NAI starts top-tier training scheme

Network Associates (NAI) has established a top-tier reseller training level for enterprise customers as part of its drive to establish a European training division by the end of the year.

Three UK partners are initially expected to be appointed to NAI's Platinum partner programme, an accreditation level reserved for partners most technically competent in NAI's products.

Amanda Cannon, European channel marketing manager at NAI, said the invitation-only Platinum level would be the highest level in NAI's recent reseller training scheme, joining the low-end Silver Associate level and the mid-range Technical Training Gold standard for certified partners.

Platinum status will be awarded following an intensive five-day technical training course, which is geared towards preparing partners for enterprise level large-scale launches. These will be the first partners to be trained in NAI's Merlin service desk software, which was unveiled at Cebit last week.

'If you're trained to this level, you should receive some consultancy time from us free of charge in recognition of your investment,' said Cannon.

'We have had informal training in the past but nothing that confers a status on resellers. The constraint is that we have a training division in the US but not in Europe. These are resource-hungry programmes, especially in Europe where the scheme will be standard across all countries,' she added.

Meanwhile, NAI has poached a channel marketing manager from NAI distributor Ideal Hardware. Chris Hayward, software marketing manager at Ideal Hardware, will join NAI on 1 April, taking responsibility for reseller training and channel marketing throughout the UK.

Cannon added: 'The UK earns 40 per cent of our European revenue. We needed someone like Hayward who had a good understanding of our company and channel issues.'