Skills Train - home based training

[scarymamma]

Has anyone heard of or used Skills Train homebased training? I'm thinking of doing their Bookkeeping course and becoming a self employed book keeper in the long term (brain turning to play dough after 8 years as a full time Mum). But, the course is a tad on the expensive side and I don't want to dole out DH's hard earned wad to a bunch of fly-by-night Charlies! So any anecdotal evidence for or against appreciated!

Personally, I would avoid this type of training provider. Instead, contact a local college and see what they can offer in terms of part-time/evening courses. If you need home based learning, then I suggest contacting the National Extension College - \link{http://www.nec.ac.uk/courses/category-browse?usca_p=t&category_id=502\NEC} which does Bookkeeping courses at various levels. The NEC courses are around the £150-£250 price level depending on course and there are monthly payment options. I think you need to add on examination fees if you decide to go for an \link{http://www.aat.org.uk/students/display/store4/item304/#exam\AAT} exam, but this I would expect is normal with any training provider who prepares you for an external examination. Worth contacting NEC for further information, even if it's just to establish what courses are suitable for you. 01223 400 200 / [email protected] or \link{http://www.nec.ac.uk/info/category-browse?category_id=883\fill out the form}.

Also consider as a first step, taking a short course via \link{http://catalogue.learndirect.co.uk/browse/busman/category36/\Learn Direct}. They have courses which are as short as 2 hours. While it may be on the basic side, it would be useful in helping you get back into learning mode, and of course adds another certificate for your portfolio.

They have a 12 hour course on Sage Line 50, which comes with a 6-month trial version of Sage Line 50 for you to use at home. You may even get Government Funding (thus reduced course fees) depending on your past educational history... so I would have thought this option is worth exploring as an introduction to learning at home.

Thanks Nannynick - will look into your leads.:)

Have already looked at my local colleges - their courses seemed a bit poor. To cover the same material offered by Skills Train would take a couple of years because the courses I would need to do only run for half a day per week for 17 weeks, and each course must be done sequentially (i.e. you need to spend 17 weeks doing part I, then another17 weeks doing partII) Will look inot the NEC and LearnDirect options tho'.