5k for a course

[satci]

Hi. I've been left this money on the understanding it will be spent in education. I was hoping for a beauty course is something to maybe go mobile. Or anything else I can train in? I only need to earn a part time wage. Any ideas? I'm scared to waste this money as it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Thanks so much for your thoughts.

Do you have a passion for it?

It's not necessarily easy to get a client base, it can take time - and it's so much easier to stick in and make it work, if it's something you love doing.

If it is something you really would like to do, and if it's possible, it might be useful to use some for a business and/or marketing course too, if that's new to you. Running a business isn't hard, but it can be a new set of skills to learn.

Is there anything you have always wanted to do/learn?

Dog grooming?

Definitely do your costings and look at the market rates for the services you hope to provide in your area. And choose something you're really interested in as being self-employed is hard and you'll need the drive to not just provide a great service but also deal with advertising, admin, bookkeeping and taxes and put money aside for holidays/sick days/pension yourself.

One of my friends is a hairdresser and make-up artist and I know some months she struggles to earn enough because the costs of running the business are so high (i.e. materials, insurance, travel if you're mobile or room/chair hire if you're salon-based, possibly advertising/website costs etc.).

If you are good with practical stuff I would also be tempted to look into something like plumbing or another trade.

What do you do currently? What is your current level of education? Things like beauty- if you do that full time at FE college it is often fully funded so if you are interested in beauty research that first before blowing £5k on a course when you could use it to fund your business start up.

Have a look at other trades. Consider plumbing (I think 5k should go a long way if you're also able to get the government subsidies) for example; there's a shortage of plumbers, female plumbers particularly are in demand. I was told by a plumbing expert that if you're good and working for the right place you don't even need to do the really gross jobs as you'll have enough other work to keep you going!

Also consider automotive engineering, carpentry etc!

Can you get some careers advice and maybe advice re starting business. Look at what businesses are charging and if they are thriving.
In my area beauty are ten a penny and don’t seem to make much.
Dog grooming seems to be in demand and attract higher rates. I used to have a mobile dog groomer with a van who was fully booked not taking on clients.
Or decorating or another trade.

Echo others re trades or other practical skills. A friend’s DH did an access course at our local college (I may be wrong about it being AtL…) in mental health nursing, with the intention of then going to Uni. But he’s picked up lots and lots of agency work off the back of his course and has put a pin in going to Uni.

Or get your Class 1 HGV licence!!

Oooh, decorating, that’s a good one!

Or if you want something less physical/more office based, the ATT website has details about bookkeeping courses - claims you can be qualified in a year, within your budget!

I'd look into dog grooming, there's a demand for it, around here anyway.

Careers Advisor here echoing others about seeking careers advice! Pm me if I can help at all :)

@RachelHasThoseInBurgundy

What do you do currently? What is your current level of education? Things like beauty- if you do that full time at FE college it is often fully funded so if you are interested in beauty research that first before blowing £5k on a course when you could use it to fund your business start up.

Do you have a link? I can't seem to find any FE colleges where it's fully funded.

Perhaps it’s just here in NI. My local FE college some full time courses are fully funded. Beauty courses definitely are. Some university access courses are also funded too. There are also different concessions for part time courses depending on whether you are a pensioner or on certain benefits.