Altior Takes Up Franchise For Adult Learning

IcWales:

ONE of the world’s best-known brands in training has made its first appearance in Wales with the opening of a base in the capital.

Pitman Training has been launched to tap into the growing demand for flexible learning courses among businesses and individuals. It is expected that further branches will eventually open in the South Wales region.

Based opposite Cardiff Castle, the new centre opens its doors for the first time today.

Manager Leanne Waring said, “Adult learning is extremely topical in Wales now that it is controlled by the National Assembly for Wales and not Westminster. There are great job opportunities for qualified administrative, secretarial, finance and IT staff in the region.

“The new centre will help to ensure that people can equip themselves with the skills they need to progress in their current job, win a promotion, or make a career change.”

It expects a key customer base to be people who have experienced redundancy in the manufacturing sector and are seeking new skills.

Ms Waring is a qualified marketing professional who has recently returned to work after maternity leave. Parents who are returning to work are another core market the venture plans to serve.

The project is spearheaded by Mark Loosemore, chief executive of the Cardiff-based legal training company Altior. Rather than expand the services offered by the long-established company, Mr Loosemore decided launching Pitman in Wales would create a greater breadth of training opportunities.

He said, “What I felt when I looked at the Pitman model was they were so far ahead of where we would be that it would be better buying a franchise with scope to open more centres.”

The two businesses are already feeding into each other, with law firms inquiring about the possibilities of buying training for support staff.