CIPD Courses Near Me?  What Are The Options?

I was discussing the various options for CIPD study the other day with a colleague.  I googled CIPD courses near me to see what came up.  We agreed that with the growth in online learning it is much harder to find appropriate learning options that are nearby.   A very quick search on CIPD courses near me brings up a couple of colleges and addresses for CIPD study centres.  But I know are not offering face to face learning. The CIPD charges per address so the bigger providers can capitalise on that to make sure their name stands out.

So as a CIPD student how do I find out what’s best for me?

Face to Face, Online? Or Blended Online – a Combination of the Two?

Face to face learning in a classroom is clear – you go to a college or training provider’s office and attend classes in person.

But what about online courses?  After all you can’t really get any nearer than on your laptop at home.  And the CIPD Centre Finder tool brings up a lot of centres – many with multiple addresses.  I am constantly told by callers that it’s really difficult to find a CIPD study centre. Unless you are looking for the cheapest price and want to go with a mass market provider.  Those providers spend lots of money to ensure you find them at the top of the search pages.

We make sure that the more discerning people professionals know their options before they sign up to a CIPD course.

There are broadly two types of online CIPD courses.  The traditional online elearning solution or a more supported online live blended solution for those that prefer a more personal learning experience.  Both have pros and cons.  Some providers offer both.  Prices vary dramatically and the old saying you get what you pay for often applies so it needs careful thought and a bit of research.

Traditionally online elearning providers have tended to be more of a clickthrough arrangement. A vast amount of money will have been invested in the systems.  The materials look impressive at a glance with slideshows and then quizzes to check your learning.  Because there is little human interaction these courses can be rolled out to many students very easily.  A quick click of a buy now button and you’re signed up and ready to start.

Completely Self Paced?  Or Timetabled but with Flexibility?

You can work round the clock if you want to complete your qualification quickly and get a CIPD tick in the box.  As a result they can be delivered at quite a low cost.  Live webinars are sometimes included and this is one of the key factors that affects the price you pay.  How many people are on them?  How many do you get?  Do you get a chance to chat to a coach or just type in a message box?  Is it really interactive if there are big numbers online?  Are there breakout rooms like in a classroom environment?  Is the conversation tailored to the learners’ needs?

What Tutor Support is Included as Standard?

Is tutor support offered outside of webinars?  Yes probably.  But what kind of tutor support is it?  Is it an online chat where you can ask a question?  Or do you get to speak to someone who knows a bit about you and your goals?  Unlimited support is also sometimes mentioned by providers – but what does that actually mean?  Are there extension fees if you go over your initial contract period?  How much are they?  If it says 12 months how many hours will it take you to achieve it in that period of time?  Are you going to pay more overall if you do not finish in a super fast time?

Completion Times and Extensions?

Is the completion time realistic if you are working full time and have a busy life?  Are there resit fees if you don’t pass?  Can you pause your programme or study at a slower pace without it costing a fortune?  Do you get a choice of optional topics or choose from the ones the provider offers?  Do you have a choice of study content so that you can focus on areas of particular interest.  Or is it fixed according to the provider’s systems?

Marking, Feedback and Turnaround Times?

And marking – what’s the turnaround time?  Does it give helpful feedback for you?  Does it take into account your experience or sector?  Is it developmental feedback?  Or does it just meet the needs of the course specification?  In essence do you actually develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours.  Or is the course mainly designed to help you pass your qualification?  Which is fine of course.  What is your priority?

Virtual Classroom Options?

There are also some providers who are online but offer more of a traditional classroom environment but virtually.  Some of the mass market options provide this live support as an add on to their online elearning solution.

There are also smaller boutique providers who offer a more personal approach.  Like AheadHR.  The webinars with these centres will have small student numbers.  You will get a chance to speak with other people professionals and share your learning and ideas.  If you can’t make it the recordings will be uploaded to your elearning portal so you can watch it back later.  You get to know other students on these courses quite well.  We encourage you to collaborate so you can jump online with another student or coach to chat through a topic if you want to.

In a smaller CIPD study centre the coaches will get to know you.  You may well have built in one to one coaching sessions as part of your support package.  This is there to support your CIPD qualification as well as career development support.  For example, we will encourage you to apply your learning back in to the workplace through an application exercise.  Coaches may even know your organisation if they have supported your colleagues in the past or worked in your sector.

Is  Formative Development and Practice Questions Included?

You may also get formative development support as part of your support package.  This is homework that you get feedback on – which will help you to build on your learning as you work towards your assignment.  This formative work is marked by an experienced coach who knows the syllabus well and also has business experience.  There may also be some collaborative group work on these courses as you would have in a physical classroom.  This provides the opportunity to learn about what other organisations and individuals are doing and understand how they are tackling the issues they are facing in the topics you are studying.  This helps you to demonstrate wider knowledge and shows you options you can build on when creating your own recommendations and solutions.  So you can make an impact and develop your career.

Learning With and From Others?

Would it be useful to work with other people professionals for example to learn how other businesses are approaching the challenges of skills shortages?  How are others attracting and retaining the best talent and improving employee engagement?  If you are a Level 3 learner, would you like to practice doing interviews with others in a safe space?  Would you benefit from being able to talk through your ideas before your present your policies and strategy papers to your colleagues?  How will you connect with other learners?

Want to Feel Supported?

A smaller provider wants you to get a great learning experience so that you can apply your learning in a very practical way at work.  This means you can enhance your business results, raise your credibility and help you to develop your career.  It might not be the glossiest system or brochure but their business relies on you.  We want you to maximise your learning experience and get real results – we really care!  This kind of course is a great option if you want to spread your studies in a more structured way and manage your time around full time work and a busy life.  It is especially helpful if you haven’t studied and written assignments for a while or done a course at this level before.

Also if you like talking to people and to discuss topics with other people professionals this way of working may suit you well as an alternative to a local college.  The downside is that it will cost more because of the people investment that is there in place to support you to achieve your career goals.  But is it worth it perhaps?  For example, could you get a role at the next level and boost your income sooner than you otherwise would?

Check Carefully and Consider What Works for You – Both Longer and Shorter Term

CIPD courses near me are certainly plentiful but there are quite a wide range of choices to explore.  Our advice at AheadHR is to very carefully read between the lines of the glossy websites, look at the time to complete and what that means realistically in terms of weekly study and your learning style.  Look at what support is included in terms of time given by people to support you and how that fits with your preferred learning style as well as what kind of experience you are looking for.  Then weigh up the pros and cons and what you want to achieve.  Sometimes paying a bit more is worth the investment?  Consider the overall result longer term as well as the short term decisions?

We are happy to speak to anyone who is thinking about starting a CIPD qualification – we want you to choose what’s right for you whatever your budget!

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We wish you well in your CIPD journey whatever you choose.

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