Training Services

Thanks to its buying power, the BSA Buying Group is able to offer significant savings on training courses via its partner supplier, the largest buyer of training courses in the UK.

What types of training are available via the BSA Buying Group's approved Partners?

Instructor-led courses, e-learning courses, training videos and webinars, covering management development and business; personal development; customer service; sales and marketing; finance and accounting; law; IT and project management; HR and employment; quality and health & safety as well as specialised sector courses and qualification & certification programmes.

What types of Accreditation can the BSA Buying Group and its Partners handle?

Our comprehensive IT catalogue ranges from certified courses for vendors like HP, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Red Hat, Sun, Cisco and VMWare and more, through to highly specialised skills focused training on subjects such as IT Security, Software Testing, web design and running data centres. Our catalogue of Project Management courses covers all major aspects of Project and Programme Management including the Foundation & Practitioner certifications, Management of Risk (MoR), and Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) based on the PRINCE2 methodology as well as courses leading to ISEB, APM, or PMI qualifications. Our suite of courses on IT Service Management is based on the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and incorporates courses for those just starting in the profession, those requiring a version 2 to 3 upgrade, or for people working towards ITIL Expert certification. Our extensive course catalogue features these and many other accreditations and certifications that can increase you productivity and career prospects.

What are the Benefits of joining the BSA Buying Group for Training & Development?

• Significant savings – As the UK’s largest independent buyer of training you can benefit from our Partner's buying power.
• Impartial advice – It’s in their interest to make sure you go on the right training course. They have a team of skilled learning advisors who will work with you to understand your training needs and recommend the best option for you saving time and money.
• Quality benchmarked providers – Following every course they ask all customers for feedback on the training received from the standard of the venue through to the quality and relevance of the course.
• Nationwide coverage – With almost 6,000 courses and 100 training providers they provide courses that are close and convenient to you. And if it is not in the catalogue they will source the right course for you.
• Flexible approach – They have a network of training providers but also a number of freelance trainers who can tailor a course to suit your particular requirements and deliver on your site.
• Simple booking process – You can make your booking online or over the phone by talking to one of their highly experienced learning advisors.

Why should I outsource my training requirements?

• Small and medium sized businesses cannot afford to employ their own in-house training function and yet learning and development is just as important in these companies as it is in large corporations. We can fill this gap by providing the same benefits that larger corporations get from having their own in-house training team, namely:
• Single point of contact for the procurement and administration of all and every possible training need.
• Direct access to our network of vetted best-of-breed courses and providers covering all subject matter areas and covering instructor-led training, group in-house training and e-learning.
• Discounted prices from these training providers on par with those negotiated by the largest corporate buyers.
• Advice from experienced learning experts on training needs, training methods, and course selection.
• Downloadable documents, templates, guides, manuals, videos, podcasts, and forms to aid and educate on performance management, skills management, curriculum design, compliance and training evaluation.
• Management of your own training records and production of reports.

What training services can the BSA Buying Group and Partners provide?

Our Partner's online portal has almost 6,000 courses and access to over 1,000 training associates who will provide in house training if required. In addition, they can provide you with advice and guidance on training interventions, provide you with reports around training attendance, training spend and training effectiveness.

What peace of mind do we have that the suppliers used will deliver quality training?

Our Partner only recruits reputable and appropriately qualified Training Providers used by the UK's leading blue chip and FTSE 100 organisations. They are vendor-independent which means they do not employ trainers or have any ownership of training providers, and so remain entirely on your side of the fence and are completely impartial in their advice and recommendations.

Can training be delivered in-house?

Yes. In-house group courses are run typically at your offices or at a venue rented specially for the occasion and will be dedicated solely to your own employees. Our Partner will happily run any course in our public schedule as an in-company option like this. They can also source and supply trainers to run any subject and any kind of training you need, in any location that suits you. In house group courses can be more cost-effective if you need to train above a certain number of people in the same skills and they can be tailored to suit your specific requirements.

Do you evaluate your training courses?

Yes. Following every course we ask all customers for feedback on the training received from the standard of the venue through to the quality and relevance of the course. The information you provide allows us to measure and improve the quality of the training we offer through our Service Partners.

What support do you offer?

Our Partners have a dedicated team of skilled learning advisors who offer impartial advice and will work with you to understand your training needs and recommend the best option for you saving time and money. Their specialist team are extremely knowledgeable and friendly and will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

What are the benefits of joining the BSA Buying Group for Training Services?

• Significant and sustainable reduction of your existing spend in this category thanks to the buying power of the BSA Buying Group.
• Reduced supplier base - this in turn reduces administration costs (i.e. fewer purchase orders, invoices, payment queries)
• The opportunity to develop closer more beneficial customer/supplier relationships and focus on added value services
• Management information - detailed information on all expenditure, giving you accountability and visibility and providing assistance in budget control
• Supplier Performance Appraisal - the BSA Consortium constantly monitors all supplier performance. This is key to developing a continuous improvement philosophy.

Take action to reduce your training costs - call us now on 0845 555 3344.