small fee
Free & Paid (cert) https://www.edx.org/school/acca
ACCA
The ACCA-X courses are aimed at a range of people: * School leavers * College/university students * Graduates * Career changers * Parents returning to work * Entrepreneurs * ACCA students and members
Free & Paid http://www.acca-x.com/global/en.html
Toastmasters International
Do you want to practice public speaking, improve your communication and build leadership skills? With Toastmasters, you can break barriers, not your budget.
Free https://www.toastmasters.org/resources
Six Minutes
A wealth of free information and insight into speech writing, delivery techniques, effective PowerPoints and speaking habits, both good and bad
Free http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/
Saylor Academy
This in-depth course is a good choice for those who want to develop better speaking skills with an understanding of the theories and principles behind effective verbal communications.
Free https://learn.saylor.org/course/view.php?id=19
Corporate Finance Institute
CFI has compiled a broad range of financial modelling resources to help you learn important skills and techniques for building financial models in Excel and performing world-class financial analysis. These resources include examples and step-by-step instructions on how to build models from scratch, how to perform each calculation that’s required, and how to perform additional types of analysis like scenarios and sensitivity analysis.
Free https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/modeling/
Financial Training Associates
We make small extracts from our finance course training available online free of charge.
Free https://www.financialtrainingassociates.com/free-online/
Wall Street Mojo
Financial Modeling training is all around the web and there has been lot written about learning Financial Modeling, however, most of the financial modeling pieces of training are exactly the same. This goes beyond the usual gibberish and explores practical Financial Modeling as used by Investment Bankers and Research Analysts.
Free https://www.wallstreetmojo.com/free-financial-modeling-training-course/
Hubspot
The Inbound Sales Certification covers the basics of an inbound approach to sales. This course is for individual sales reps who are looking for actionable tips to use in their next call or meeting.
Free https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/inbound-sales
Sales Engine
The Art of Sales: Mastering the Selling Process Specialization. The purpose of this 4-part specialization is to make you as efficient and effective in selling as possible. What you’ll gain are several critical skills and disciplines that will accelerate your success with your small company, your large company, and your life.
Free http://www.salesengine.com/classes-and-events/
SalesScripter
Our SMART (Sales Messaging and Response Tactics) Sales System is a sales training program that focuses on helping you to improve your sales and prospecting efforts by helping you to always know what is best to say and ask when talking with prospects.
Free https://salesscripter.com/smart-sales-system-sales-training-program/
MindTools
Essential Skills for an Excellent Career. 24,000,000 people each year use this site to learn the management, leadership and personal excellence skills they need for a happy, successful career.
Free https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/covid-19_support_pack.htm?tracki...
MasterClassManagement
MasterClassManagement.com is dedicated in providing the most practical and informative information to become a great manager and confident leader by combining real world practical management with business management theory. Free & Paid (cert) https://www.masterclassmanagement.com/Table-of-Contents-1x.html
Session Lab
"SessionLab is the dynamic way to design your workshop and collaborate with your co-facilitators. Activities, Icebreakers and Ideas
" Free https://www.sessionlab.com/library
Business Balls
BusinessBalls are free resources for soft skills & all things leadership, management, emotional intelligence and personal effectiveness. All resources are developed by experts and designed to make you more effective as a person. Courses and 10,000 quiz questions and interactive quizzes. Free https://www.businessballs.com/
Careers
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Online is a collection of 10 courses which provide a practical business education – strengthening your business knowledge, skills and plans for growth. The courses are suitable for any entrepreneur looking to take their business to the next level.
Free https://www.coursera.org/launch/10000women & https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000women/#
Microsoft / LinkedIn Learning
Whether you've been laid off or had your hours reduced, learn strategies for finding a job during challenging economic times. Discover how to create a recovery plan, cultivate resilience, explore career options, update your resume, network virtually, and improve your job search and interview skills.
Free https://www.linkedin.com/learning/paths/finding-a-job-during-challenging...
Young Women's Trust
Coaching, Guidance & CV/Job support - Young Women's Trust is a feminist organisation working to achieve economic justice for young women.
Free https://www.youngwomenstrust.org/about
FairyGodBoss
50 Career Resources for Women
Free https://fairygodboss.com/career-topics/50-great-career-resources-for-women
National Career Service
Career search, advice and guidance
Free https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/
99u
99U is a resource and event series to help creatives build incredible careers, supercharge their work, and make their ideas happen. Productivity & Leadershhip
Free https://99u.adobe.com/
Toggle
100 Soft Skills Assessment and Interview Questions
Free https://toggl.com/blog/100-soft-skills-questions-to-help-you-hire-top-ta...
Disaster Ready
Over 1,000 Free Online Learning Resources for Humanitarian Aid and Development Professionals
Free https://www.disasterready.org/
Language Learning
British Council
Resources for English language learning
Free https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/find
Duolingo
Learn languages for free. Web or app.
Free https://www.duolingo.com
Memrise
Learn a language with thousands of video clips of real native speakers, fun and effective games to practice your skills
Free https://www.memrise.com/
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone prepares you for real-world conversations in your new language
Pay (3 Day free trail) https://www.rosettastone.co.uk/
BBC languages
Learn languages for free online.
Free http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/
Live Mocha
Learn languages for free online.
Free https://www.livemocha.co/
Busuu
Join the global language learning community, take language courses to practice reading, writing, listening and speaking and learn a new language
Free & Pay https://www.busuu.com/
Verbling
Learn over 50 languages with 7,500+ teachers on the most advanced language learning platform in the world
Pay (Free Trial) https://www.verbling.com/
