On course for a success in IT

There are a number of reasons why people choose to get formal training in computing. For those still in work, jobs that don't require computer skills are disappearing fast.

Maybe you just want to improve your current career prospects: according to Learndirect, the government's national learning advice organisation, 51 per cent of workers are actively seeking a change in direction. Or perhaps you want to re-enter the job market after being out of work.

Some of us just want to know more about computers, find out how to get the best out of our PCs or learn how to use new technologies and applications to keep up with friends and family.

Whatever the reason, you need to find out which courses are right for you, the best method of delivery and how much you can afford to spend.

With over half a million different courses to choose from and a plethora of trainers and organisations ready and willing to impart their wisdom - not to mention lighten your wallet - it's well worth doing your homework before starting your coursework.

Absolute beginners
For the beginner who just wants to get to grips with computers and what they can offer, companies, local authorities and colleges of further education offer a bewildering array of courses.

The names might sound much the same, such as the ever-popular 'Computers for the Terrified', but the content, price and how you learn can vary wildly. One of the first ports of call for the uninitiated should be Learndirect.

This impartial service can help you find out what to study, where to study and how much it will cost.

If you are still unsure about the right course for you, try Bite Size, an initiative from the Learning and Skills Council, the body responsible for planning and funding all non-university education in England for those over 16.

Bite Size are free courses of around two hours, designed to provide people with a glimpse of the learning on offer. The aim is to increase confidence and encourage people to enter more structured learning.

Many courses are held in local community centres, colleges or are run by companies contracted to local authorities. These tend to be the cheapest, with prices from nothing up to around £25 depending on your financial circumstances.

For many people they are a godsend: simple, cheap and held at times suitable to fit in with their lives. They offer very simple introductions and usually cover basic topics including login names, starting up and shutting down, using a mouse, basic hardware, opening and closing files and how to use some common applications such as Microsoft Word or Windows Paint.

But many people, especially those who are older, find it daunting to go back to the classroom and feel ill at ease surrounded by younger people. Because class sizes can vary, those who are nervous can find that they get left behind; through no fault of the trainer, they can't get the individual attention they need.

For these people, an independent training company that can offer personal computer training at a reasonable cost could be the answer.

Emma Solomon, a director of training company Hairnet, said: "Classroom or 'e-learning' is fine for some. It can be hard to stay motivated. Also, many classes put people off. People are scared that they are going to look stupid."

Caught in the middle
It's not necessarily much easier for those with a basic knowledge of computing under their belt to find the right course. There is affordable training available and what most companies want is computer literacy.

A representative of high street bank HBOS explains what her company requires. "We look for people who show enthusiasm and some form of computer literacy for many of our jobs," she said. "Taking a course long after leaving school can demonstrate that people are willing to learn."

Among the most popular courses to demonstrate computer literacy are the revised Computer Literacy and Information Technology (Clait) courses, New Clait, Clait Plus and Advanced Clait, and the European Computer Driving Licence.

These courses, which can also be taken by beginners because they are taught as separate modules, help reasonably computer-savvy attendees to a higher level and offer a nationally recognised certificate, which is a plus with most employers.

These courses are offered quite widely. The price varies depending on whether you go to a local authority, college or private company, but you can pay anything from £25 to more than £200.

Again, the type of provider you choose will determine the delivery method for the training; if you are confident to work alone and need to work from home you can choose e-learning or distance learning rather than attend classes.

City & Guilds has developed e-Quals, a range of IT courses that offer recognised qualifications. They are suitable both for those who use IT generally and for professionals for whom IT is the main focus of their job.

Whatever your level of skills and knowledge, they cover a wide range of subjects including word processing, spreadsheets, website design, system support and software development and you can progress at your own pace.

Higher and higher
If you want that little bit of extra training on software, however, there are a number of manufacturer-certified courses such as the Microsoft Office Users Specialist (Mous) certificate.

As Alan Clarke, director of the National Institute of Adult Education, pointed out: "Whatever you think of Microsoft, its programs are ubiquitous throughout the employment world and its courses have become a de facto standard to demonstrate desktop computing skills."

According to Tony Kershaw, who runs Pinpoint training, courses like Mous can really help accelerate career development.

"Many companies might have IT specialists but want a person in a department to have some specific responsibility for, say, a database," he explained. "Theirs is not an IT role per se. For example, a business analyst will know how he or she could use a course such as Mous to design the spreadsheet or database they want."

Specialist training
If you want to retrain into an IT specialist's role, other vendor-based courses are available, such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer or Cisco Certified Network Engineer.

Again, information on such courses is available from companies and also local authorities, the LSC and Learndirect. Courses like these are usually classroom-based but, be warned, you can pay up to £5,000 to complete some of them.

It's a good idea to carry out a check on your training provider. As the ILA debacle showed, there are some very unscrupulous people out there who are quite willing to help you spend your money unwisely, according to Richard Stone at training company TECH-Connect.

Trainer accreditation isn't always the mark of a good training company but it does give you some redress should things go wrong.

The Institute of IT Trainers accredits its members for their services. Its director, Colin Steed, said: "Finding the right training provider can be a problem, especially for people with redundancy money to spend on training.

"It's easy to be sucked in by adverts, especially as some companies 'guarantee' a job at the end. People can call us for advice on a company, and we can help them find the right course."

Paying your way
Beginners' courses are usually cheap and even one-on-one training, such as that provided by Hairnet, is only around £20 an hour. The closing of the ILA scheme has obviously hit poorest people hardest but there is other funding.

Schemes such as the New Deal 50 Plus even offers a training grant of up to £1,800 when someone eligible for this scheme starts work. There is also a government career development loan of up to £8,000.

With around 80 per cent of jobs in the UK requiring a degree of computer literacy, getting the right training is important. But computers are not just about work.

As Solomon said: "Technology should be enhancing our lives. But many people are put off the technology because of a lack of computing skills. The right training can open up their world."

The trainer's view
For the younger generation, new technology is taught at school but it can be tougher for older users. Many people find standard training classes daunting, especially if they are elderly.

Chris Innes, a trainer with Hairnet, explained: "Standard training is successful with the bulk of the learners. But I had a client born in 1916 who was determined and pretty sharp.

"She joined a local college course to learn about computers but had given up because most of the class were doing calculations when she wanted internet and email.

"She had obviously been put down for the wrong course without enough effort made to find out what she really wanted. Even if she had understood what they were talking about, non-computer people have never heard of spreadsheets."

Bob Orr, another trainer, warned that older people are often scared of appearing unintelligent. "The most common response we get is they feel stupid," he said. "They have gone out and bought a computer, got it home and realised that it is not as simple to use as the adverts show.

"Too often, as well, we pick up the pieces from a lot of the standard training courses as people get left behind and don't get any encouragement.

"Older people need to be able to learn at their own pace and we can assure them that, just because they can't use the computer, it is not because they are stupid."

Raw recruits
Computer training, in theory, should open a raft of opportunities. Sometimes this is the case, sometimes not, as two readers pointed out.

Phil Burrows, 34, was a farmer for 17 years before he decided to head off for pastures new. He chose Cisco and Microsoft networking courses so that he could apply for jobs as a computer networking specialist.

It was tough and cost him £840. He then found that employers weren't exactly falling at his feet to hire him.

"I know there is a shortage of IT personnel but all of the companies I have contacted only wanted fully qualified, time-served applicants," he explained "I have not found any that are willing to take on raw recruits to train up."

While he has been lucky enough to eventually land a job as a trainer, John Blythe, another reader who sunk considerable sums of money into specialist training, has not been so lucky.

"There is a cult of ageism in the UK. I am 61 and a qualified chemist but was made redundant. I paid £620 to study for an Microsoft course but, although I have had interviews, my lack of experience or whatever means I have failed to find a job. I have become disillusioned and given up hope," he said.

COURSES TO CONSIDER

Bite Size
These are a range of two-hour courses set up by the Learning and Skills Council. They are aimed at the beginner and cover a huge variety of topics including very basic computer help, such as surfing the internet, to a taste of the range of computer courses on offer around the country. They are free. Information is available from the LSC.

Computer Literacy and Information Technology (Clait)
Clait is a range of courses teaching computer skills to beginners, right up to more advanced levels and includes topics such as word processing, databases and spreadsheets, over a range of levels.

New Clait offers an Oxford and Cambridge RSA (OCR) Level 1 certificate and includes using a computer, word processing and electronic communication.

Clait Plus is an OCR Level 2 certificate and includes managing and integrating files, spreadsheets and databases.

Clait Advanced is an OCR Level 3 certificate and includes managing IT resources, creating IT solutions, advanced document production, advanced spreadsheets and advanced databases.

The cost of these courses depends on which company you go to for training but range from £25 to £260. Information on these courses and costs can be obtained from your local authority, library or Learndirect.

European Computer Driving Licence
This programme is offered at two levels: ECDL and ECDL Advanced. The basic ECDL is suitable for beginners and those with intermediate levels of computer competency.

It is a government recognised course which teaches the basics of how to use a computer and comprises seven main modules, including using the computer and managing files, word processing, databases, spreadsheets and presentations.

The advanced qualification is designed to improve computer skills and tests an individual's competence at a much higher level. Costs and methods of learning, as with Clait, vary wildly.

Some local authorities offer the course at a minimal charge of around £25 for the basic ECDL but some centres will charge £200 plus. More information is on offer from Learndirect, local authorities, libraries and at www.ecdl.co.uk

E-Quals
This is a new range of qualifications from City & Guilds. They aim to take even those with the most basic skills up to those who would consider themselves IT professionals.

They cover a wide range of subjects including word processing, spreadsheets, website design, system support and software development, to name but a few.

You can progress at your own pace as far as you want to go. Prices vary between training providers, from £20 to £260. More information is available here.

Silver surfers ride technology wave
Just over 50 years ago, Flora Chisholm was a young bride, cutting peat for the fire and living without electricity on Islay off the coast of Scotland.

"My husband was involved in setting up a creamery to make cheese in a distillery building," she said. "Learning to make bread and cakes and catch our own fish was what I thought would be the greatest learning experience of my life.

"But when I returned to the mainland years later and became an employment officer for blind people in Scotland, I marvelled at the benefits new computer technology brought to many of my clients.

"Last year brought another exciting and fulfilling experience: I have learned to use a computer and feel that I am now enjoying fitting in to yet another new group in an ever-changing world.

"But before I took this plunge I wanted some training. Some of my friends had been disappointed with the training they had got so I went to my local library to find the right trainer for me for one-to-one training and chose Hairnet.

"I then had the confidence to take a more advanced computer course at Edinburgh University."

She makes the point that people tend to forget that silver surfers were young once and computers are a way of helping them avoid being left behind.

Taken for a ride
Sue Crawte's experience is a typical example of what can go wrong if you fall foul of an unscrupulous training company.

"I had always been good at and enjoyed computers," she said. "Just over two years ago, I embarked on a home study BTEC Diploma in Practical Computing at a Higher Level with National Distance Learning College.

"I wanted to do a course that would give me a qualification in what I love doing, so I was prepared to pay the £500 it cost. I was told that the course was accredited, so I signed up.

"I put a lot of hard work into the course and had successfully completed nine out of the 12 modules with an award of Distinction for each module when I found out that the company had gone bust. I heard nothing from the company to inform me of the situation."

What Mrs Crawte had also not heard was she had been taken for a ride. The accreditation for the course had been withdrawn before she even signed up. While she has been sent the remaining modules, the qualification she hoped to show future employers is worthless.

Fortunately, her tale does have a happy ending. She has since completed a Clait course and starts work soon teaching IT National Vocational Qualifications to 14-16 year olds, even if she is still £500 out of pocket.

CONTACTS:

These organisations can give you help and guidance on IT courses and tell you if you are eligible for any help with paying for them.

Although the Individual Learning Accounts scheme was closed because of allegations of fraud late last year, it is hoped that a successor scheme will be in place by the end of this year. However, there are other sources of funding. Below is a list of the main bodies that can help.

The Learning and Skills Council
www.lsc.gov.uk

Learndirect
www.learndirect.co.uk
www.learndirectscotland.co.uk

Department for Education and Skills
www.dfes.gov.uk

Career Development Loans
www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl

Scottish Enterprise
www.scottish-enterprise.com

National Assembly for Wales
www.wales.gov.uk

National Institute of Adult Education
www.niace.org.uk

City & Guilds
www.city-and-guilds.co.uk

Institute if IT Training
www.iitt.org.uk

Hairnet
www.hairnet.org

TECH-Connect
www.tech-connect.com