With employees considered the most valuable asset a company has, investing in their future has never been more important. Vocational training qualifications are an ideal way of doing this and, in the long run, they can help provide a wellrounded knowledgeable workforce that has a good understanding of all aspects of the business they work in.

The BPMA Academy certification was designed to benefit a broad cross section of people, including personnel that are new to the industry, small business owners, those already in the industry looking for refresher courses and recent graduates of associated industry disciplines looking to pursue a career in the promotional merchandise arena.

For vocational qualifications to work it is important that they provide a comprehensive overview of an entire industry sector. The BPMA certification, the first its kind for the promotional merchandise industry, has been designed to cover all the fundamental aspects of the industry to include the selling process, marketing techniques, product knowledge, print processes, procurement, product training and legislation. The BPMA certification also includes one module within the course that is endorsed by the Institute of Sales & Marketing Management (ISMM).

Designing a course that can be best fitted around a full time career is never easy but it is essential if staff are to juggle both their day-to-day job and their vocational studies successfully. One way around this is to design a teaching course that can be conducted through distance learning where candidates can study online via a log in and password protected study tool, complemented by a compulsory introductory workshop and practical on-site factory visits.

A highlight of the course is the print process/brand application module. Designed to cover all the various key elements of the print industry, this practical print workshop module is located at various different places around the country to suit the location requirements of the individual student.

The specially designed structure of the course enables students to complete their studies at their own pace. They are expected to complete the course within three to five months with final assessments made via a comprehensive multiplechoice exam.

The Academy has seen an amazing initial uptake for the inaugural course, so much so, that the Association is now taking bookings for March 2009. Its popularity is a clear sign that the industry needed a training academy that provided a qualification dedicated specifically to the industry sector, to inject not only best practice and key skills among the new entrants to our industry, but that would also help fine tune the industry's more experienced people.

Academy teaching will be conducted through distance learning courses where candidates will be expected to study via a log in and password protected online study tool. This will also be complemented by a compulsory introductory workshop and on-site factory visit organised by the BPMA through regional resources, taking place on 23 September and 8 October 2008.

Candidates are expected to study for the qualification at their own pace, completing the course within three to five months. Assessments will be made via a comprehensive multiplechoice final exam. The sales module of the certificate is officially endorsed by The Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (ISMM).

For more information contact Daniela Arena on 0207 689 5556 or e-mail daniela@bpma.co.uk

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