THE New Year dawns - bringing with it new opportunities in the workplace.

For those looking for a change of career in 2007, or who want to get back into work, there are all kinds of training opportunities now available.

* Kirklees has an abundance of learning providers and many of these providers deliver government funded training.

Any such training provider normally has a rigorous quality inspection from an appropriate body. In some cases it may be OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) and in some cases in may be ALI (Adult Learning Inspectorate).

Both of these organisations produce in-depth reports on learning providers that can be accessed through their websites.

Kirklees residents can be very proud of their training providers because most have good reports.

In one case there is an exception. One of these providers is outstanding and the very best in the UK. Direct Training Ltd. based in Huddersfield and Dewsbury has the very highest pedigree ever achieved by a Jobcentre plus provider.

This local company was awarded two grade 1's in its last inspection, a standard yet to be surpassed by any other local provider.

Within the ALI report on Direct Training are quotes referring to the outstanding facilities available, the excellent qualified and caring staff as well as the marvellous achievements made by the learners.

Direct Training is always striving to offer value and quality, currently refurbishing its IT suites to offer the most up to date (2007) software for its new programmes.

Their latest 'Horizons' programme is completely free and aims to help recipients of Incapacity Benefit improve their life style by developing their computer knowledge and luckily for some, there are vacancies available right up until the end of 2007.

* Huddersfield Technical College will be staging three evening events so that prospective students can find out what courses are available and obtain valuable careers guidance.

Tutors will be on hand to give advice and information and visitors will be invited to take a look at the colleges' facilities.

Whatever your circumstances you can go along and find out about the wide range of courses on offer which range from art to information technology. You can choose from GCSEs, AS & A2 Levels, NVQs, GNVQs, BTEC Firsts and Nationals, HNDs, training courses and apprenticeship schemes.

Huddersfield Technical College will open its doors on Wednesday January 17, Thursday January 25 and Wednesday January 30 from 6pm until 8pm.

Chris Sadler, Principal, said: "Open Evenings are the best way to find out about the types of courses we offer. They also provide the perfect opportunity to take a look at facilities and speak to both staff and students. You will come away with some valuable information and guidance and the assurance that we can bring out the educational best in everyone."

For more information call the College on Freephone 0500 162100 or go to www.huddcoll.ac.uk

* Learner Driver Training Centres Ltd operates a fully operational driving school and has been since 1972.

We offer a wide and flexible range of driving instrcutor courses, each course is tailored to suit the individual, so if you are in employment and you wish to train at the same time or you want to get into teaching learners quicker then we have the course for you.

With us you can start teaching on a Trainee Licence, after you have passed your part two driving test and received your 40 hrs training you can then teach learners to drive. We can pay you an hourly rate or you can use your own car and charge from £20 to £22 per hour.

Most training establishments simply teach you to become a driving instructor and then leave you to struggle against the competition, "at Learner Driver Training Centres we Guarantee that you will be established in your home town".

* If you are unemployed or employed and want to train in childcare, social care, customer service or retail give us a call at A&R Training Services on 01484 429 359 and we may be able to help you via a fully funded or part funded training programme.

We have been delivering training since 1992 and offer work based learning programmes, including NVQ levels 2 and 3 and Apprenticeship programmes.

We work with a range of people including unemployed young people who need help to decide what they want to do, and employed adults who need a qualification to further their career.

Our team are very experienced, offer a very supportive training environment and can help individuals to improve their prospects – training often leads to employment, achievement of a qualification, and also boosts confidence and drive to fulfil potential and build a better future.

Our learners' achievements have also gained recognition beyond A&R Training. In 2006 an A&R learner won the WYLP Calderdale & Kirklees Learner of the Year and in 2005 one of our learners won runner up Learner of the Year.

We really can make a difference so give us a call on 01484 429 359 for more information.

* The National Business College specialises in training for administration and customer service and has been listed as an exceptionally competent training provider by the Adult Learning Inspectorate.

NBC can assist companies by providing training for existing employees and this can be arranged either through attendance at the training centre or, for suitable companies, in house training and assessment is on offer.

People making a start on a career in administation would benefit from containg NBC to obtain details of the National Vocational Qualifications and frameworks available under the Apprenticeship and Train to Gain programmes funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

There is also a varied range of private courses available including ECDL and CLAIT. The training centre can provide opportunities to develop ICT skills or candidates can use their home computers and attend the training centre for the relevent tests.

National Business College is small enough to care about individual requirements and the experienced will work with you to ensure success. So why not get in touch as soon as possible and get your New Year off to a flying start?

* If you're thinking of doing an apprenticeship, then you need to know your options. There are three main options: entry to employment, apprenticeships (level two) and advanced apprenticeships (level three), says David Toulcher, Partnership Manager of West Yorkshire Learning Providers Ltd.

NVQ's stands for National Vocational Qualification which is available at levels one to five. There is a choice of over 800 NVQs across a broad spectrum of subjects and can be delivered within an apprenticeship at level 2 and an advanced apprenticeship at level 3. They assess skills knowlege and understanding in the workplace and are not tests, but assess competence at work.

Technical Certificates are the taught element of a job - and provides the theory to perform a job successfully. A certificate is given upon passing and these are often delivered in a training centre or colege.

Examples in an advanced apprenticeship are BTEC National and City & Guilds qualifications.

Key skills are formal qualifications and are delivered in communication, application of number, IT and personal skills.

These are set at different levels to suit individual jobs and the level of apprenticeship. Communcation and application of number are usually at level one for apprenticeships and level two in advanced apprenticeships.

For more information, contact David on 01274 730 919 or 01484 425 890. Take the plunge and organise a new career or training opportunity for 2007.