"An Hour to Skill" is a new campaign driven by the UK government to help boost the skills and job prospects of the nation. Its aim is to inspire people to set aside one hour a week for online learning by taking free courses from The Skills Toolkit. Open to everyone regardless of the stage of their career, these courses aim to help individuals progress in their current role or develop skills that employers are looking for.

There are over 70 high-quality courses included in the Toolkit that can be accessed whenever needed, allowing people to learn at a time and pace that suits them best. Virtual College are providing a number of their Personal and Professional Development courses, including Resilience, Dealing with Stressful Situations, and Growth Mindset.

The Skills Toolkit is part of the government's Plan for Jobs concept and aims to help lift the UK economy as it recovers from the impact of Covid-19.

Hannah Brindle, Manager Director at Virtual College, comments, "We have always believed in the power of learning and the positive impact it can have on people's lives - both personally and professionally, so we are thrilled to be part of such an important initiative. Now more than ever, we need to feel a sense of control over some aspect of our lives and our futures. Keeping our minds optimistic, curious, and open to learning new things is a great way to keep positive".

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan, said, "I'm delighted to launch An Hour to Skill and thank all of the great organisations that have joined forces to help boost the nation's skills and job prospects at such an important time for our economy. Progressing your learning doesn't have to be a mammoth task - spending just one hour a week on a free online course can make a real difference to your earning potential. We're confident that learning through The Skills Toolkit can give you the skills employers are looking for."