A leading provider of courses, diplomas, certification, seminars and business skills training. Flexible, self-paced learning to fit in with busy lifestyles. Courses enroll every week. ... ...

Reasons For Working

I was in London at the weekend for the national Pitman conference. It was quite an adventure - the drive down, booking into the hotel, negotiating the subway network, finding shops & eating places. We also had to dash to Regents Street to pick up a dinner suit.I was pretty tired by the end of it! But then I remembered what life used to be like. I was unable to work for many years due to ill-health following a serious car accident. I am only able to work now because I have a hand-controlled car (my ankles were crushed in the accident so driving 'normally' is impossible). Life was dull, to say the least. I had no need to wear smart suits, no need to travel and book into hotels on business, no expense account!This weekend was a big rush - physically and mentally - and it was wonderful. It was so good needing to be in a certain place by a certain time, needing a travel bad for my dinner dress, needing little travel sizes of toileties, programming the SatNav for a long way away, all the stuff that goes with traveling on business.I appreciate working, even though it is tiring at times. I like feeling part of society again! I like contributing to the economy and getting something out of it. One of my reasons for getting into the Pitman network was to be able to help people. And we certainly do. People who haven't worked for years are back in work after training with us. That's a good feeling.

Social networking

Pitman has been in business for 170 years, when Sir Isaac Pitman started colleges for people to learn shorthand. We have diversified a bit since then! But the Preston branch only opened this year, so we have been busily working at getting ourselves known in the Lancashire area.One of the most successful things we do is participate in social networking - and it is thoroughly enjoyable too!Our blog is very popular - http://pitmanpreston.blogspot.com/2009/10/going-mad-and-loving-it.html?spref=fb. We also have a page on Facebook - Pitman Training Preston - and we tweet on Twitter (pitmanpreston).Things are very different from when I (Michelle, Centre Manager) was in business in the 1980s (I have been in teaching since then). Everything then was about print, but sadly newspapers have lost their edge and websites have become much more important. I have been very impressed by the number of people who find us through TouchLocal. I think people trust sites that contain reviews by the public. I have been a member of Ciao for many years and always go there first before buying virtually anything new. Power to the people!

Specialist Services

Specialists in flexible, self-paced learning - to suit all learning styles

Trade Bodies / Associations

British Computer Society (ECDL, E-Type exams) International Association of Book-Keepers (finance exams) OCR (various office & IT skills exams) AMSPAR (medical administration exams) Home Learning College exams etc

Trading Since

1900