iPET Network News

Traditionally, larger Awarding Organisations would require Training Centres to guarantee a certain number of learners or revenue to them each year.  Smaller training centres may have found those numbers out of reach and instead of working directly with an Awarding Organisation were told to become a ‘Satellite Centre’ of another Training Centre or Group.  This meant the number of learners were met by smaller businesses joining together and the main Training Centre would be responsible for overseeing all the operations of those in their group.  This is exactly how iPET Network started out.  We brought together a collection of some of the best Training Providers in the UK and Ireland to deliver qualifications, giving opportunities to smaller centres to be able to deliver regulated qualifications.  In time, iPET Network has evolved to become an Awarding Organisation in its own right and all those in our network have become Direct Training Providers. However, we are now being asked is it better to be a Satellite Centre or a Direct Training Provider.  Here we examine the case.

The start…

You are an expert in your field. You know what it takes to be successful and you know how to explain the route to that success. You are ready to impart your wisdom, time, skill, and experience to give opportunities to new people entering your industry. You are thinking about offering training courses! Now where to start?  You know what training you needed to become a qualified dog groomer, but time may have moved on or you want to offer a better experience than you received so your first port of call is deciding what exactly you can offer. Will you offer one to one training or teach in larger groups? This maybe determined by the space available or your facilities, but it will start to build the plan by identifying how many students you plan to teach.

The qualification or course…

Whether your area of expertise is dog grooming, baking or childcare, you must find the courses that best suit your student’s needs.  Therefore, you need to identify exactly who your potential students are.  Are they dog owners looking for a new hobby? Are they professional dog groomers looking for a qualification? Are they complete beginners looking for a new career? Are they people that want a lifestyle business to fit around homelife? Or are they something else? We have found that dog grooming is a vocational career that can be entered into by young people straight from school or college or those who have more years’ experience working in other sectors such as Teachers, NHS, Police or Airline Hostess’. These people are ready to swap a role they may not like for one they do.  The number of times we have heard students say, ‘I prefer dogs to people!’ So, thinking about your learners, do they feel confident taking on exams (and do you have dog models available who meet the breed standards?) or would they prefer to build a portfolio as they learn and take away exam stress? And would you be able to provide a greater range of dogs if mix breeds were included in the course?

Looking at your business, the learners you are likely to attract and the knowledge you must share will direct you to a qualification that fits your ideas. With many qualifications available and being the only sector specific Awarding Organisation for the Canine and Feline sector, we hope you will lean to iPET Network courses!

The approval process…

The approval process will vary for all but regardless of you being a Satellite Centre or a Direct Training Provider you will have to meet a set of criteria for the Awarding Organisation.  This may include producing certificates for the qualifications you hold, producing documentation on your policies and processes, signing declarations, and proving you meet health and safety requirements.  Once the forms are submitted and an audit completed you will be approved to deliver the qualifications.

The team…

As a Satellite Centre you will work with the main Training Centre and they will offer support.  This support level varies between training groups. The main Training Centre will liaise directly with the Awarding Organisation and will filter down any updates in procedure or important notices.  When the candidates complete their qualification the main Training Centre’s name will be on their certificate, not the satellite centre who has done the hard work!

However, as a direct Training Provider with iPET Network your business name will be on the candidates certificates therefore promoting your business to their customers. Being direct you will hear about these updates first-hand.  You are the first to know of new qualifications being launched and have a dedicated Account Manager who is like your BFF! They know you well and can help advise on a whole range of subjects from how to attract more customers, to dealing with difficult dogs, to handling new requests, to increasing the size of your business! This relationship is key to your success and we are proud to have some amazing team member at iPET Network ready to help.

The teaching…

Most Awarding Organisations or main Training Centres do not offer resources or materials to help those in their group deliver the qualifications.  Why? We have no idea! For us at iPET Network, this is key to the quality and consistency of those teaching our qualifications.  It can take new training schools 1000’s of hours creating schemes of work, tasks, assessments, documents, workbooks etc and means each learner may receive a vastly different experience based on these resources.  This is a key benefit of being a direct Training Provider with iPET Network, we provide all of this for you! Teaching aids, forms, worksheets, assessment documents…you name it, it is ready to use.  This means from the moment you are approved; you have access to EVERYTHING you need to start teaching.

The quality assurance process…

The quality assurance process ensures the integrity of any qualification, meaning it is fair for all to achieve. Usually, a Tutor teaches or assesses the work, then an Internal Quality Assurer performs checks before it is passed to an External Quality Assurer to be signed off for the Awarding Organisation.  These roles MUST be completed by different people, the tutor can not IQA the work they have taught as they will not be removed enough to judge the evidence fairly.  However, for small training providers, there may only be 1 person working in the business (them as a tutor) or there may not be a person with the IQA qualifications required working in the business.  If this were the case, the Training Provider would have to access IQA from somewhere.  Traditionally this is where satellite groups supported as Awarding Organisation did not assist.  However, this is where iPET Network breaks the mould!  We build registration packages which include IQA services for that student meaning Training Providers do not have to outsource, they work with us directly! This process will also identify directly with you any improvements that can be made to the delivery of the qualification and any points for your own personal development.

The certificates…

Certificates can not be released until an EQA audit has been performed.  By being part of a group, Training Centres are tied to when the main Centre is audited (unless they want to pay extra for additional audits).  Most have annual audits which means students can be waiting up to a year before gaining their certificates! With feedback and our own experience, iPET Network have turned this on its head and direct Training Providers are encouraged to book regular EQA slots using their banked EQA time (time set during the approval process). This means a Training Provider could book a monthly slot and have certificates released after every students training has completed. No waiting. Happy students. Better customer service. Excellent reviews!

The profitability…

When comparing Satellite Centre costs and that of being a direct Training Provider with an Awarding Organisation, it is important to consider everything included such as the teaching materials mentioned, the EQA audits but also the things that are not included. For example, direct Training Providers can have a listing on the iPET Network website and student enquiries are directed straight from there. Only the main Training Centre is listed with 1 set of contact details, not all of those in the group.

The best route for you…

After reading this I hope you have got a clearer idea of the best route for you.  This will depend greatly on your experience and ability (and confidence!)  

The conclusion…

iPET Network has been designed as an Awarding Organisation that welcomes the biggest to the smallest Training Providers, giving opportunity and access to all.  We do not discriminate on size, or turnover or numbers of learners and the package a Training Provider needs is always available.  We encourage new Training Providers to contact us to find out more and meet some of our wonderful team, building relationships that can make a difference.

iPET Network | EDUCATION FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR PETS, FOR THE FUTURE

iPET Network is an Awarding Organisation regulated by Ofqual, CCEA Regulation and Qualifications Wales.  

Our Training Providers are a collection of schools, colleges, universities, trainers, coaches and mentors approved to deliver a range of qualifications for the Canine and Feline sector. 

Tel: 0800 4334700

Email: info@ipetnetwork.co.uk

71 Clifton Drive, Leftwich, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 8BQ

www.ipetnetwork.co.uk