Crane extends its reach with training suite

Augmented range of courses for resellers

Telecommunications distributor Crane Communications has spent more than £100,000 improving its reseller training facilities.

The firm's CraneTEC education arm recently opened new premises in Sussex, offering an extended range of courses to resellers.

Included in the new premises are custom-built training suites with a VUE testing station, enabling students to be examined for IT and telecoms qualifications online, said Russell Piper, director at CraneTEC.

The company will build on its three current programmes for resellers - IP, data product and telecoms, and IT convergence - but will also include non-technical courses such as sales management and communications, said Piper.

"We are hoping to attract new reseller partners by penetrating the data area and help them understand what is necessary for voice and data convergence," he said.

"Also the plug-and-play equipment provided will give resellers the chance to get hands-on training on the actual kit they wish to sell."

Zara Poole-Sutton, service co-ordinator at Crane reseller NT Voice and Data Solutions, said the training facilities help channel partners to provide a better service to their customers.

"Because customers know the Crane name, it is beneficial for us to say we have actually been trained by them," she said.