Since the deal between the Connection Group and Datatec fell through, the Training Connection has repositioned itself, and MD Karen Steinberg seems determined to drive the company into the future with fresh prospects.
Steinberg has been in the training scene for 15 years, and her background in retailing has equipped her with valuable IT knowledge and insight.
She first made the connection with the Connection Group following its acquisition of BusinessLand. Initially this was on a project basis, but soon changed as her role of MD materialised.
"I am not a person to do things by half measure, it`s part of my problem. I have to be involved in a position where I can initiate change and get things done," she notes.
The Training Connection was started by Gary Chalmers about three years ago and, as Steinberg says, was one of the first institutions to bring about the highly publicised part-time Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer qualification.
Quality check
There are two components pivotal to Training Connections` methodology, namely experience and quality.
In its bid to ensure this "experience" is of outstanding quality, the company`s team has spent the last nine months getting the logistics of the business on the right track. Very much in the same way an airline is run, explains Steinberg.
"In a retail background, obviously, you create an experience and atmosphere, it is very quick - people are in and out. In training, you can get to know your customers... there is that ability to actually deliver something more than just an immediate customer service."
Steinberg admits that the Connection Group has struggled and believes this can be put down largely to the classic scenario of "a big business becoming too big too quickly". There was huge pressure to acquire, something Steinberg believes is symptomatic of the industry.
"It hasn`t affected us dramatically, apart from the deals which have been on and off - because deal-making has to happen quickly otherwise it is an extremely time-consuming process."
It seems like the deal with Datatec, that was almost there, but didn`t work out, has left a slightly bitter taste on the Training Connection palate. Steinberg conveys a similar sentiment: "I was kind of hacked off when the deal didn`t happen. It was suggested that it (the deal) was going ahead on more than one occasion."
= Critical mass
Part of what Training Connection wanted to gain from the deal was revenue and critical mass - a significant element in the highly competitive training scene.
However, Steinberg is quick to point out that the company has come through stronger and more focused. She feels that in a situation like this, a company is forced to take a look at the way it does things.
One of the markets that Training Connection is now targeting is the corporate sector. Steinberg cautions against recycling the IT business all the time as she feels there is an opportunity to acquire new skills from different industries.
With new skills legislation on the way, Steinberg feels that businesses will be seeking quick and effective ways of training. "Going forward next year, I see Training Connection becoming very involved with a corporate training consultation arm," she says. Internet for executives, family and project management are just some of the other issues the training company will be looking at.
Speaking to Steinberg, it is clear that she is passionate about training. Education, she explains, is not just about affordability, it is also about drive, determination and quality.
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