To ask you all to help me with advice to get back in to the workplace?

[cheeseisnice]

Posting here for traffic.

I've been out of the workplace for 10 years now, raising 3 children. I'm desperate to get back out there, but I'm unskilled and haven't got a clue what to do or where to start.

Without much of an idea what field I want to work in, I know that asking you all for advice is a bit odd...but I'm hoping you could point me in the direction of online learning courses that will help me qualify and get on the career ladder.
I've been looking at ICS learn. Has anyone used them? Or can come up with something better? I'm stumped.

Did any of you learn online which led to a job offer? Where did you learn, and what? What were your experiences of online education providers?

You can get great experience by volunteering.
But I'd recommend starting by getting a good handle on Microsoft office products if you don't already have this: Word, Excel and PowerPoint in particular.

Maybe have a look at some future learn courses, they are usually free and varied. But I agree IT skills being up to speed is essential and updating your CV with voluntary work you’ve done during that time.

If you don't know what you want to do, then that's where you need to start. Once you know what jobs you're interested in, you can then see what employers are asking for, and then invest in getting those specific skills/qualifications.

Absolutely you need to learn how to use Word and Excel, if you don't already. You can gain experience with other (free) packages that are similar, but any respectable workplace will expect you to have a basic grasp of the Microsoft Office versions.

If you don't know what area you want to work in right now, that's fine. But while you train it would be a good idea to take on some other kind of paid work, even if it's just supermarket work or low/no-skills jobs like that. It will stand you in good stead with prospective employers when you do find a job you actually want longer term, because it will demonstrate that you are able to hold down a job.

Do you intend to still work fairly close to home? Look online at the type of jobs that are hiring, in my area there is high demand for carework, geological and marine scientists, bookkeepers and accountants. Perhaps these areas don't interest you too much atm but the demand is there so I would get qualified in one of those areas and go from there.
Look at the OU, if you already have a degree you can get funding for a second one if it's in a Stem subject they also have an area of free course under: Open Learn.

Were you thinking more office/ home based type work or more working with people/animals/children? If something more office based a quick course on MS Teams and courses on Office 365 might be useful

I can refresh myself in Office, Excel, PowerPoint etc. I'm not too bad with them generally.

I was thinking about accountancy or book keeping, as someone has mentioned. ICS Learn do courses in these. Would it be a good idea to look in to those areas more? Which would be better in terms of length/intensity of studying required, ease of finding a job and earning potential?

@MrsAmaretto

Were you thinking more office/ home based type work or more working with people/animals/children? If something more office based a quick course on MS Teams and courses on Office 365 might be useful

I'm a huge animal lover and once thought about training to learn to groom dogs, with the possibility of DP putting the money up for us to start a cattery and kennels. I don't know if that would be possible though, or is just a pipe dream.

Do you have a lot of land?

Could you get a job in a vets? As an assistant?

Have you considered an animal care course? This can lead to different areas, including grooming etc.

What’s the aim?
Decent pay ?
Helping others?
Work / life balance?
What kind of work do you want?
Flexible?
Working for yourself?

Look at jobs on indeed. Then the job spec. What do they ask for?
Then look at gaining the quals or skills.
If it’s accounts then there are evening courses at colleges in eg book keeping.
AAT for accounts courses.