FieldStar and University of Derby Corporate launch modular training courses for field staff

Paul Wilkinson, head of client partmerships, University of Derby Corporate addresses a packed room

An experienced audience of leaders in field marketing provided a full house yesterday in attendance for the formal launch of a new set of modular courses for field staff – online tutored courses that look set to give field staff work based learning which also benefits by having university certification for course candidates to aim for.

The breakthrough course is structured so that field staff can be placed on the course by companies and agencies to undertake modules that may supplement, add to or replace existing in house training.

The courses are billed as ‘a flexible learning pathway for face to face’, and are intended to build from a level one induction programme – a foundation in core field marketing principles – before allowing students to take modules that are more specific for their work in the field, whether merchandising, field sales or demonstrating/ retail training.

The courses are the brainchild of FieldStar CEO, Steve Radford who was joined at the launch by Paul Wilkinson and Richard John from the Univeristy. Yesterday’s launch marked the fruition of several years of planning. The modular course for 2013 has been built following a pilot of course materials that were delivered to field staff via the University in 2012.

Levels 1-3 of the courses become available to students from August and September this year and a Level 4 Certificate in Continuing Professional Development also gets underway in September.

In-company programmes are also available for organisations with 15+ students.