Ideal launches training division

Ideal Hardware has staked out the highly competitive training market as the launch pad for its move into value added support services.

Ideal Hardware has staked out the highly competitive training market as the launch pad for its move into value added support services.

The distributor has launched a training division - Ideal Training and Development (IDT) - to provide resellers, manufacturers and users with training and consultancy services to give them a competitive advantage. IDT will offer its own courses as well as accreditation training on behalf of vendors. It will also provide a facilities management service for conferences.

Ideal Hardware first mooted the idea of setting up a training division last year, following a major shake-out which resulted in the departure of 96 staff. Debra Ames, director of ITD, said the unit will deliver training tailored to an individual's needs. She defended the move into the highly competitive training market, saying ITD's methodology and Ideal's experience and reputation allowed it to offer something new.

"Our tailored programmes are a far cry from traditional off-the-peg courses, often more concerned with filling seats that creating value," Ames said.

But Steve Dineen, managing partner at training provider Fuel, predicted that Ideal will find it expensive and laborious to offer tailored training from scratch, but said its methodology was sound and there was space in the sector for another competitor. "Ideal could turn out to be an Azlan or it could be an Ingram Micro [and leave the training industry]. What it is saying is right, but it has a lot of catching up to do. To create a bespoke course without having lots of experience, could be two to three times more costly," he said.

Barry Dodhia, marketing manager at reseller Hemini, said the company will not recommend Ideal's training to its customers because it does not want its distributors to have contact with its users. It will, however, consider using it for its own staff.

Ideal is preparing to enter the application service provider market, a source has confirmed. No further details were available as the distributor is in the mandatory quiet period before it is sold off.