Expand+The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vo...

Hide-The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vocational Education Committees and provides a special range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people.

The aims of the scheme are:
- to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop their employability

- to prepare people to go into paid employment or on to further opportunities leading to paid employment

Expand+Education: Applicants should have a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Level 4 when accessing a Level 5 programme. Applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education although no formal qualifications are r...

Hide-Education: Applicants should have a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Level 4 when accessing a Level 5 programme. Applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education although no formal qualifications are required.

Aptitude: Applicants must have a motivation to learn, an interest in the subject and the ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies set out in the course.

Previous Experience: Applicants must be able to demonstrate a moderate range of knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to the course, be able to work with responsibility and demonstrate the ability to work on their own initiative.

Expand+Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Science.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for ...

Hide-Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Science.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for credits for at least 6 months*.

Also, the course must be provided or approved by the local VEC for the purposes of the VTOS scheme.

A limited number of places are available to persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, Widow's/Widower's Contributory/Non Contributory Pension and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance and to qualified spouses/partners of persons eligible to participate in VTOS.

Periods spent on VTOS, FS training schemes, Community Employment, Job Initiative, Youthreach or time in prison can count towards the 6 month qualifying period.

Expand+Purpose
The purpose of this award is to enable the learner to acquire computer and business skills for work in an administrative/accounts role or to progress to further/higher education.

Programme Aim
The aim of this programme is to enable the ...

Hide-Purpose
The purpose of this award is to enable the learner to acquire computer and business skills for work in an administrative/accounts role or to progress to further/higher education.

Programme Aim
The aim of this programme is to enable the learner to acquire the knowledge, skill and competence in the area of Business Administration in order to work a range of office administration contexts and or to progress to higher education and training. work independently and under supervision

Participants will obtain solid practical experience in using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook. Students will also gain practical experience of employment preparation through creating and updating their CV and interview simulations. At the end of this course they will be qualified to obtain positions in professional, financial and public sector employment.

Computer applications including:
•Microsoft Office including Word, Excel Spreadsheet, Access Database, PowerPoint, Publisher
•Digital Media (developing materials including images, sound and video, for use in the creation of web pages/online publications)
•Internet and Web Design
•ECDL

Business Administration including:
•Different types of business organisations, e.g. sole trader, companies, etc.
•Financial Controls e.g. cashflows, break-even charts, quality controls, hygiene standards etc.
•Insurance and risk management
•Maintaining Business Documentation, to include business correspondence e.g. contracts, business letters etc.
•Preparing for Business Meetings to include Documentation required
•Administration & Accounting Duties including Functions of an Office

Book-Keeping Manual & Computerised includes:
•Complete the books of first entry with appropriate VAT and departmental analysis from the information contained in a range of source documents to include; invoices, credit notes, bank records, petty cash vouchers
•Post the information from the daybooks to the appropriate accounts in the ledgers
•Extract a trial balance at the end of an accounting period
•Prepare a Bank Reconciliation Statement from data supplied
•Prepare the end-of-period VAT Return in accordance with the requirements of the Revenue Commissioners

Payroll Manual & Computerised includes:
•Process the payroll for employee(s), using manual and computerised systems, under the cumulative tax system, to include various elements of gross pay, holidays, unpaid leave, cut-off points, credits, all statutory and non-statutory deductions
•Extract information from completed records to prepare all necessary end-of-period and year-end returns and tax forms for the Revenue Commissioners

Communications Studies:
Research and writing skills as well as preparation and practice of public speaking with confidence whilst developing their negotiation skills.
This module also provides the communication skills needed to work on frontline customer relations and examines ways in which Social Media is used in the business environment.

In the area of Work Experience students will develop career planning skills such as:
•Preparation of Curriculum Vitae and Letter of Application
•Assessment of Career Goals/ and techniques for achieving these goals
•Interview Preparation and Simulation
•Research of and Participation in Suitable Work Experience

Expand+After completing this course you will be equipped to work in a variety of office settings.

Job Opportunities:
Clerical/Administrative/Front Office/Reception/Personal/Executive Assistant. Roles may involves tasks from entry level, (such as answeri...

Hide-After completing this course you will be equipped to work in a variety of office settings.

Job Opportunities:
Clerical/Administrative/Front Office/Reception/Personal/Executive Assistant. Roles may involves tasks from entry level, (such as answering the phone, typing and word processing, maintaining customer accounts, website updating, sorting post and email as well as maintaining computer and manual filing systems, responding to senior staff requests, dealing with customers by telephone and in person, both under supervision and independently), to scheduling meetings, producing reports for management meetings as well as overseeing other members of staff.