IT training and certifications

[DavePa]

We are looking at training for our IT team (including me) and wonder what others do - instructor led or self study? If self study then single course at a time or annual pass for access to a range of materials?

 

Cheap option: https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-gb/volume-licensing-program.aspx

Expensive option: CBT Nuggets

Very expensive option: Microsoft - Administering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (M10747) - globalknowledge.co.uk

 

Somebody passing a server administrator exam brings additional value, do you recognise that financially?

[Edu-IT]

Worth a look here for training at a centre. You can get a grant too.

 

NEOS IT Training Ltd

Tech Partnership Training Fund - The Tech Partnership

[Sagima]

We prepurchase some training from QA then pick what instructor-led courses we want at a discount depending on the course until the amount is used up. There's normally a small amount left over which we get rolled into the next year's. we've always been very pleased with them but one of my colleague seems to have a knack for ending up on a course with people who don't seem to know the prerequisites and ends up spending half the course going over stuff he's quite familiar with.

[DavePa]

Thanks for the replies, I like the idea of instructor led training and it tends to have a higher success rate although it could be argued that at £1995 per person it should! Do you get much discount from that? I'll certainly look at NEOS IT Training, their prices seem more reasonable than QA so more chance of it being passed by senior managers - as long as it is comparable quality.

[EvLPhenom]

I have done 4 Courses with NEOS and been very happy with the content and the training on all of them and would highly recommend!

[sted]

depends ive done both. For the ms exams for me i find i just read the book for the one i passed and did it quickly (for various reasons he company i worked for needed someone tp pass an ms exam in about a week so bought the book on my kindle and spent the next 5 days reading it took the exam and passed. Diddnt work on the 70-686 because stuff on the exam wasnt in the book.

 

More recently i did a 2 day powershell course that i enjoyed and one day i will make more than basic use of from IT masterclasses expert technology training - IT Masterclasses and they do courses to pass ms exams and now dont just work in york and aparantly if a course is over 3 days long there are funds avaliable to part fund these things at the moment

[Edu-IT]

I have done 4 Courses with NEOS and been very happy with the content and the training on all of them and would highly recommend!

Do they provide any resources?

[FragglePete]

I've done several courses also with Neos-IT. I do recommend them, it's just getting into Worcester that can be a PITA.

 

Pete

[Edu-IT]

Does anyone know the new address for the Neos Training centre?

[StevieM]

I'm there now! Well, not NOW...I'm in a pub NOW...but this week. They've moved to County House, St Mary's St. As of this morning, they were waiting for BT to reconnect their phone line. It's a good job you posted in the wrong forum first or I wouldn't have seen this. Serendipity rocks!

[Dos_Box]

Moving to correct forum.

[Leeoakley]

Steve what were you doing down the pub and where was my invite

 

As Steve mentioned we are now located here: County House, St Mary's St, Worcester. WR11HB.

 

The grant mentioned above will give you a 50% discount (once the course has been sat and the money paid back to the school).

 

This effectively gives you a £50 day rate on WS2012 courses and for something like an SCCM course, a rate of £100 a day.

[StevieM]

@Leeoakley - Will you be running the AD and GP courses anytime in September? I've had a look on your website, but the schedule is currently only showing through to August. While I didn't mind doing the Server Admin course during the Spring Break, I'd prefer not to take a whole week out of my Summer Holidays (unless I can get paid overtime of course!).

 

As for what I was doing down the pub, well it was a lovely evening so I took Jess for a nice long (5-mile...ish) walk from the B&B in Hallow along the River Severn into the city centre. Had a couple of pints in The Pheasant followed by a couple more in the King Charles. Jess tried to drag me into the Wheatsheaf on the walk back, but they'd stopped serving. You're all more than welcome to join us next time.

[Leeoakley]

I used to live in hallow, if you go the other way there is a nice pub on the river that does some cracking beer and cider (be careful with the cider). I will do you a map when you head in next

 

As for September we don't run an awful lot of the popular schools course as a lot of the schools technicians can't train due to the new school year, October we have:

 

Active Directory 12 - 14 October

Group Policy 15-16 October

[StevieM]

Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions. It might be getting a bit dark and murky by October to be doing a full week in a remote B&B. I may hedge my bets and split the dates.

 

Thanks, Lee. I'll email you when I've made up my mind.