FREE places on a range of short courses are being offered by Queen Margaret University (QMU) at Musselburgh.

They have been funded by the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council’s Upskilling Fund to support Scotland’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Available from this month and with no need to have qualifications in the subject area, free places are available to anyone living in Scotland over the age of 25 who is either: unemployed, at risk of redundancy or in a job that is under threat because of Covid-19 or the economic impact of EU exit; self-employed and working within the creative and cultural industries or hospitality, tourism and events sector; employed by a Scottish arts, cultural, education, hospitality, tourism or events organisation; or employed by a Scottish charity or social enterprise whose work contributes to Scotland’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The credit-bearing courses will be taught via a blend of online lectures, self-directed learning and in-person class-based practical workshops delivered at the university’s Musselburgh campus.

Professor David Stevenson, dean of arts, social sciences and management at QMU, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this range of new short courses.

“The free places provided by the Scottish Funding Council’s Upskilling fund mean that we can support those working in some of the sectors where employment was most significantly impacted by the pandemic to develop new skills and enhance their employability.”

The courses are: Introduction to Film Education, which starts in February (apply by Thursday, January 20); Evaluating Arts and Cultural Projects, which starts in January (apply by Thursday, January 6); Fundraising, Development and Finance which starts in January (apply by Thursday, January 6); Entrepreneurial Finance which starts in March (apply by Wednesday, February 16); and Sustainable and Safe Event Management, which starts in March (apply by Monday, February 14). Further short courses with a spring 2022 start date will be announced in due course.

For more information, go to qmu.ac.uk/study-here/continuing-professional-development-cpd-courses/arts-social-sciences-and-management-short-courses