Top 5 Guide to Choosing a Great Course

If you’ve found what you think is the ideal course online that’s cheap and offers everything you could ever want to learn in 1 day, think again!  So many people want a piece of the pie that is the health & beauty industry and some Education Providers are not there to create future professionals, but wish only to gain profit from the naivety of someone new to this world.  To be taken seriously as a prospective tech, therapist, stylist etc it takes more than a cheap 1-day course that’ll teach you 5 areas of skill.  It’s a buyer beware market on the internet and here’s our Top 5 Poor Quality Education pointers

1. Cost – The age-old adage “If it looks to good to be true, it probably is” rings loudly in education within the nail and beauty sector and is also trickling into some areas of hair education too. Quality courses come at a cost as a good provider will be well qualified, well experienced, insured and be able to provide full after course support.  Kits are more likely to be included by good Education Providers and will be industry standard products or equipment.
2. Pre-requisites – Does the course have pre-requisites? This could be GCSE’s, manicure qualifications, Level 2 or Level 3 NVQs in the subject and more.  If you are taking a course check how much experience is required.  If the course is for a technical or difficult procedure and there are no pre-requisites, consider if you will be able to get insurance to practice the skill you will be paying to learn.
3. Course Content – What’s involved? How is the theory taught?  Is there an assessment before you qualify?  If not, you may not be getting the best education.  You won’t know if you’re safe to practice.  If there is assessment, how is this carried out and when?  Are there case studies to be completed?  Theory, assessment and case studies are necessary and relevant to many practical skills courses.
4. Who is the approving the course? There are many national qualification bodies and recognised accrediting agencies. Without the right stamp on your certificate, you may not be able to get insured to practice.
5. Insurance – Check this on two levels. Firstly, is the Education Provider insured to teach and provide education services?  Secondly, once you’ve completed the discount course will you be able to work on the public and get insured.  If you haven’t had great training and then you practice without insurance and you injure a client, they can sue you.  Our society is becoming more and more litigious and without insurance you leave yourself open to personal liability and potentially being bankrupted.

Good education costs for a reason, save for a bit longer, ask about payment plans and make sure you give yourself the best chance to improve your future.

Top 5 Guide to Standing Out as a Quality Education Provider

Starting a new journey should be exciting and lead to great things, but in the world of social media it is becoming harder for potential students to spot a great educator as so many businesses grab attention with price based cheap courses attracting unknowing future professionals into their low-quality, high-volume certification schemes.  How can you stand out from these poor-quality providers?

1. Pre-Requisites – What do your students need to have before they enrol with you? If you are providing CPD or entry level accredited courses what is the base line your students need? For many skills in the industry, you need to have good literacy and numeracy at GCSE level or Literacy/Numeracy Skills certification. Do you provide support to students that may need extra educational support.
2. Cost – Value for money will be evident in the length of course, delegate numbers, value of kit, professional recognition. As a quality Education Provider, it is unlikely that you can provide courses that would be deemed “cheap”.  You should have a mind of information and experience to impart and comes at a cost.
3. Accreditation – All Education Providers should be accredited by a nationally or internationally recognise body. This may be an industry accreditation scheme such as BABTAC, ABT, The Guild or a national qualification such as NVQ or VRQ.  Whichever style of education you wish to teach, make sure your certificates hold value and easy access to ALL insurers so Learners are not restricted.
4. Insurance – As an Education Provider you should be able to provide evidence of your academy insurance as well as information on where insurance is available for your students following qualification.
5. Reviews & Testimonials – Encourage reviews from your students as well as asking for testimonials. Great comments from your past students will encourage more new students.    Like any business, training academies and colleges can only progress and grow with happy customers who go on to succeed. These success stories are invaluable to your business and to your marketing.