Take the first step towards a career in digital!  

The ELATT Open Day will tell you all you need to know about studying at ELATT.
Sign up now for a packed day including:

• A tour of the ELATT training centre - see our state of the art equipment and facilities in real life
• Meet the team - meet our friendly teachers and support staff and find out all you want to know about our courses.
• Course tasters - try out your hand at a range of IT subjects, from Web Design to Digital Media!
• Meet our alumni - meet ELATT graduates and find out why you should study at ELATT and what our alumni are doing now. 

 To sign up complete this simple registration form

Why ELATT? 

ELATT is an award-winning training provider made up of a dynamic group of people. Graded Outstanding by Ofsted, we are here to help our students realise their potential in all aspects of learning, life, work and wellbeing. We provide FREE courses to over 1,000 Londoners each year, Londoners who improve their skills and move into new and better jobs.

Choose ELATT for:

• Cutting edge curriculum and digital skills
• Online and in-person learning options
• A personalised timetable to meet your individual needs, including assistive technology and equipment loans
• Small class sizes, with an average of ten students per course.
• A supportive, safe and friendly environment
• Jobsearch and careers advice

5 reasons you should study at ELATT

Find out more about our courses:

Our Courses

Find out more about Our Training and how our Learning Model puts you at the centre of everything we do:

Our TrainingOur Learning Model

Meet our graduates who have gone on to successful careers across a range of digital fields:

Our Graduates

Three sixth form students were lucky enough to visit the offices of URBN, the group behind Free People, Anthropolgie and Urban Outfitters, located in Brick Lane.
Students visited various departments and learned about the process of buying, sustainablity and ethical fashion.

Sixth form student Michael wrote:
URBN looked more like a warehouse than an office. We got lots of free stuff and snacks before having a tour from Michael. The first place we went to was where the designers designed the clothes and logos etc. The head designer showed us a slideshow of some designs and then a woman came up and did the same, except her designs were clothes and furniture and his were logos. The people in there gave us all a free bright orange bag and then Michael took us upstairs to the next people.

The second place we went was this big room that sort of looked like a warehouse. We learned that they took old and vintage clothes and altered them a bit then resold them. We learned about the benefits of this for the environment and the importance of fair trade in fashion.

Everyone at URBN was really nice and helpful and I learned a lot. I thought it was really funny that people could bring their dog to work at the office!

ELATT are always looking for employers who would like to support our student with workplace visits & work placements. If you’d like to support our students please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On 14th July 2021 over 200 ELATT students, staff, funders and volunteers joined the annual Student Celebration event focussed this year on ‘Reaching your goals’, held online for the second year. The event kicked off with the highlights from each department, including many students moving on to volunteering, paid work or further education and almost 150 devices provided to students to bridge the digital divide, including 90 laptops, 23 tablets, 23 smartphones and 10 Wi-Fi boxes. 

Next, attendees broke into groups to discuss their goals and where they hope in be in 5 years' time. After reflecting on this, Lena Kay, international transformation coach, shared her story from being a child refugee from Kurdistan, growing up in London, excelling in management before having a breakdown and reaching rock bottom. She transformed her life and got off medication and benefits, now living in the USA and empowering others. To get a feel of the talk and her tips, you can find her Tedx Talk here. 

Following Lena’s inspiring talk, attendees were treated to the premiere of a film showcasing Sixth Form’s recent Community Action Anti-Homelessness Project, produced by Odd Eyes Theatre. The video can be viewed on Youtube and you can read more on the Learning Community blog. 

Staff, students and volunteers commented on the inspiring talk from Lena, practical tips they will implement going forward and on the hard work and dedication of the Community Action project. We wish everybody a lovely summer break and look forward to returning in September! 

Volunteer Testimonials

This Volunteers' Week we'd like to thank our volunteers and share their stories. We have had over 55 volunteers this year and their support for our students is so important to our excellent student satisfaction and success rates. Volunteers have been vital during our live, tutor-led online lessons during the pandemic. Volunteer TA's provide essential support to those in need of additional tech support whilst the teacher continues the live lesson, ensuring no one is left behind whilst we've been locked down.

Read on to hear what ELATT volunteers have to say about their experience...

I started volunteering with ELATT after I found myself jobless during the pandemic in 2020. I’ve loved having the opportunity to help others, and meet new people whilst developing my skills and knowledge, and supporting a fantastic charity! The team are so flexible and accommodating, and the training is great plus there are a range of ways you can get involved; I initially planned to support the admin team as this is where my work experience lies, but instead decided I’d try my hand at being a teaching assistant in the virtual ESOL classes and loved every minute! My time volunteering with ELATT has opened so many doors and given me the confidence to pursue a new career in Speech and Language Therapy. I would encourage anyone considering volunteering with ELATT to go for it - it has been an absolute game changer for me!
- Robyn, volunteer ESOL TA in 2020

I had the opportunity to do volunteer work in two ways for Elatt. I assisted my teacher in the creation of some digital materials (forms) and also as an assistant in a group of beginners. It was an experience that allowed me to learn a lot. It was amazing to meet people from different parts of the world, with so many different stories and a lot of willpower to be there. It was definitely inspiring! I recommend it to everyone who has a little time. It will be an incredible experience for you and will help others! Thank you Elatt for the opportunity!
- Juliana, volunteer Teaching Assistant

I have been a volunteer teaching assistant since July 2020 and I am half way through my third term of teaching alongside the main ESOL teacher. The best thing about volunteering for me is simply the time you get to spend having conversations with people that I would never get the opportunity to interact with otherwise. I have met numerous different people all from different backgrounds and cultures and I have learned so much about each individual one. I have gained so much confidence in not only speaking to new people but in my own teaching ability. When I started I found it difficult to know what to say to students and now I am happy to take control of a lesson if I need to and guide the students in the right direction effectively. This is what I found challenging in the beginning. It is hard to know what questions to ask students and how to relate to them when they speak little English but I have learned that a friendly face and smile can go a long way. I would definitely recommend volunteering and teaching to others whether it be to develop your own career or to fill some spare time as you will get as much out of it as the students do from your help.
- Rose, volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistant

My experience as a student and then as a volunteer at ELATT has been the most precious time in my education. ELATT gave me the opportunity to volunteer as a teaching assistant. I have met many teachers here who made a good impact in my life, the staff are kind and always happy to help in any way they can. After my time at ELATT, I had the opportunity to get a job and improve myself in many areas.
- Margarita, volunteer Teaching Assistant

On 19th June ELATT, Action West London, Train 2 Work and GOSAD hosted the annual Working West London Employer Event, online for the first time. The two-hour event included a workshop and panel discussion about Refugee Employment.

Over 30 attendees joined the webinar, which kicked off with an introduction from Mohammed, a participant from Sudan who previously worked in Law before coming to the UK. ELATT helped with his UCAS application and he’s just finished his second year at University to become a lawyer in the UK.

Musharaf and Catalina from Action West London delivered an inspiring presentation on the topic of ‘The Job Market Post Lockdown’, packed with helpful advice about which sectors are still hiring throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Tips included those interested in customer service could look for roles as Social Distancing Ambassadors, and that sectors such as logistics, couriers and care are all busy hiring to meet increased demand. Musharaf highlighted that to be successful in the current job market, you need to stand out, and gave practical advice including: online training via providers such as ELATT and Action West London; upskilling and enhancing knowledge; tailoring your CV and really dedicating time to the job search. With the advent of homeworking, there could be ideal opportunities for those in need of flexible roles, such as parents and those with caring responsibilities.

A panel discussion followed, led by Dr Nafisah Graham-Brown and joined by Dalila Arafa, a refugee participant from one of our Working West London project partners, Action West London, who worked in logistics and civil transportation in her home country; Joanne Thomas, EMEA Recruiting Lead from Oliver Wyman who is working on a placement programme with Transitions; Fahira Mulamehic, Employment Programmes Manager, Refugee Council; and Debbie Viner, Interim Executive Director of People and Learning, British Red Cross. We were also delighted to be joined by Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing and Southall.

@VirendraSharma
I spoke at an important event addressing refugee employment with @BritishRedCross, @refugeecouncil , @elattlondon and @OliverWyman. Thank you for your valuable insight on the barriers faced by refugees today. I look forward to working with you all in the future. #RefugeeWeek

The panel discussed their challenges and successes of supporting refugees into work and employing refugee individuals including the misconceptions around the right to work in the UK. All the employers agreed their organisations had benefitted from hiring from a larger talent pool, including refugee individuals, as their workforce was enriched by the diverse life experience of these individuals. Attendees shared their thoughts using the online chat function, including comments such as “what a fantastic initiative (from Oliver Wyman). So inspiring to hear such sincerity at the core of your corporate endeavours to support and value refugee potential” and “an excellent point that Virendra mentioned. It's one of the main barriers- that employers don't recognise refugees right to work. We are/have been hearing it from refugees on a regular basis unfortunately, over the years.” Thank you to all the panelists who really highlighted the importance of fair hiring practices and education and support for employers, including partnerships with organisations such as ELATT and Action West London.

We are delighted that so many joined us and the excellent feedback we received, that attendees came away with useful tips and felt inspired. If you’d like to keep up to date with what we’re up to and future events, please click here to join our mailing list.

We’re also so proud to announce that our Working West London Team have been shortlisted for Team of the Year at the ERSA Employability Awards 2020. Well done to all the team!

Can you help us close the opportunity gap in London?

Our vision is a London where everyone can flourish in their lives, no matter their age, background or circumstances.  When it comes to learning, we’ve got it covered, but our students tell us that the missing link to help them progress is work experience.

A former student Georgia explained the value of doing a work placement:

‘During my time at ELATT I secured two work placements where I learnt extensive skills in the business administration sector and also how to be part of a working environment, which I lacked experience in until now. I also achieved multiple qualifications as well as gaining experience that will help me in the future.’

Ready for Industry

Our students are so passionate about gaining these opportunities that they have created a campaign with Citizens UK to raise this need amongst businesses in East London.  Here they are campaigning for work experience opportunities in the Olympic Park, Stratford.

We want to help our students find opportunities in tech, corporate, education and a range of other environments to enable them to develop their practical skills and apply what they are learning in class.

The ELATT learning community is made up of a diverse range of students including young people with autism and learning difficulties, refugees and migrants and adults returning to work. Our students study Business, IT, Web design, Media, English and Maths and take part in a wide variety of extra-curricular and community activities.

Hear from Freddie

‘The young people at ELATT have diverse and often complex needs. We also know that we do not yet have the skills and confidence to navigate the system and access the support that we need. While the urgency to work becomes ever greater in an environment of high youth unemployment in East London...We want a mentor to support us.’

In this video our Digital Media Production student Freddie tells you about his current studies, his hopes for the future, and why mentoring and experience will make all the difference to him.

How you can help:

We know that the first step towards employment is the hardest: with no recent work experience, only 30% of our students get into work.  But once they have experience, 80% of our students move into employment.  Be part of this change: our Industry Partners support us by offering mentoring, work experience and work placements to our talented and dedicated students. Work experience could be for 1 or 2 weeks or for 1 day a week over 3 months – this can be tailored to what suits your company.

Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you think you can help or to suggest other organisations you know who may be able to offer work experience of any duration to our students.

ELATT loves its newest Industry Partner Second Home!

Read all about our work together here: 

Second Home's Blog Page

4th July, 8.30 a.m. at techUK

If you’re having trouble spending your Apprenticeship Levy, you are not alone. Only 8% of the Apprenticeship Levy taken from businesses this year has been spent on apprenticeship training.
The downside is, any funding that remains in your National Apprenticeship Service accounts after 24 months (i.e. after 6 April 2019) will expire.
This is why we’ve put together a FREE breakfast seminar designed for people who are responsible for allocating their company’s Apprenticeship Levy.

Join Our Free Breakfast Seminar

By attending the seminar, you will learn about how other companies have engaged with apprenticeships through case studies and how you can embed an apprenticeship strategy into your company’s existing recruitment and training plans.

The Seminar Includes:
1. Brief Overview of Apprenticeships and the Levy
2. Incentives: Government assistance and added incentives to help you get the most out of your Levy
3. Looking ahead: Writing an Apprenticeship Strategy that can be embedded into your existing recruitment, learning and development strategies. Case Studies of different approaches that other employers have used
4. Diverse Workforce: Using apprenticeships to diversify your workforce
5. Logistics: Step by step guide to the process

Date: 4th July 2018
Time: 8.30am-10.00am
Location: techUK, 10 St Bride St, London, EC4A 4AD

As there are only a limited number of spaces available, it’d be great to know if you’d be interested in attending, but in the meantime please don’t hesitate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like any further information.

More about ELATT

ELATT is an education charity based in Hackney, East London, that has helped disadvantaged Londoners move into technology jobs for more than 30 years.

Watch a brief introduction to ELATT Read our Impact Report

We had our Capability workshop on Thursday 7th December 2017 at 10am-12pm at Simple Gifts, 117 Mansford St, Basement Suite, London E1 6LX.
We had the opportunity to try out some amazing experiences in activities. The activities included:

• Massaging Henna
• Guitar Playing
• Makeup
• Hair Styling
• Sewing
• Nail Art
• Mini Facials
• Language Exchange

That day we enjoyed all available activities .We think the workshop is a very good idea because some people have chance to practise and learn something different ,so for example we learn how to play guitar that was very interesting and finding out how to play on the guitar was very relaxing and also we find the Massaging was very popular so we think all people like to relax.

We learnt something new as well like henna. It was first time we have chance to see how it works.

We think that all activities was very important because all students get some new knowledge and have chance to learn new skills also that excellent time to practice English , speaking with people from the community, making friends and it was very nice to see all have chat and discuss about everything.

We are looking forward for next Capability Workshop.

By Magdalena, Anette and Shugui | E3 HACKNEY EQUAL VOICES 3508

Read more interesting stories

ELATT, East London’s only Grade 1 FE provider, welcomed the Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, to their newly-renovated Hackney learning centre today. In her first formal engagement since last week’s reshuffle, the Minister met ELATT staff and students studying a variety of career pathways.

Chief Executive, Anthony, who is also shortlisted for this year’s TES Awards FE Leader of the Year, said:

“We were delighted to welcome the Minister to ELATT to see staff and students in action, and to discuss the importance of our work supporting adult returners and young people who have benefited from the 1:1 support and personal touch we offer.
“It was a great for the Minister to hear first-hand from students about the challenges they face when entering or returning to FE, and our staff really appreciated the chance to convey their views in person to the Minister. It was a pleasure as a specialist provider to share our experiences with the Minister and offer insights into our day-to-day operations; from meeting individual needs to organisational planning processes.”

Pascale, an adult returner studying a Business Administration course, said:

“I was impressed that a minister would take time out of her busy schedule to visit a training centre like ELATT, she seemed genuinely interested in my journey, not least the difficulties of raising three disabled children whilst learning. ELATT plays a very important role in my community, and I hope they keep doing their good work training people like me and helping us re-enter the workforce with confidence after a long period out of work.”

 Janet Usoro, Student Support Coordinator, a former ELATT student, said:

“I enjoyed the Minister’s visit and it was great to hear her own history as a nurse in my community and experiences of working in Hackney. It was an opportunity to tell the Minister about how ELATT has helped me and students here. The 1:1 support I received inspired me to do the same for students and come back as a Student Support Coordinator.
“The Minister was very interested in my educational journey with ELATT and life as a single mother. In fact she gave me a very helpful tip about the media apprenticeship degree programme at the BBC, which I’ll definitely be looking up for my daughter. Discussing my journey face-to-face with the Minister, and the work I now do supporting students, was a brilliant way to the start the week!”

Skills Minister, Anne Milton said: 

“I was hugely impressed by what I saw at ELATT and to hear first-hand from students about how their lives have been turned round by the education they have received at ELATT.
“Regardless of your circumstances, it is never too late to unlock your potential through education and training. The students and dedicated staff I met at ELATT are a testament to that.  
“It is vital that we encourage more people to seize the opportunity to learn throughout their lives, which will help us to build the skilled workforce our economy needs.
“I was so impressed with the determination and passion of all the staff and learners. Well done to them all.”