Professional Association

National Bursars Association

The Problem

RRC Training was approached in 2004 by the National Bursars Association (NBA) after a recommendation by the Institute of Administrative Management, whose professional qualification programmes we had been offering for many years.

The NBA, the largest professional organisation for bursars, school business managers and administrators in the United Kingdom, was keen to offer health and safety training for its members as part of an ongoing commitment to promote the advancement of school management, provide professional support to its members and enhance the effectiveness of the schools in which they serve.

They were particularly interested in the renowned NEBOSH National General Certificate programme, which would equip delegates with a basic knowledge and understanding of occupational safety and health.

The Solution

After discussion with NBA about their requirements, RRC Training developed a blended programme of study which incorporated distance learning with elements of classroom-based training. This approach is perfect for an organisation whose members or employees are based in different locations and need to fit training around work and other commitments.

The structured programme combined the benefits of flexibility, convenience and cost-efficiency associated with distance learning, with the obvious advantages of face-to-face tutor interaction at strategic points during the course. In essence, it offered the best of both worlds.

Eleven delegates were booked onto the first cohort which commenced in January 2005 and RRC Training arranged for the NBA to have their distance learning course material ahead of the training so they could start familiarising themselves with the course.

The blended programme RRC Training devised for the NBA included an Induction Day held in Rugby during which the tutor introduced the course syllabus, an Interim Day, held in Birmingham, at which key areas of the syllabus were covered in detail and an Exam Preparation Workshop, in Coventry, during which delegates reviewed past exam papers in preparation for their final assessment.

At the end of the course, the Practical Assessment was also held in Coventry, followed by the final examination a week later.

The Result

The pilot programme was very successful and since the start of the course, the NBA have arranged a second and third cohort to develop more of their members, commencing in September 2005 and January 2006 respectively.

We were delighted to be involved with the NBA's extremely worthwhile initiative to offer health and safety training to its members. In the commercial world we are increasingly seeing health and safety training being given greater priority as it forms an important part of a company's community liaison or CSR. It demonstrates a company's credentials as a responsible employer and a valuable member of the local community and there is a growing trend for those with responsibility for health and safety to have a recognised qualification accredited by a national body. There is obviously nowhere that health and safety is more crucial than in our schools and the opportunity the NBA has provided for its members by making this course available to them through us can only benefit the schools in which they work and their own careers.

We've had an extremely positive response to this initiative from the NBA members. The delegates who've taken part in the course so far have found it both informative and enjoyable and we are thrilled that more of the NBA members are taking the chance to gain this very valuable qualification.