The Skills Network

The Skills Network is a distance learning provider based in Selby, North Yorkshire, England, that sells fully online courses to individual learners and supplies training to employers, colleges and training partners. Its course finder lists 264 courses, from AAT bookkeeping and accounting qualifications to short courses, skills bootcamps and a personal development program, all delivered through what the site calls "an award-winning e-learning platform." For a learner, the offer is a catalog of self-paced, tutor-supported courses bought one at a time. For an employer or a school, it is training delivery and learning resources built around that same platform.

What learners get

Every course page describes the same delivery model: a "Fully online course" that learners can "Study from anywhere, at any time." The course finder filters by a single learning method, "Fully online learning and assessment," so both the study materials and the assessments sit online; the personal development program lists its methods as online materials and online assessment. On the AAT bookkeeping qualifications the benefits list adds "Support from qualified tutors," and the Introduction to Bookkeeping unit promises "Automatic enrolment with an immediate start," so there is no fixed intake date to wait for.

The catalog is broader than its accounting core. The course finder sorts courses into categories that include Accounting and Finance; Business Leadership and Management; Childcare and Education; Digital; Health and Fitness; Health and Safety; Health, Social Care and Wellbeing; Independent Living; Marketing; Mental Health; Online Safety and Security; Personal Development and Employability; Retail and Hospitality; and Sustainability, plus separate groups for short courses, short course bundles and programs. Course levels run from CPD through Level 1 to Level 5, and a learner can sort the list by level, by price or by the newest additions.

Accounting is where the site goes into the most detail. The Skills Network describes itself as an "Official AAT provider delivering approved AAT courses," and AAT is named as the awarding body on each AAT course page. The Level 2 Introduction to Bookkeeping is a single unit of 65 hours that introduces the double-entry bookkeeping system and the documents and processes around it, using both manual and digital systems. The Level 2 Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping runs for 12 weeks across two units, Introduction to Bookkeeping and Principles of Bookkeeping Controls, the second covering control accounts, journals and reconciliations up to redrafting the trial balance. The Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping runs for 40 weeks and covers Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements for sole traders and partnerships, and Tax Processes for Business, which teaches preparing and submitting VAT returns to HM Revenue and Customs and touches on payroll. The pages note that the AAT syllabus changed in September 2022 and link to an explanation of the changes. Beyond the bookkeeping certificates, the course finder lists the AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting, the AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting, and single units in Business Awareness, Financial Accounting: Preparing Financial Statements, and Management Accounting Techniques.

The Essentials Personal Development Programme shows the other side of the catalog. It is aimed, in the site's words, at "anyone wanting to develop their skills for life and work," and is built in three strands. Career development covers using social media and LinkedIn to search for jobs, applying for jobs, writing a CV, identifying career options, planning for interviews and presenting yourself, and handling problems and digital skills once in work. Social awareness covers communication, equality and diversity, rights, safeguarding and Prevent, common mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression, nutrition and exercise, online safety, household and professional budgeting, and current affairs. Self development covers study targets, revision, referencing styles, essay writing, critical thinking and long-term memory.

For employers, colleges and partners

The site runs a separate track for organizations. Employers are offered Skills Bootcamps and courses for their staff, and the AAT course pages name employers looking for bookkeeping training for their teams as one of the target audiences. Education providers and partners are offered content development, learning resources, blended learning, curriculum solutions, a Learner Management System and a tool called EQUAL Assess, with Functional Skills resources available as well. The pitch to businesses is the same line on every course page: "With our combination of market-leading learning resources, exceptional customer service and award-winning LMS solutions, we are confident we can assist with your education and training delivery needs." Businesses are sent to an enquiry form rather than a published price list.

Prices, funding and qualifications

Prices are published per course, and the basket shows totals including VAT. On the course finder, the AAT Advanced Certificate in Bookkeeping, the AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting and the AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting are each listed at a full cost of £340.00, the AAT Foundation Certificate in Bookkeeping at £150.00, and the single AAT units, including Introduction to Bookkeeping, Business Awareness, Financial Accounting and Management Accounting Techniques, at £90.00 each. The finder distinguishes three payment types, full cost, direct debit and funded, and the Level 3 and Level 2 bookkeeping certificate pages both mark direct debit as available next to the price, so those courses can be paid by direct debit rather than in one sum. A filter for fully funded courses in England and in Scotland covers learners who qualify for public funding. The personal development program shows no price and sends learners to a contact form. The site publishes no subscription option; each course is bought on its own.

There is one cost every AAT learner should budget for separately. Each AAT page carries the note: "Exams and AAT membership are not included; these will need to be arranged by yourself." The pages also list "No hidden costs" as a benefit, which covers the course fee itself rather than the external exam and membership fees.

On qualifications, the bookkeeping certificate pages promise learners can "Gain an accredited level 3 qualification" or "Gain an accredited level 2 qualification," describe the result as "Internationally recognised," and mention "Progression opportunities to become a chartered and certified accountant." Those claims sit with the AAT qualifications, where AAT is the awarding body. The personal development program describes its benefit more modestly as "A great addition to a CV." The site links to its Trustpilot reviews and to an FAQ page for further questions.

Who it suits

The Skills Network fits a learner in England who wants an AAT bookkeeping or accounting qualification without attending a college, especially someone in a junior finance role or a small business owner who keeps their own books. The per-course prices are published up front, and the direct debit option on the certificates spreads the cost. The stated course lengths, 65 hours for a single unit, 12 weeks for the Level 2 certificate and 40 weeks for the Level 3 one, give a realistic picture of the commitment before buying. Learners who may qualify for funding can check the fully funded filter first.

It also suits employers that want to put staff through bookkeeping training or a skills bootcamp, and colleges or training providers that want ready-made learning resources, blended learning content or a learner management system from one supplier.

The caveats are practical ones. The format is self-paced online study with tutor support rather than scheduled live classes, so learners who need a classroom rhythm will have to supply their own. AAT exam and membership fees come on top of the course price, so the full cost of a qualification is higher than the figure in the basket.