Barney Thom

Unemployed people qualify for free courses, which can be very beneficial, especially during a recession. As the unemployment figures in the UK are increasing every day with businesses going into administration and companies becoming unable to afford to keep people in work, the amount of unemployed people coming forward to learn new skills is increasing too.

Many different people of all different backgrounds and ethnic origins take up courses such as proofreading and editing to improve their CV's and to help them get an immaculate grasp of the English language.

Some say that proofreading is one of the best skills you can have in terms of adding value to your CV and increasing your employability and to impress your superiors in the work place!

A lot of people who do proofreading courses over the years say how the course completely changed the way they look at text. They find themselves finding errors when they're not even looking for them – on restaurant menus, newspapers, advertisements, you name it!

A lot of people drift into proofreading careers like Pete Curling did. Pete, 45, was an avid reader, but found he often noticed errors as he read. He felt he had a ‘hidden talent', and so he signed up to a proofreading course.

Freelance journalists (as well as employed ones) have to be comfortable operating across multiple platforms these days, so it's best to have a basic understanding of what's required. But starting with the basics, what actually are ‘multiple platforms'? It's not as high-tech as it sounds.

One way to earn that much-needed extra money during difficult economic times is to see if you can capitalise on your existing talents. For instance, some people are good writing letters, and can earn some pocket money helping other people to pen letters of complaints to companies or organisations.

More companies are discovering the importance of having someone with proofreading skills in their office – no matter what kind of business they are. Most businesses are publishers as well these days – they publish reports, brochures, web pages, newsletters and a whole range of things that used to be done by ‘the printers.'

When experienced project manager Laura Conard decided to try distance learning for the first time, she did not expect to get much out of it. Laura had studied in many other different ways, including college, university and in-house courses, and was not sure distance learning was for her. She liked being part of a class and wondered what it would be like working on her own.

A French woman managed to complete a proofreading course – in English! Mary Etherington, took up the challenge to supplement her income from running an English school for children.