Technical Trainers

[cookerfix]

At last ❗ I wish I was 20 years younger and had better health I would apply like a shot ❗ ❗

I would like to wish UK Whitegoods and the future Trainers all the best in their attempt to bring the sort of training that Manufacturers engineers take for granted.

I would urge all you Independents out there to ta advantage of any opportunity to gain further knowledge that these sort of courses can give you.

Good luck

Mal

[kwatt]

Re: Technical Trainers

Thanks Mal, the sentiments are much appreciated and it’s nice to know that we’re on the right track.

And you opened up a line of thought just nicely, this is open to engineers if you think you have what it takes, apply! I can promise you that you won’t be bored working with us. 😉

We hope to offer training on a range of subjects in the fullness of time across the UK and we’re bringing the training to you, not the other way about, so for once the mountain is going to Mohammed! I also truly hope and believe that the independents will use the information to far, far greater effect than any manufacturer employed engineers ever would as it’s in all our interests to retain our customer’s business. Quite frankly the better and more professional we are in what we do the greater the chance that the customer will come back to us and not go elsewhere.

But there are several knock-on effects for us as well…

I hope that better educated engineers will make Repairs@ still more of a success than it is, for some more than others right now, but it’ll all slot into place in time.

It should mean that the independents are better skilled and educated than many a network out there and I hope that more manufacturers recognise and reward those skills with financial reward as well as actually wanting to use the independents as opposed alternatives. We already deliver better service, I want to show what we really are capable of delivering.

So you’re spot on, there’s a lot to be gained from this for everyone and the best bit is that we’re delivering it all for free to you guys, we’re handing you all this on a plate and all we’re asking for in return is that you help yourselves and get involved along with giving us a bit of support here. In effect we’re giving a lot without asking for much in return and, there’s more to come!

As that tagline I wrote, what seems a lifetime ago, says, “It’s your trade, be a part of it”

K.

[andy2]

Re: Technical Trainers

cookerfix wrote:

I would urge all you Independents out there to ta advantage of any opportunity to gain further knowledge that these sort of courses can give you.

Good luck

Mal

Courses ? please explain

[Penguin45]

Re: Technical Trainers

Roughly, it goes like this. You will have realised that substantial numbers of engineers are employed in medium sized firms that survive by doing contract work for Work Providers. This may be “in guarantee” work for minor manufacturers, or “extended warranty” work for insurance companies. UKW has the opportunity to provide training to these engineers (and UKW members) on appliances which are covered by the above remit, as well as possibly doing the basic training to new recruits to the industry.

For UKW, it offers credibilty within the industry and a good financial opportunity to the trainers and to UKW as employers. Furthermore, we, the membership, will have access to info on newer appliances that much sooner.

Hope that clarifies things a bit,

Cheers,
Chris.

[kwatt]

Re: Technical Trainers

There’s a lot in this for everyone, but as Mal originally said the concept is to bring training to the engineers out there that normally would have no access to it at all. That may be generalised knowledge and understanding of appliances in general as, let’s face it, we can all learn more as there’s always something we don’t know. Or we can do “point specific” training on a range or a single appliance either for ourselves or on behalf of whomever.

There’s a couple of points there, in that the training will come to you for the most part, obviously in more rural areas we’ll organise a venue and do it that way and we hope to be able to provide multi-media and/or written notes to boot.

Cost to the guys = the time to listen.

Since the route will now be there to deliver training the only reason for anyone not to provide it is down to cost, as in they don’t think it’s worth it or that we’re not worth bothering with.

In the end, it’s a benefit to the independents. I’ve said before quite often that we all know that we all mostly provide better service and always have done, this makes us still better I hope.

As for the credibility Chris, yes I suppose it does, although I didn’t really consider that to be honest. I couldn’t give a hoot about it in many ways so long as we get better at what we do, get more organised and as a result of that get more and better work, what people think of UKW outside the independents is secondary to me as UKW’s job is to deliver for the independent repairers. Up until this point in time we’ve delivered a lot of information, keeping everyone informed of what’s going on out there, then we started Repairs@ and started to deliver the work (a project still in its initial stages) and now we’re going to deliver the training to reinforce the quality of the repairers.

Having said that, we can also train non-independents as well if we have the time to do so and I will not shut any door as I have always said.

K.

[admin]

Re: Technical Trainers

We have already identified that the only way to train independent businesses is to take the training to them(as Ken points out). We therefore also realise that a full day training for an engineer means no revenue for him or the business he works for, a backlog of work and a programming headache.

So insert the “Training Module” instead of courses. A 90/120 minute module that can be delivered to suit a businesses working day, allowing some production, no travelling to speak of and most importantly increased engineer ability.

We will organise the training to suit as many independents as possible and minimise the inconvenience to your day and provide refreshments too. There will be follow up support to the training with either written documentation or DVD support to take away. Another plus is that this is full time training, we will be able to “hit” an area to ensure we are available to train at your convenience, if not, we will return to offer it again.

How will you get involved in this?

Relax and we will contact you, 4512 (businesses) of you already advertise your services in the UK, we know who you are and where you are.

As these forums are becoming international with many sign ups from Europe and the Far East, if you are such a company and would like to chat about this project, please make your interest known to admin.

Thanks

Kevin

[andy2]

Re: Technical Trainers

Thanks for the replies gentlemen – now I understand.

The only question I have is, why you feel it necessary to have to deliver this training ‘in person’ so to speak.

Would it not be easier to make these ‘modules’ available online through this web site? maybe as downloadable PDF’s.

Certainly save you a lot of hassle especially as you are not making any charge for this service.

“Cost to the guys = the time to listen” – (Or do you intend to charge the businesses that employ engineers?)

It sounds like a brilliant idea. But a lot of hard work for someone compliling these modules.

Andy

[kwatt]

Re: Technical Trainers

Simple, you can’t beat the personal touch. 😉

Serioulsy there’s a lot more to it than just that and some interaction and a little explanation goes a long way in my opinion. We could, as you rightly point out, deliver just remote training but it just doesn’t carry the same understanding with it and interactive modules don’t learn how to be better or what to deliver next whilst a live trainer does.

UKW has always been strong on communication through the web site, meetings, emails, IRC and a host of other means this is simply another method of improving communications for all. And at the same time we deliver a tangible benefit that many can benefit from, seems a good idea to me.

Training, of any kind, costs money to deliver. Sorry but it’s a simple fact of life that there’s no escaping from. But my take on it is that training should be provided at no cost to those that actually have to go do the work and, should any company want training delivered then there may be a cost attached, it depends on the circumstance in all honesty but we have not ruled out any possibilities.

As for the hard work, you don’t know the half of it!

K.

[Alex]

Re: Technical Trainers

If a venue is required in the South/West, I can provide. 3 Miles fom J23 M5 half way between Bristol & Exeter.

We have a small training room with white board and a drop down OHP screen. Can provide TV/Video and DVD playback if reqd. (No P.C. projector available though).

There is a wet area in the workshop for dismantling or testing.

We are used by E/Lux and was used by Merloni as well as Brandt when we were their agents. We are also used for the Lec roadshow.

We can arrange a buffet at a sensible price. Maximum number for comfort is 6 plus trainer.

Alex

Alex

[kwatt]

Re: Technical Trainers

That’s very good of you Alex and the offer is appreciated, we’ll also very likely take you up on that at some point.

John and Kevin have already offered similar as well and that also is very appreciated.

It just shows you that we can all work together and not just to be branded as trouble makers as I should think the this is extremely positive.

Thanks

K.

[alexa]

Quote “No one can venture upon business activities without at least a general grounding in the law”

I personally think that your priority should be to employ a business manager to further UKwhitegoods interests along so many of the lines that are mooted in so many of the threads

Insurance, Puchasing power, Consumer issues, WEEE, New Sales, CORGI, Consumer complaints, Spares, Repair@ etc etc

This person would also bring a cohesiveness instead of what appears to me to be a rambling association

It is my belief that how to run a business is more important than what the business does.

Membership should also be offered to those “Cowboys” so that the whole industry is not affected by the “rogue traders”

Savings on insurance could be used to fund such a position as well as purchasing power dividends

Or at the least a manager could provide PAT-UK with the support he needs with his current consumer issue

[kwatt]

Re: Technical Trainers

Many of these things are already in hand Alexas, some of them well under way but instead of one, we have three each applying their own unique talents to the areas that they’re good at. 😉

We cannot be an association as such but that’s not to say that we cannot perform some of the functions. However I’d rather not go there as we have DASA.

Membership of Repairs@ is only offered to those that agree to abide by the UKW Charter and that is monitored, there is also the AC to resolve any complaints should any arise (although all we’ve had thus far is praise from customers) and deal with it in an appropriate manner. This is an industry first to my knowledge and, again to my knowledge so far as I can see, a world first.

I have always maintained and still do, that funding can be found in many ways to support the trade, it’s just a question of getting on with it.

K.

[alexa]

My comments were intended as constructive and a pro-active approach in another direction.

I think you guys are doing a sterling job and just wonder how you manage to do so considering I believe you all do this part time

I just wish we had a similar web site/groupie downunder

where can I view AC?

[kwatt]

No offense taken at all Alexa, nor did I even percieve that your comments were intended in that manner.

You asked a few questions, I answered as best I can for now.

The AC is the Advisory Council, if you do a search you’ll find loads of stuff on it in the forums.

K.

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