Discover
Try BSL. Learn on your own terms.
Start with your first signs or develop everyday BSL through flexible self-guided learning.
BSL First
From your first BSL sign to putting BSL first
Learn BSL, gain recognised qualifications, build a professional career, develop your practice or create better communication for your organisation.
BSL First brings learning, professional development and sign language solutions together in one specialist organisation — giving you a clear path from where you are now to where you want to go next.
One connected journey
Start where you are — and go where you need to next.
Five connected parts of BSL First, each with its own purpose and its own destination.
Learn
Gain fluency in BSL through recognised qualifications.
Progress through live taught BSL courses from Level 1 to Level 6.
Qualify
Make BSL a career choice.
Prepare for professional work in interpreting, translation and communication access.
Develop
Advance your professional practice.
Deepen your knowledge and prepare for more complex and specialist work.
Deliver
Be part of the solution.
Put specialist expertise into practice through interpreting, translation and joined-up communication solutions.
Find the right course or solution
Tell us what you want to achieve.
Tell us what you want to achieve and we’ll guide you towards the right BSL First course, pathway, cohort or solution.
Course & Solution Finder · AI interface
What would you like to achieve?
Type your goal, experience or communication need…
Development placeholder — final interface will use the shared BSL First AI knowledge and live course/cohort data.
Why BSL First
What makes BSL First different
Resources that support learning, specialist professional expertise and a joined-up approach that connects training, interpreting and translation.
Learning toolkit
Your course continues beyond the live class through connected learning, video, community, qualification and student-support platforms.
BSL dictionary
Signature-accredited learning is supported by access to Signature qualification and assessment systems where relevant.
Specialist expertise
Deaf and hearing teachers, interpreters, translators, assessors and specialist practitioners bring deep language knowledge, qualification expertise and current professional practice into the learning experience.
Connected journey
Move from first signs through formal BSL learning, professional qualification and post-qualification development within one specialist organisation.
DiscoverLearnQualifyDevelop
Joined-up solutions
Organisations can bring interpreting, translation, accessible content and BSL learning together around one communication requirement.
TrainingInterpretingTranslation & content
Multilingual & international
Communication can cross national sign languages, spoken languages and borders, with the professional configuration built around the people involved.
BSLLSFInternational SignEnglishFrench
One journey. Many possibilities.
Where could BSL take you?
For some learners, a first BSL course becomes the beginning of something much bigger — new skills, new confidence, new professional opportunities and a completely different future.
Meet Lucy. Her story shows one possible journey from discovering BSL through to professional practice and specialist development.
V1 artwork note: the current infographic is shown as the visual reference. Final artwork will be retitled Lucy’s journey, use Lucy’s name throughout, remove the Level 5 step and adopt the approved revised progression wording.
Click the artwork to enlarge · final copy update planned for V2
Featured opportunitiesView Level 1 BSL View interpreter training Register interest
Where will you go next?
V2 prototype: course, cohort, date, time, price and availability fields are shown in the format intended for the live central course database.
LearnAvailable
Level 1 BSL
Begin formal BSL study through live weekly online teaching and work towards the Signature Level 1 Award in British Sign Language.
£418 + £113 exam fees
Next start8 Sep 2026
Duration30 weeks
Weekly2 hours
DeliveryOnline
Cohorts / options
BSL1-Sept26-TuTue 8 Sep · 18:30–20:30Elizabeth Taunton
BSL1-Sep26-ThThu 10 Sep · 18:30–20:30Michelle Wright
BSL1-Sep26-Tu(D)Tue 8 Sep · 14:00–16:00Mohsin Patel
QualifyApplications open
Sign Language Interpreter
Professional interpreter training leading towards the Signature Level 6 Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting and Translation.
£3,650 per year
inc. VAT and exam fees
Next start5 Sep 2026
Length2 years
EntryLevel 6 BSL
OutcomeRSLI route
Cohorts / options
INT-26/27In person · Sat & Sun monthly · LondonStarts 5 Sep 2026
INT-Jan27Online · Tuesdays · 18:00–21:00Starts 26 Jan 2027
DevelopRegister interest
Advanced Interpreter Development
Reconnect advanced theory with professional judgement, applied laboratories and formally observed workplace practice.
£1,695
full programme · inc. VAT
Next startDates TBC
Structured48 hours
DeliveryZoom + London + workplace
CohortMinimum 8
Cohorts / options
Part 110 live Zoom classes · 30 hours£750 inc. VAT
Part 2London weekend + workplace observation£945 inc. VAT
BSL First Solutions
Help people understand one another
BSL First helps organisations build communication around the people involved — from one conversation to an ongoing accessibility requirement or multilingual international project.
You can start with the situation rather than trying to decide which service you need.
Learners who thrive
Build communication around lessons, lectures, training, assessments and the wider learning experience.
Explore Education SolutionsSeamless team communication
Support communication across meetings, recruitment, training and ongoing professional relationships.
Explore Business & employersEqual citizens who understand and are understood
Create communication across public services and interactions between people and public organisations.
Explore Public bodiesStress-free instructions and consultations
Support clear communication where accuracy, participation and understanding matter.
Explore Legal & professionalConnect across the whole event
Build communication around presentations, panels, workshops, audiences and networking.
Explore Conferences & eventsNot sure where to start?
Tell the finder what needs to work and let it guide you towards the most relevant BSL First solution.
Use the finderInformation stays accessible
Make websites, videos, guidance, training and organisational information accessible in sign language beyond a live conversation.
Explore Translation & recorded contentSign language without borders
Bring sign languages, spoken languages and the right professionals together around international and multilingual communication.
Explore International & multilingualReviews & Stories
What people say about BSL First
Independent reviews, direct learner feedback and stories from people who have learned and developed with BSL First.
Real people. Real learning. Real professional journeys.Google reviews
“The tutors are incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and genuinely invested in your progress.”Direct learner feedback · example placement
“The combination of classes, Moodle resources and practice with other learners made the course feel really well supported.”Direct learner feedback · example placement
Deep dive
Learner stories
Go beyond the short comments and explore the experiences, progression and professional journeys of BSL First learners.
Explore Reviews & StoriesWhat comes next?
Whatever comes next, find the right course or solution.
Whether you want to start learning BSL, gain a qualification, build or develop a professional career, or make communication work better for your organisation, BSL First can help you find the right next step.
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