If you are looking to improve your English, Edinburgh has a large network of classes for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). These classes can help you improve your spoken and written English and some even offer a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ).
There are specific projects around the city that focus on English classes related to employability. Find details about these six projects below:
1. Community Renewal (Beginner, Intermediate)
Offers either an ESOL Beginner class or an Intermediate level class once per week during five months.
Beginners focus exclusively on foundational English and confidence-building, helping everyone to navigate local systems and access community resources safely. Intermediate progresses to work-focused English, preparing each individual for sustainable employment.
You will have your own Employability Caseworker to help you with issues like language, digital skills, welfare, housing, and integration into the community. You can also access volunteering opportunities.
2. Fresh Start (Beginner, Intermediate)
Delivers free English classes at three levels (zero English, Beginner, Intermediate) to New Scots and refugees living in the North West of Edinburgh.
You will develop confidence, improve your language and work-ready skills, also accessing volunteering roles across their Pantry, gardens, kitchen, or warehouse.
The programme also offers peer mentoring and community activities and you may also access services such as housing and benefit support and affordable food.
3. LINKnet (Intermediate, Advanced)
LINKnet’s English for Specific Purposes (ESP) project offers English classes at Intermediate to Advanced level with the aim of equipping learners with the language skills needed to secure and sustain employment. The specific focus is on the fields of care, social care, retail, admin and hospitality. Their classes run online twice a week and you can also access their speaking club (conversational cafe) each week.
You will improve your vocabulary in relation to job applications and CV, interviews and labour market culture.
To find out more, contact Dissa (Ranbandara Dissanayaka) at:
- Telephone: 0131 225 7970
- Email: volunteers@linknetmentoring.com
4. University of Edinburgh (Beginner)
The Centre for Open Learning at the University of Edinburgh offers classes at a beginner level:
- Beginners English for New Scots A1.1 (Oct-Dec 2026 and Jan-Mar 2027)
- Post-Beginners English for New Scots A1.2 (Apr-June 2026 and two more Jan-Mar 2027) with learners from Beginners courses.
Each course lasts ten weeks, meeting twice a week in the mornings for two hours at the University’s Holyrood Campus. You will develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through a variety of learning activities in class and at home through their online learning platform. You will also explore the local area, participate in guided tours and visit cultural institutions.
At the end of the course, you will achieve the equivalent of A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At this point, you will be able to join ESOL classes offered by other providers across the city.
If you would like to find out more, contact:
- Laura Nicolo Duenas, Course Coordinator for General English (languagesforall-english@ed.ac.uk)
- Jeannette Rissmann, Head of Languages for All (jeannette.rissmann@ed.ac.uk)
5. The Welcoming Association (Beginner, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate)
The Welcoming Association supports New Scots in Edinburgh with different English classes during the week.
Following completion of one or more of the workshops, you will get support to access education at college, with your digital skills or to access employment.
Register to join The Welcoming on their website, where you can also view the timetable of classes.
To find out more, you can email David at david@thewelcoming.org.
6. Space @ The Broomhouse Hub (Post Beginner, Intermediate)
The Skills for Success! project will support your English level to move into sustainable work and also developing essential workplace skills, such as teamwork, confidence in communicating and interview techniques.
This is a 10-week course that will run four times throughout 2026-27 and you will also access one-to-one support with a worker.
By the end of the course you will gain an accredited qualification in English language.
To find out more, you can contact them by email at ESOL@spacescot.org or at 0131 455 7731.
To have a look at the complete list of ESOL opportunities around the city, click at the link below:
