Firebrand Training News Desk

New Year beginners boost for IT industry

demand for entry-level courses at Firebrand Training soars in January

January 15, 2008

2008 will see HR teams flooded with a wave of entry-level IT staff keen to take advantage of the sector’s skill shortage. This is according to Accelerated Learning pioneer, Firebrand Training (formerly The Training Camp), which has seen a huge rise in demand for its desktop support and administration courses. Bookings for ComDepTIA’s A+ and Network+ courses are up 45% compared to the first two weeks of January 2007.

These certifications provide IT professionals with the basic hardware, software and networking skills for a wide range of support or technician roles. Firebrand Training has seen demand for many of its courses since the New Year, with enquiries up over 60% from December. Alongside the basic level courses, PRINCE2 project management and Vista-based MCSEs have also shown increased interest from students. The increase in demand illustrates that employees are seeing the current technical skills shortage as an opportunity that can be exploited. Total demand for IT professionals is at its highest level since 2001, meaning career and salary prospects can be extremely attractive.

Executive quote

“New Year is generally a time where employees consider their future career, and resolve to progress professionally – through promotion and further qualifications or potentially moving into a new direction,” said Robert Chapman, CEO, Firebrand Training. “It’s no surprise people are taking the IT plunge – the skills shortage means that there are a plethora of opportunities available to those willing to take the first step on to the ladder. Getting qualified now in the basics could be the beginning of a successful and lucrative future career.”

About the company

Firebrand Training is challenging the way in which professional training is delivered. Firebrand Training, formally known as The Training Camp, has pioneered Accelerated Learning courses for busy IT professionals. The organisation’s innovative approach to course delivery has led to its status as the Institute of IT Training’s “IT Training Company of the Year” for the past two years.

Students are totally immersed in the subject matter, receiving an average of 12 hours intense tuition per day at a residential training site. Subject experts implement a range of teaching methodologies designed to fit with how we best understand and retain information during different periods in the day. Accelerated Learning is an attractive proposition for contractors, whose time commands very high premiums, and employers who need to minimise staff absence. Firebrand Training has an above average pass rate of 85% - confounding critics’ claims that Accelerated Learning fails to produce results. Firebrand Training was founded by Robert Chapman and Stefano Capaldo in Summer 2001 as The Training Camp. Stefano was a former student in the US and rated the company’s approach so highly that he decided to launch a programme of courses in the UK. The organisation has since been recognised by Microsoft as a Gold Partner for Learning Solutions (MCPLS) and over 12,000 students have been trained in the UK to date. The success of the company enabled the management team to relaunch as Firebrand Training, which is focused on delivering training courses specifically designed for a European market. Firebrand Training offers a range of courses covering all major vendors such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Sun, and Novell, as well as specialist certifications in the areas of security, business intelligence, project and business process management.

Contact details

For press enquiries, please contact the account manager at LEWIS: Tel: +44 (0) 161 601 7740 Fax: + 44 (0) 161 601 7741 Email: firebrandtraining@lewispr.com Internet: http://www.lewispr.com

Technorati tags: Firebrand Training | Rob Chapman | skill shortage |

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