Choosing a Training Centre

Top Tips to Choosing a Training Centre

  1. Always visit the training centre to view the facilities, speak to the tutors and speak to the students. We advise that you view the facilities at the end of a course so can observe the level of work that is achievable, and also you will receive more accurate feedback from students; everyone is happy at the start of a course, but at the end of the course they will tell you if they thought it was worthwhile and good value for money. Ask to speak to students on their own if need be.
  2. Take the time to view all possible training centres as it could save you both time and money in the long run.
  3. Be wary of training centres whose sales pitch involves belittling other training centres; they should be confident in what they offer. In some instances they will be genuinely warning you of rogue centres but always check yourself what you have been told.
  4. Enquire if the training centre asks all attendees to complete customer satisfaction surveys and if you can read through them when you visit. If not ask yourself why.
  5. If the company needs to send a sales representative (or course advisor!?!) out to you instead ask for a detailed pack to be posted that includes all prices and timescales. If they are not willing to do this then please be careful. Some centres will insist that someone visits you to discuss the courses available and that both you and your partner need to be at home to meet them. This is because it is usually a requirement for the payment plan that they will attempt to set you up with.  Also be wary of centres where someone will phone you several times a week to see if you have made a decision yet, the course fee is paying for these phone calls.
  6. Enquire how much practical training is involved in the course as some centres that run courses will include hours and hours of classroom work. We recently heard of someone who attended a four week tiling course that involved approximately two weeks of classroom work.
  7. Enquire if they use the materials that are actually used in the trade. To save costs some centres will use substitute materials that can be reused, but your confidence will come with using the actual materials that you will use in the workplace. Some centres have been known to fix floor tiles without adhesive, not use epoxy grout, etc.
  8. Enquire if the centre will provide you with support afterwards as you will find this beneficial in the months to follow.
  9. Enquire if the centre sells tools and be wary of a centre that seems to push tools onto you or will only sell the tools as part of an expensive pack instead of individually. Ask for a price list and compare it to other companies. Some companies reduce the price of the course and make the profit on the tools. A number of companies sell Silverline tools, although you cannot purchase these direct from Silverline you can check their prices online and other tool prices can be compared to B&Q, Screwfix and Toolbank etc.
  10. Centres that run courses in more than one trade are not an issue as long as that company does not use the same tutor for all the courses. If they have separate training areas each with their own tutors then you will receive quality training with the benefit of being able to discuss queries relating to other trades with the tutors whilst at the training centre. You may also benefit from discounts if you complete more than one course.
  11. Be wary of what you read on forums on the internet as many of these are run by training centres who will themselves post negative comments about their competition or about suppliers that they don't use. For example, one tiling forum is actually owned and moderated by a tiling training centre!!
  12. Check what certificate you receive when you complete the course. Some centres word their certificates in such a way that it sounds like you are receiving an accredited certificate from an official awarding body when in fact it is a certificate that they print themselves.
  13. Don't be dazzled by snazzy looking premises, instead look at how realistic the training bays are and the course content.  Some training companies have high overheads and therefore high course costs or low material allowances.
  14. Be aware of some complete training packages available.  Some centres offer a suite of courses at high costs where these courses can be purchased individually at lower costs.  Also centres will offer you a package including a tool kit that would cost £1000+ when in fact it would cost alot less if you bought the items yourself.  Always ask for a list of tools and the brand names of the tools and shop around.