Recent research shows that a significant proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) lack basic digital skills they need to operate. A significant hike in this lack has arisen through the recent Covid pandemic with remote working – and hence team inter-communication – becoming much more common.
The need for employees to have basic digital skills has dramatically increased such that many job applications include emphasis on transferable skills.
What does all this mean locally? Well, Clarborough and Welham IT Group has been providing basic digital skills in classes at Clarborough Village Hall (DN22 9LN) for many years, and will have a set of classes starting in early January that will provide some of the digital skills highlighted above – for small business owners and also individuals looking to increase their own basic skills set.
Classes will be divided between two sessions, but both will essentially use open-source software applications (‘apps’) which are completely free and which we will provide downloads to individual’s laptops.
The Wednesday classes will have an office-focus. These include Libre Office which is an open-source alternative to Microsoft Office365 but is completely comfortable reading and writing Microsoft (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) files. That it is an alternative means that transferable skills figure large in lessons.
The group has standard WiFi service as well as a flatbed scanner and printers.
The IT Group’s Saturday sessions will have a more advanced focus, starting mainly with processing of digital images – whether from camera or phone. As with the Wednesday classes, these sessions will be based on an open-source app – GIMP, which is a realistic alternative to the astronomically-priced Adobe Photoshop. Again, free download will be provided.
There is a suite of Windows 10 laptops (the group will discuss the need – or otherwise – to upgrade to Windows 11) for users or folks are welcome to bring their own. If these are Apple laptops, GIMP is compatible with these – as it is with Linux distros too.
Lessons take place:
- Wednesdays, 10.00am to 11.30am, starting 4th January for five weeks. £30.00 total.
- Saturdays, 2:00pm to 3:30pm, starting 7th January for five weeks. £40.00 total.
All classes start with a Gardener’s question time which allows members to set the agenda for each lesson.
If any of the above is of interest or you’d like to book your place, contact Greg on 01777 700918 or clarboroughwelham@gmail.com.