‘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.

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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: E-mail
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