Response to Redundancy - Which course provider would be best?

Discussion in 'Training & Development' started by Troppo, Nov 12, 2009.

  1. Troppo

    Troppo New Member

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    Hi everyone,

    First time posting here, only just signed up today. I stumbled accross this forum the other day when doing some research after a chap from Advent IT training came to my house to discuss the courses they offer.

    My role working within an IT Service Desk is being redundant as from the end of the year, and there is currently a scheme in place, where if you are at risk of redundancy, the goverment will provide up to £1500 for a course. I am going to take this opportunity to further my IT knowledge, and get a couple of industry recognised qualifications.

    The problem is, the government will only pay for one course, whether that course if £40 or £1400. I do not intend to sign up with advent due to the cost, and what I feel you are actually getting for that money, but the government will not fund me if I decide to just buy the study material myself, so I need to enrole into some kind of distance learning course.

    I've been looking at a company called Active Talk, based in Norwich. They have said that they will do a receipt for what on paper will be classed as one course, but will actually be two qualifications. These are the CompTIA A+ and Network+ qualification.

    http://www.activetalk.co.uk/aitpro.html

    They have quoted a price of approx £1300, which includes the study material and entry into the exams.

    I wondered if anyone would be able to point me in the direction of a company that may be slightly better priced, which would also assist me in making multiple qualifications appear as one course, so that I may use up all of the goverments £1500. Ideally, I'd like to do A+, Network+ & MCDST qualifications and if need be top the £1500 up with some of my own money.

    Any advice and assistance would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

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    Hi and welcome to the forums :biggrin

    If you search the forums you'll find loads of comments on the various training providers. Most of us are rather scathing of their charges and "promises" of employment and would therefore tend to steer you towards a course of self study with help from those of us hear and on other forums if you get really stuck with an issue.

    If your redundancy means that you have to spend money with a "provider" then I suggest you investigate courses with your local college who may provide the same training at a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, look for a large IT support company that also offers training courses. These tend to be accredited technical support specialists (e.g. MS Gold Partners) as opposed to "hard sell" training companies. They provide courses for large corportaes but they do also take individuals (if they're willing to pay !). They won't promise a job but will give you the training to get through the exams without it being a cramming session.

    Also, if you search here, you'll find that many of the certs do require you have exerience of the technologies. Without that, not only will you struggle to learn but you may also harm your job prospects.

    HTH
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  3. Troppo

    Troppo New Member

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    Update:-

    Still looking for a company that will tailor a course for me that consists of A+, Network+ & MCDST, but no joy as of yet.

    I have managed to find these guys though, who will do the A+ & Network+ (both the 2009 versions) at a similar cost to the other company I found. This places looks slightly more professional too.

    http://www.seeklearning.co.uk/it-training/helpdesk-courses.asp#CompTIA

    Any experience with either of these companies, or any advice regarding someone else who might be able to provide exactly what I'm looking for would be appreciated.
     
  4. craigie

    craigie Terabyte Poster

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    Try I have been on a training course with www.qa.com really enjoyed it.

    Give them a whirl.
     
    Certifications: CCA | CCENT | CCNA | CCNA:S | HP APC | HP ASE | ITILv3 | MCP | MCDST | MCITP: EA | MCTS:Vista | MCTS:Exch '07 | MCSA 2003 | MCSA:M 2003 | MCSA 2008 | MCSE | VCP5-DT | VCP4-DCV | VCP5-DCV | VCAP5-DCA | VCAP5-DCD | VMTSP | VTSP 4 | VTSP 5
  5. JonnyMX

    JonnyMX Petabyte Poster

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    You may need to dig a bit deeper into the funding scheme.

    Some only pay for you to attend a type of course or with a specific provider that they approve of.
    For example, they may pay for you to attend a classroom course at a local college but may not allow you to piss your/their money up the wall with the likes of Advent.

    Find out if they have a list of approved venues and what other criteria there are.
    Then speak to one of those venues and see what their advice is.
    They'll have experience in this sort of thing and may be able to package up some courses that will enable you to make the most of the cash available to you.
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCTS, i-Net+, CIW CI, Prince2, MSP, MCSD
  6. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

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    Try your local Pitman training (search for my previous posts on them) as I think they have access to funding for the A+ and N+ and then you only pay for the MSCA

    QA are generally a well recognised training co as are people like Interquad and Azlan.

    Use the SEARCH feature on the forum - you'll find the answers you need :biggrin
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  7. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    If money that much of a concern why not just self study? That is get the books yourself and study and practice the concepts then take the exams yourself.

    This is what I do and what many others on this forum do.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  8. Arroryn

    Arroryn we're all dooooooomed Moderator

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    As the OP has already pointed out, money is only the issue in the respect that the Government will give you up to £1500 towards training, so he's looking for something that fits into that bracket. He's also pointed out that they won't fund the self study route, so finding a reputable training company or a local college is the next logical step. Might as well - something for nothing, and all that :wink:

    Another vote for QA from me, by the way :)
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, 70-410, 70-411
    WIP: Modern Languages BA
  9. Troppo

    Troppo New Member

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    I would prefer to self study, if it was me paying, but I'm not paying for the course, the government are, and they won't just give me the money to spend on books and study material, it needs to be done though a course provider.

    Thanks for all your comments so far. It's given me a few different places to look and see where I'm able to get the most for the governments money :D
     
  10. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    I saw that I Was just pointing out that the OP could self study as this could have many benefits.

    If he/she doesn't like the course or TP then he will have wasted the money given to him/her and then wouldn't get a second chance with funding if another course was found that OP liked. Self study could stop a mess like that because a book or two doesn't cost a lot and you can put them away if you don't like them with no come uppance.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  11. free-advice

    free-advice Nibble Poster

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    Give it a rest GBL, your getting boring.
     
  12. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    what?

    you mean you don't like it when I tell people they are getting mislead by sales people.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  13. danielno8

    danielno8 Gigabyte Poster

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    hahah are you for real?

    please could you click the log out button and not come back? I haven't seen any useful posts from you.
     
    Certifications: CCENT, CCNA
    WIP: CCNP
  14. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

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    C'mon guys. Let's get with the plot here and not have this petty bickering all the time.

    Views have been expressed - fair enough. Take it off-thread to PM's if you want to banter about it. It's detracting from the OP.
     
    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  15. UKDarkstar
    Honorary Member

    UKDarkstar Terabyte Poster

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    Certifications: BA (Hons), MBCS, CITP, MInstLM, ITIL v3 Fdn, PTLLS, CELTA
    WIP: CMALT (about to submit), DTLLS (on hold until 2012)
  16. free-advice

    free-advice Nibble Poster

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    Read the post.

    The guy has money to spend with a TP, not self study.

    So you come on and tell him to self study??

    Weird.

    Danielno8: Best you dont read my posts then and get involved then!

    EDIT: Sorry Darkstar, off topic but had to be said!!
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2009
  17. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    I won't respond any further so I don't get done for responding to trolls.

    I was merly pointing out that if the OP self studies then he can find out wether a subject is to his likeing before spending any cash. Since self study is free and there is no idiot sales person pushing a subject on them that they may end up dislikeing then they won't waste any money will they?
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  18. Arroryn

    Arroryn we're all dooooooomed Moderator

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    Can we keep this OT please guys?

    Flaming in any form is not tolerated on CF; if you need to discuss personal matters, please move it to Private Messages, and that includes discussing it with the moderating team.

    I noted from QA's site that they are quite pricey (you'll only get your A+ for the £1500 you have to spend) so either Pitman from UKD's links or a local college are probably your more investment-worthy options.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, 70-410, 70-411
    WIP: Modern Languages BA
  19. danielno8

    danielno8 Gigabyte Poster

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    You are only involved in TP threads. I don't know what your affiliation is as you won't say, but you are a useless member on a forum which promotes self-study. So how about clicking that log out button?
     
    Certifications: CCENT, CCNA
    WIP: CCNP
  20. free-advice

    free-advice Nibble Poster

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    Sorry, was CF set up to promote self study? Or to help people who are studying whether this be self study or using a TP

    Can the mods help out here??
     

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