The problem with most bookkeeping courses is that they are too hard to understand and it is too difficult to apply the learning to the workplace. Even some of the best known basic bookkeeping courses are confusing and at the same time, too junior to make the student attractive to potential employers. That’s why Pitman Training in Manchester, has developed a high value approach to the delivery of bookkeeping courses. Principal Shilpa Wymer claims, “Rather than just providing the same old material as everyone else, we looked at the whole concept of bookkeeping courses from the student’s perspective. We started out by identifying that the point of taking bookkeeping courses is to equip the student with the skills to make them attractive to employers. Then we developed a delivery style that means learners get to practice on increasingly challenging, practical exercises so that they’re ready for real world work when they get hired.” “We’re fortunate in that Pitman Training has a first class course development team, so creating the exercises was relatively straightforward for them. But on the back of the material, we add a lot of value to the learning experience by having experienced trainers providing almost one-to-one tuition on top.” It is certainly true that Mrs Wymer’s students have a high success rate in finding well-paid jobs at the end of their training, statistics showing that those who have graduated with an Accounting Technician diploma fare particularly well. This popular one-year bookkeeping course covers 10 subjects including Sage Line 50 and expert level Excel and takes students from the absolute beginning to being able to provide balance sheets, profit and loss accounts and run payroll. Mrs Wymer again: “The aim of the Accounting Technician diploma is to take students to a level of practical ability where they can slot easily and confidently into a bookkeeping or financial controller role, requiring minimal help and further training form the employer.” It might be argued that it is not just the added value of live trainers that helps people into jobs but simply the strength of having the Pitman brand on your CV, the organisation being one of the oldest and best known training providers in the UK. Mrs Wymer comments: “There’s no doubt that having Pitman on your CV is a big draw for employers, but the name alone would not have endured if it wasn’t an absolute mark of practical ability on behalf of the student. So it’s not just the brand but what it stands for that counts.” In addition to its Accounting Technician diploma programme, the organisation also offers a whole range of bookkeeping courses, from single modules for beginners, stand-alone training for Sage Line 50 and Sage payroll and a very affordable Foundation In Bookkeeping diploma. The organisation claims that students can start a course at any time and study at hours to suit them, on a drop-in basis. They are open most evenings till 8:00 pm and all day Saturday, so their bookkeeping courses are popular with people who are working but find it difficult to commit to a traditional, regular training schedule. Pitman Training Manchester can be contacted at www.holborntraining.co.uk or by phone: 0161 923 6814
Managing Director and Principal of Holborn Training Ltd which operates franchised Pitman Training Centres in Manchester and London.
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