Sage Trainer - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

Hopeful · Veteran Member

Sage Trainer

RobH · Expert

Hi, I think you can take Sage exams to become an 'accredited Sage trainer' but I don't think there is anything stopping you from just training people at Sage. I have done it occassionaly but I don't really enjoy it, so I run through the basics Sales ledger, Purchases ledger and bank (allocating receipts and payments and reconciliation) in half a day and run! On a one to one I've tended to charge £25 per hour but I have considered doing group lessons at £10 per hour and get ten people in but I would have to have ten computers!

Hopeful · Veteran Member

Hi Rob thanks for the advice, would I need to go through sage themselves for the accredited trainer do you know how much it would cost, I do freelance booking but because work is thin on the ground.......cash is tight

RobH · Expert

Just been looking on the Sage website but I can't find anything other than going on their courses and getting a certificate! But I have seen business cards from trainers saying they are Sage accredited. If money is tight and you know Sage well and are confident you can teach it properly I would do without going to Sage. With one to one training you can teach in a very practical way using your client's real paperwork. Show them how to produce invoices on Sage, explain about nominal ledger codes and let them do some inputting. Clients always love to learn the F6 button! Perhaps edit the COA so it is more relevantr and labour the importance of ther bank rec and maybe do a separate session on that.

Good luck!

Hopeful · Veteran Member

Thanks Rob I've also looked on the Sage website and that's all I found, I am confident on Sage I've been using it for quite a few years now & pretty much taught myself through trial & error and using forums, I also enjoy the teaching aspect of it...so I think I'll give it a go.

Bev

semsley · Guru

Unless you are experienced/qualified in training I would not attempt to teach groups. You'd be OK on one to one.

RobH · Expert

Good luck with it Bev, sounds like you'll have no problems....don't undercharge!

Marky65 · Guru

Hi

This is a service that I have just started offering onlly one to ones never groups, I don't have any accredited Sage training, just too many years experience in using the products. I don't see it as being a major source of income just an additional service to clients and it helps show new clients that I do know what I am talking about when it comes to Sage and accounts and payroll.

Regards

Mark

Hopeful · Veteran Member

Thanks for your help and advice guys, It may have to be one on one, can't seem to find any info on being sage accredited as yet!! if it generates some income it has to be worth a try smile

Lisa Jo · Senior Member

Its really hard to teach groups, Ive taught up to 18 at our local college & its difficult. Even though youre teaching level 2, there are some who havent even used a computer etc. I usually work on a study book (step by step) and then exam papers (if taking an exam. Believe me, when I say that just showing someone something is not the same as actually doing it yourself via workbooks. You can write your own & the aat do a good one "working with computers".

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

Hi Lisa,
How do you go about getting to teach in a local college?

semsley · Guru

Bev

You really don't want to teach in a local college these days. When I did it I was teaching 16 on computerised (because that's how many machines we had) and more on manual. It's bums on seats so candidates are not screened and you can get people who, as Lisa said, haven't even used a computer and some who are experienced in both computers and book-keeping and just want a qualification. If they have no idea of either it's a real struggle. Then there's the paperwork - scheme of work, lesson plans with differentiation, individual learning plans, reviews. Then there's the preparation and marking. You'll find in FE tutors/lecturers are very precious about their resources and not keen on sharing. Added to the fact that every 3 years the syllabus changes and each time software is updated you need to update your teaching materials. Computers go down in an evening class and there's no technician. You won't get a job in a college these days without either a PGCE or PCET and if you teach on an NVQ programme you need at least assessor award (in my day D32/33 - now A1) and preferably internal verifier award (D34 now V1). I have all these but now only teach on non exam courses for not for profit organisations who encourage and support enterprise, or specific courses tailored to the needs of businesses.

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

Wow Sheila, that told me !!!!! yep think I'll stay clear of that option then !!

Like your hedgehog pic :)

semsley · Guru

Sorry that was all rather negative.

On the plus side, I love teaching - meeting the people, encouraging them to expand their knoweldge and horizons, mentoring and coaching them, advising them. There's nothing like it when they get things right. Teaching is brilliant just not in FE.

That's another downer with colleges too "teaching to the test" I always like to teach people what they want and need to know, and it's all down to funding. They are funded on three things - recruitment, retention and success. So they recruit anyone - you have to retain them whether they're capable or not and try to get as many as possible to pass the exams.

Hopeful · Veteran Member

I've been checking out a few local colleges & training centres and I've found it really difficult to get in, the colleges use the AAT tutors so they can make their hours up!! training centre seemed to be a closed shop. although I have managed to do some training on a one to one bases which suits me as I like to train people on what they need to do back in the work place. I want to thank everyone for their comments you have been most helpful.

Lisa Jo · Senior Member

I really fell into teaching, or should I say forced, lol. If you ask the IAB & I believe the ICB are in the same position, there is no-one to teach the level 3 qualification. I think my nearest college was 40 miles to attend once a week so I started my level 2 payroll & had nowhere to study level 3 so I self-taught. I took the level 2 exam and level 3 exam in the same week. I did this on the promise of a job to teach it. I got A's anyway and got the job but, I absolutely hated it and you have to study the DTLLS just to cover part-time teaching & then the PTLLS or QTLLS, but, the way I looked at it, to do a degree I have to be interested in the subject & if I wanted to do a degree it would have to be in the actual payroll qualification so thats what Im to do. It would be good to teach in a classroom for students at level 3 as you have to have the understanding of the subject more in-depth anyway. I didnt like the way the college taught as it was more about passing the exam tham actual teaching to understand the subject, I covered some AAT teaching too and enjoyed that more as the students were a little more intelligent, shall I say. Sage accredited centres take on trainees and you can teach at their centres. Some accountants are also sage distributors/help centres as well so worth considering. I think that we all have to find our feet in something we want to work at and that will make us happy.