Novell slashes EMEA training

Novell has culled its EMEA training partners, reducing the number of Novell Authorised Education Centres (NAECs) by more than a third.

In the UK, approximately 10 of Novell's 23 training partners have been told their contracts will not be renewed on 1 August. An estimated 100 out of 240 NAECs across the EMEA region have suffered a similar fate.

As revealed by PC Dealer, Novell undertook a similar streamlining process with its distribution partners last year (PC Dealer, 25 November 1998).

Rob Furnivall, UK channel sales manager at Novell, said: 'After we streamlined our distribution channel, we found that the distributors we retained placed a higher premium on Novell and we in turn were able to provide them with more focused resources.

'It worked so well we decided we would do the same with our NAECs,' he added.

One training industry source claimed: 'Novell is cleaning up its training channel, a process which is long overdue. When times were hard, the company opened up its channel which diluted resources. But now that circumstances are improving on the back of NetWare 5, Novell can afford to be a bit more discerning.'

Freddie Jones, managing director of Azlan Training, added in a statement: 'While the move may be disappointing to the partners affected by the realignment, it is important that these changes are put into context to provide focus within Novell's training channel.'