The Apprentice to train SMEs
Article Date: May 16 2006
On the back of the successful BBC television series The Apprentice, training group learndirect business is launching a new training programme aimed at growing firms.
The series of three DVD-ROMs aim to provide specific training in the required skills that any successful business needs. The first DVD, Negotiating To Win will be launched on 12 June, with Leadership and Management and Selling, Pitching and Presenting following on 12 July.
Targeted at businesses that are short on time and resources, the training programme is presented by Nick Hewer, one of Sir Alan Sugar’s senior aides from the TV show, and aims to help develop staff skills, using footage from the series as examples.
In a similar format to the series, those being trained are set tasks and put under pressure through simulated emails and phone calls, suffering criticism if they fail to perform the tasks successfully. The DVD cannot fire trainees though.
’The demands on all businesses mean that they need top quality, relevant training to ensure their staff gain the skills they need to help the business grow,’ explains Sarah Jones, Chief Executive of Ufi, the company behind learndirect business. ‘We also know from our research that 65 per cent of businesses believe effective training quickly translates into tangible business benefits.’
Priced at £75 each, the products will be available to order online at www.learndirect-business.com at an introductory offer of £50 per DVD-ROM until 10 August. Each features between 1.5 and 2 hours of material.
