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The late comedienne Linda Smith once joked, “I love Waitrose – it’s that little bit more expensive.�
Sad but true, until the recent economic collapse, everyone it seems bought into the view that �Price is an indicator of quality�, or �Low prices for cheap goods�. The marketing boys had it all sewn up – imagine the luscious Marks & Spencer adverts, with “This is not ordinary food, this is….� Conversely, the food shops low cost ranges were acknowledged by ultra thrifty shoppers but most of us didn’t give a second glance.
In Computer training, high price colleges (aren’t they the best - if you have the money - why else would so many people use them?) acknowledged that colleges exist who’ll teach IT less expensively but be warned, it won’t be as good.
Then a short time passes, the economy is in tatters, and all at once value is all the rage! Discerning shoppers stop visiting Waitrose, and instead discover the delights of Aldi and Lidl. Investment bankers and their fat profits are out of favour, and we all look more closely at what we buy.
Why were we so impressed by paying higher prices? Look a little closer into the UK training market, and there’s a lot to discover. Just because we need more skilled programmers and networking professionals, are we really getting a good deal coughing up over five thousand pounds to get qualified, or are we missing something better? It’s a bit rich that many computer training providers are preaching one thing whilst practicing another - supplying a workforce for the digital age using old fashioned methods. Why do students have to read through books when all information can be downloaded onto discs? Do we really have to drive to training centres, spending more money for our overnights to get teaching we could have online? Round the clock Interactive support should be available for me anywhere – at my convenience, but not at my cost.
With newer, user friendly training options on offer at less than half these prices, maybe it’s time we woke up to the fact that when it comes to electronic learning, value is great quality and great price. A new order is asserting itself in Computer training – in the words used by supermarkets, it’s “Simply Value� prices, for “Best Ever� products. In this uncertain world we’re living in, I’d say that’s a step in the right direction.
(C) Scott Edwards - www.learninglolly.com. Scott Edwards has been involved in the IT and Training Industry for 30 years.
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