Communication Skills Course
Say what you mean, hear what people are telling you, and handle the conversations most people avoid.
14-day money back · Pay once, no subscription
Communication Skills Course
You can do a communication skills course online in the UK with Lift College's Communication Skills Course. It is 3 hours of learning in 6 short modules, covering how communication works and where it breaks down, active listening and questioning, speaking and writing clearly, body language and tone, difficult conversations and feedback, and communicating so that everyone can take part, including people with a disability or whose first language is not English. It costs £19.99, pay once, and your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass. Lift College recommends a refresh every 3 years, and the refresher is free.
Most problems at work trace back to something that was not said, was said badly or was not heard. A handover that misses a detail, an email that reads as rude, a team member who did not understand the instruction and did not feel able to ask. Employers are expected to give staff the information and instruction they need to work safely, and to communicate in ways that do not put disabled people or anyone else at a disadvantage. Clear communication is also what customers, patients and colleagues remember about you.
This course covers the whole cycle of communication: what you want to say, how you say it, how it lands, and how you check. You learn to listen properly and ask good questions, to speak and write in plain words, to read and manage body language and tone, to plan and hold a difficult conversation, to give and receive feedback, and to adapt your communication so it is inclusive. It is written for team leaders, front-line staff, new starters, apprentices, people returning to work and anyone preparing for a management course across the UK.
- Explain how communication works, the common barriers and where messages break down at work
- Apply active listening and open questions to check you have understood
- Describe how to structure a spoken message or a piece of writing so it is clear and easy to act on
- Recognise what body language, tone and silence are telling you, and manage your own
- Plan and hold a difficult conversation, including giving and receiving feedback
- Identify when someone may need information in a different form and adapt your communication
- Apply plain English in emails, messages, notes and handovers
- Explain your employer's expectations on inclusive and respectful communication
6 short modules, 3 hours in total.
How communication works
Sender, message, channel and receiver. Verbal, non verbal and written communication. Common barriers at work: noise, jargon, assumptions, stress, hierarchy and culture, and why checking back matters.
Knowledge checkListening and questioning
Active listening, paraphrasing and summarising. Open, closed and probing questions. Giving people time, not interrupting, and how to listen when you disagree or are busy.
Knowledge checkSpeaking and writing clearly
Deciding what the other person needs to know, putting the main point first and using plain words. Emails, instant messages, handover notes and reports. Tone in writing and the mistakes that cause offence.
Knowledge checkBody language, tone and confidence
Posture, eye contact, gesture, facial expression and personal space. Pace, volume and tone of voice. Reading mixed signals, speaking up in meetings and presenting to a small group.
Knowledge checkDifficult conversations and feedback
Preparing for a conversation you have been avoiding. Staying calm, sticking to facts and behaviour, and agreeing what happens next. Giving feedback that helps and receiving it without defensiveness. When to escalate.
Knowledge checkInclusive communication
Communicating with people who are deaf or have a visual impairment, learning disability, autism or dyslexia, and with people whose first language is not English. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010, accessible formats, interpreters and respectful language.
Knowledge checkFinal test and your certificate
Multiple choice, 80% to pass, unlimited attempts. Your CPD certificate is issued by Lift College the day you pass.
This course is for you if
- You lead a team or are about to, and want to brief, listen and give feedback well
- You deal with customers, patients, residents or the public every day
- You are a new starter, an apprentice or returning to work after a break
- You are preparing for a management or supervisory course and want the basics in place first
- You have been told your emails, handovers or meetings could be clearer
Your CPD certificate, issued the day you pass.
Your certificate records that you completed Communication Skills Course with Lift College. It shows 3 hours of learning, your completion date and a recommended refresh date 3 years on.
- One price, £19.99. One payment, one learner, no subscription.
- Short modules with a knowledge check after each one and a final test. Instant results.
- 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
- A CPD certificate issued by Lift College as a PDF the same day you pass, with a unique number and a verification link.
- Access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years from the day you buy.
- A free refresher when your recommended refresh date arrives. Changed your mind? Ask within 14 days of paying and we refund you in full.
CPD certificate
liftcollege.co.uk/verify/LC-CPD-000000The law this course supports
Equality Act 2010
Applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Employers and service providers must not discriminate because of a protected characteristic such as disability, race, age or sex, and must make reasonable adjustments so disabled people are not at a disadvantage, which includes how information is communicated. Northern Ireland has separate equality law, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Read the legislation →Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Applies in England, Wales and Scotland. Section 2 requires employers to provide the information, instruction, training and supervision needed to keep employees safe, so far as is reasonably practicable, which depends on that information being communicated clearly. Northern Ireland has the same duty in the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.
Read the legislation →Acas guidance on communication at work
Acas is the public body that gives employers and employees in England, Scotland and Wales free advice on workplace relations. Its guidance on communication, consultation, feedback and handling difficult conversations is not law, but tribunals and employers treat it as the standard of good practice. In Northern Ireland the equivalent body is the Labour Relations Agency.
Read the legislation →£19.99. Pay once, nothing added.
One payment for one learner. You keep access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years. Changed your mind? Ask within 14 days and we refund you in full.
- PaySecure card payment, one time only.
- Sign inYour learner account is ready straight away.
- StartBegin module 1 the same minute.
Free refresher when it is due
We recommend a refresh every 3 years. We email you 30 days before, and from the refresh date you can retake the latest version free and download a new certificate.
Buying Communication Skills Course for a team?
Open a free organisation account, buy places and give each person their own login. Your first place is free with a work email, and the price falls the more places you buy.
Multiple enrolment discounts
The price of a place is set by the places in one order, on this course or any mix of our CPD courses. Saving against the £19.99 single place.
| Places in one order | Price a place | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| Your first place | £0 | Free with a work email |
| 1 to 9 places | £16.99 | 15% off |
| 10 to 49 | £14.99 | 25% off |
| 50 to 99 | £12.99 | 35% off |
| 100 to 249 | £10.99 | 45% off |
| 250 or more | £9.99 | 50% off |
What would your team cost?
Training each person on several courses? A sector pack or the annual plan can cost less. Your quote compares all three for you.
Prefer to talk first? Request a call back
- 1
Your own training portal in 2 minutes
Open a free account with your work email. No sales call, and your first place is free.
- 2
See where everyone stands
A progress dashboard, a training matrix and an Excel progress report for your records.
- 3
Reminders sent for you
Welcome emails, nudges for anyone who stalls, and refresher dates so nobody goes out of date.
- 4
Pay by card or invoice
Card, or invoice on 30-day terms with your PO. Places stay valid for 3 years.
- 5
A human tutor with every course
Real tutor support for your staff, unlimited free retakes and a certificate the day they pass.
- 6
CPD Standards Office accreditation in progress
Provider 51289.
What our learners say
Stories from Lift College learners on our qualifications, in their own words.
“I had been a care assistant for four years without a formal qualification. Lift College made the whole process straightforward, my assessor visited regularly and I completed my Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care in just over a year. I was promoted to senior care worker the month after I qualified.”
“My employer was clear, I needed GCSE English to move into a supervisory role. Lift College helped me find the right exam board and an exam centre five minutes from home. Passed grade 4. Got the promotion.”
“My employer needed me to have Level 2 maths before they could register me on the Level 3 apprenticeship programme. Lift College was fast, the tutor was brilliant, and I resit my maths once after a near-miss and passed the second time. The whole thing took twelve weeks.”
Questions about Communication Skills Course
Is an online communication skills course worth having on my CV?
Communication is one of the skills employers ask for most often, and a certificate shows you have taken it seriously rather than assuming you are good at it. Your CPD certificate issued by Lift College records the course, 3 hours of learning and your completion date, with a verification link. It is a CPD course, not a regulated qualification.
Who needs a communication skills course?
Anyone whose job depends on being understood: team leaders, front-line staff, people who write emails and handover notes, new starters and apprentices, and people returning to work after a break. It is also a sensible first step before a management or supervisory course. Your employer may ask for it as part of induction or a development plan.
How often should I refresh communication skills training?
There is no legal interval. Habits drift, teams change and new channels arrive, so Lift College recommends refreshing every 3 years, and the refresher is free. Refresh sooner if you move into a role that involves leading people or handling complaints.
What does this course not cover?
It does not teach presentation skills for large audiences, public speaking, media training, British Sign Language or a foreign language. It covers how to communicate inclusively with disabled colleagues and customers, but it is not a substitute for your employer's own equality training. Physical de-escalation and restraint are not covered; see our conflict resolution course for the non physical side of that.
How do I prepare for a difficult conversation at work?
Module 5 gives you a simple structure: decide the outcome you want, pick a private time and place, open with the facts and the behaviour rather than the person, listen to their side, and agree what happens next and when you will check in. Writing a few notes beforehand and expecting some pushback keeps you calm. The course also covers when a conversation should be passed to a manager or HR instead.
How long do I keep access?
You keep your access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years from the day you buy. Your certificate PDF is yours to keep.
What is the free refresher?
Lift College recommends refreshing this course every 3 years. When your date comes round, you can retake the latest version free and get a new certificate. We email you 30 days before.
Does it count towards my CPD?
Yes. The course is 3 hours of learning, shown on your CPD certificate issued by Lift College, so you can log the hours in your CPD record.
Can I get my money back?
Yes. Ask within 14 days of paying and we refund you in full.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. Your receipt shows the course, the date and the amount paid, and you can pass it to your employer. Buying for a team? Open a free organisation account: every course is £16.99, and you can pay by card or invoice with your PO.
Can my team do this course in another language?
Yes, on an organisation account with 10 or more places. Your team can study Communication Skills Course in Polish, Romanian, Punjabi, Urdu or Welsh, prepared within 1 working day of your order. The final test and the certificate stay in the English course name, so the certificate is the one every employer recognises. Tell us the languages you need when you order or ask for a quote.
Where can I do a communication skills course online in the UK?
Lift College offers the Communication Skills Course online for £19.99, pay once. It is 3 hours of learning in 6 short modules, written for workplaces across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass.
How long does an online communication skills course take?
The Communication Skills Course is 3 hours of learning in 6 short modules, each with a knowledge check. You can finish it in one sitting or across several and pick up where you left off on any device. The final test needs 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
How much does the Communication Skills Course cost online?
Lift College's Communication Skills Course is £19.99, pay once, with no subscription. Training a team? It is £16.99 a course on a free organisation account.
How is the Communication Skills Course assessed?
By a short knowledge check after each of the 6 modules and a final test. You need 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes, and your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass.
Can I start the Communication Skills Course today?
Yes. You start the moment you pay, on any device, and you can finish the 3 hours of learning in one sitting or across several. Your CPD certificate issued by Lift College is ready the same day you pass. Buying for a team? Open a free organisation account.
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