PRESS INFORMATION ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:
Broadskill with
Training Synergy
Training Synergy
77 Cornhill, London, EC3V 3QQ
tel 0800 072 5900; fax 0870 242 9494
BroadSkill
7 Mollington Grange
Parkgate Road
Mollington
Chester CH1 6NP
tel 0845 050 5353
5th July 2006
'Proof of the pudding' for new Academy
The first graduates from the Accelerated Trainer Academy (formerly the
Spearhead Trainer Academy), are now delivering training on behalf of
the ATLAS consortium to help it supply Increment 1 of the Defence
Information Infrastructure (Future) project. The DII(F) project is
intended to replace numerous individual information systems throughout
the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a single, more efficient information
infrastructure.
Jane McCarthy, who heads up the Accelerated Trainer Academy, commented:
"We are planning to enrol further intakes of students into the Academy
over the next few months in order to fulfil the initial needs of the
ATLAS consortium - which involves delivering training initially to over
600 secure installations in the UK.
"The first part of the Academy course equips delegates with the skills
required to deliver effective IT end-user training, covering course
design and delivery, learning styles and lesson planning," she added.
"Throughout the course, delegates are given opportunities to practise
their newly developed skills by delivering several 'mini-teach'
sessions, the content of which will contribute to the work-based
evidence tasks required to achieve ITQ qualification later in the
course.
"Delegates are then coached through the ECDL syllabus with accredited
testing and should achieve the ITQ Level 2 qualification on completion
of the three-week programme. Before leaving the course, students
develop a plan to help them achieve the ITQ Level 3 qualification and
are offered coaching and support by our tutors to help them reach this
goal," she said.
The Accelerated Trainer Academy has been accepted as a registered
training provider for the Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme. Among
other things, this means that the Academy can accept people leaving the
British Armed Forces who are looking to establish a new career.
McCarthy commented: "Among the first of the Academy graduates to
deliver this training is a man who recently left the British Armed
Forces and used his resettlement allowance to fund his course at the
Academy."
All of the Academy's successful candidates are supported and guided in
how to start their own sustainable training business and given an
opportunity to work on a major BroadSkill or Synergy IT training
project with a leading global IT company.
end
Notes for Editors:
About the Accelerated Trainer Academy (ATA)
Established - as the 'Spearhead Academy' - at the end of November 2005,
ATA is the UK's first college developing candidates to become qualified
IT training consultants (www.ataca.co.uk). It is a joint venture
between two of the UK's largest trainer resource providers, BroadSkill
and Training Synergy. The Academy aims to help meet the corporate and
public sector's increasingly demanding standards for IT training.
The Accelerated Trainer Academy provides an innovative, three-week
programme to develop IT and training skills which guides students
towards European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) accreditation and the
new national ITQ Level 3 qualification. Its graduates will be both
competent as trainers and competent at using the software they are
delivering. Furthermore, they will go on to full induction training
before using any software outside the course syllabus.
The Academy's sponsors, Broadskill and Training Synergy, specialise in
developing induction for bespoke training projects.
Moreover, Academy graduates complete their training with an ECDL and an
ITQ level 2 to their name. They are also well on the way to acquiring
an ITQ level 3 but this cannot be awarded until a person has had at
least ten weeks practical experience as an IT trainer.
The ATA has been accepted as a registered training provider for the
Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme. Among other things, this means
that the Academy can accept people leaving the British Armed Forces who
are looking to establish a new career.
The British Computer Society is observing the ATA keenly and is
actively monitoring standards among the Academy_s members.
About ITQs
Nationally recognised qualifications, approved by the Qualification and
Curriculum Authority (QCA), ITQs are a flexible IT user qualification
that can be tailored to ensure that learners are trained in the IT
skills they need in the workplace. ITQs are intended for IT users and
have been designed to accommodate employer requirements.
This qualification recognises that different employers need staff to
have skills at different levels. A key feature of ITQs is the
flexibility to customise training to meet employers' specific needs and
to adapt the qualification to an individual's skills level.
Because of the flexibility of the framework, existing IT user
qualifications or IT tasks completed in the workplace may count towards
the final ITQ. The following modules are available at ITQ levels 1, 2
and 3.
-
Mandatory
Module: Make selective use of IT
-
Optional
Modules:
B: Operate a computer
C: IT maintenance for users
D: IT trouble-shooting for users
E: IT security for users
F: Artwork and imaging software
G: Internet and intranets
H: Email
I: Word processing software
J: Spreadsheet software
K: Database software
L: Website software
M: Presentation software
N: Specialist or bespoke software
O: Evaluate the Impact of IT
P: Use IT systems
Q: Use IT to exchange information
R: Sector Specific Unit
About Broadskill
BroadSkill provides training and database development services. Founded
in 1996, BroadSkill has become one of the UK's main suppliers of IT
training projects, supplying and managing trainers, courseware and
sourcing venues. BroadSkill is a MS Gold Partner (competencies include:
Advanced Infrastructure, Data Management and Learning Solutions), ISO
9001 certified and accredited by the Institute of IT Training.
About Training Synergy
With over 300 training personnel working on projects across the UK at
any one time and a turnover in excess of £10m, Training Synergy is one
of the UK's largest training solutions providers. It delivers some
40,000 training days a year and has 7,000 trainers on its database.
About BroadSkill, Synergy and DII(F)
In March 2005, the ATLAS consortium was selected by the MoD to supply
Increment 1 of the Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) project.
The DII(F) project, over 10 years, is intended to replace numerous
individual information systems throughout the MoD with a single, more
efficient information infrastructure.
ATLAS is the name used by the consortium led by EDS Defence Limited and
including Fujitsu Services Limited, EADS Defence and Security Systems
Limited, General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited and LogicaCMG UK
Limited
ATLAS has chosen two of the largest suppliers of freelance trainers in
the UK to support the consortium. Both are financially strong and were
founded in the mid 1990s based on a passion to connect business and
Government organisations with highly skilled and competent trainers. By
selecting BroadSkill and Synergy ATLAS has access to in excess of 8,500
trainers covering over 700 skill sets combined with a range of
supporting services in the management of the training project. Both
organisations are accredited by the Institute of IT Training.
Further Information from:
Stephen Fletcher, BroadSkill, 0845 050 5353 or 07968 626999;
www.broadskill.com
Daniel Hanlon / David Field, Synergy, 0800 072 5900 or 020 7556 1140
/1141; www.trainingsynergy.com
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
