Pitman Training

Pitman Training is a career training provider for adults, selling courses, diplomas and one-day seminars that can be studied online from home or at a local training center. The homepage traces it back to its founding "by Sir Isaac Pitman in 1837" and claims "189 years of changing lives". It lists "250+ Self-paced and flexible courses, which you can start at any time", "65+ Centres in the UK, Ireland, and internationally", and "1M+ Courses completed with our unique training, based on practical activity using live software." Its head office address is in Wetherby, and the company behind it is Pitman Training Group LTD. The main reader is an adult retraining or moving up at work, though the site also sells staff training and apprenticeships to employers.

What the catalog covers

The subject range is built around office and career skills. Office and secretarial training covers general office skills, legal and medical secretary diplomas, EA and PA work, secretarial and receptionist roles, shorthand and speedwriting, and touch typing. Microsoft Office courses cover Excel, Word and the wider suite. Finance training covers Sage, AAT, accounting, bookkeeping and payroll. Business and management covers communication, HR, project management and hospitality, and marketing covers event management, social media and general marketing. Visual design covers graphic design, Photoshop and web design. There is also English language training and a featured Business Startup Diploma.

IT and coding

The IT page is the deepest part of the catalog. Diplomas built around CompTIA certifications include the IT Support Technician Diploma, which teaches learners "how to install, repair, upgrade, and maintain PCs and operating systems", the IT Security Engineer Diploma, the Cloud Support Engineer Diploma, and advanced versions of each, plus an Advanced Network Support Engineer Diploma. Single courses prepare for specific exams: the A+ Series for "a career in PC support", Azure Administrator for "Microsoft's AZ-104 exam", Azure Fundamentals for "Microsoft's AZ-900 exam", AWS Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, Advanced Security Practitioner for the CASP+ exam, Cloud Platform Security and Cloud Security Administration. The page calls CompTIA Cloud+ "a must-have for cloud computing."

For coding, the Web Developer Diploma teaches "the coding languages required to be a front-end web developer", and the Advanced Software and Web Developer Diploma covers "HTML, CSS, and JavaScript", with a second version that adds Python. A Programming Fundamentals Diploma and a Software Development Diploma, described as an "entry route to a job as a programmer or developer", round out the range. The site states that "All our IT courses are CPD-accredited."

Personal development and seminars

The personal development page mixes self-paced courses with tutor-led one-day seminars. Courses include Health and Safety Essentials, Leadership Skills, Time Management and a Professional Development Award. Seminars cover applying for jobs, appraisal skills, better business letters, business writing, communication skills, customer care, report writing, successful job interviews, time management, working with assertiveness and working with stress, with some held only at the five Scottish centers. The page lists the transferable skills it aims to build, among them "Effective communication skills for the workplace", "Improved self-discipline and time management" and "Improved interview etiquette".

How study works

Pitman describes its model as blended: "Our courses and diplomas can be studied remotely from the comfort of your own home. You also have the option to also study in our centers if you prefer face-to-face learning." Online study runs through the myPitman portal. The FAQ explains who teaches: "Some of our certifications are studied online using our interactive platform and some of our diplomas are conducted via online seminars," and it says Pitman's "extensive collection of tutor-led training videos combines the flexibility of online learning with the live guidance of expert instructors."

The timetable is set out plainly. "We have monthly intakes for every course." Students are advised to "allocate 8 to 10 hours per week", and "All our courses take up to 3 months to complete and our diplomas take up to 1 year." On exams, "One re-sit is provided for our courses," and the company says it has "very high pass rates in completing the assessments." The site links to a page for booking an exam and a free typing speed test. Course advisors offer a free consultation before enrolling and support during study.

On what the certificate is worth, the FAQ answers directly: "Some courses allow you to progress towards recognised qualifications. However, a Pitman Certificate is already a respected credential valued by employers and an excellent addition to your CV."

Cost and funding

Prices are not listed on the course pages. The FAQ says "The cost of our courses and diplomas varies depending on the programme you choose," and asks learners to fill in an enquiry form for details. Payment can be spread: "we offer various payment plans up to 36 months to help split the cost over a manageable period of time." Self-funded learners can pay upfront or use a payment plan, which the site says is available at many centers. Pitman also helps learners ask their employer to pay, with training outlines and letters, and points to grants such as "the Skills Development Scotland ITAs and the ReAct programme in Wales", managed by each center.

Several success stories involve the Amazon Career Choice program, which the homepage says "supports employees in gaining recognised qualifications for long-term career development." One describes Hadeeqa, who studied an Administrative Assistant Diploma at Pitman Training Peterborough through that program and moved into an administrative role in the NHS. Another follows Andrew, who retrained after losing his job and, four years later, secured an accountancy role.

For employers

A staff training section offers employee, corporate and group training, staff touch typing, and tailor-made programs. Pitman also runs apprenticeships, including paralegal, medical administrator and business administrator routes, and explains how employers can fund them through the Growth and Skills Levy.

Who it suits and who it does not

Pitman Training suits adults who want a structured, career-focused qualification with a choice between home study and a local classroom: someone moving into office administration or a secretarial role, an aspiring IT support technician working toward CompTIA certifications, a career changer learning web development, or an employee funded through an employer scheme. Monthly intakes, a three-month ceiling on courses and payment plans up to 36 months make the commitment easy to plan.

The main caveat is price transparency. Every course needs an enquiry before a learner sees a figure, so comparing Pitman against other providers takes a conversation with an advisor first.