April 2011
We launch our new, integrated Apprenticeship service embracing the major sectors of industry and commerce

We have been successfully promoting apprenticeship programmes for a number of years, introducing clients to the benefits of running apprenticeship programmes and in assisting to select good potential candidates from amongst the workforce and external applicants.

Our experiences have led us to develop a new, integrated service which is now being introduced to our client base. This service incorporates the latest initiatives required by the government and enshrined in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act and the specific Regulations in the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE). These regulations apply from 6th. April this year.

One key feature of the new Regulations is the inclusion of an element of training which addresses the currently common complaint from employers that many young people appear to be "unemployable". The new initiative requires providers to include personal training for apprentices to improve their personal learning and thinking skills (PLTS). Our Trainer/Assessors are now all prepared to cover this requirement within their training activities.

A major feature of our own services for apprenticeships is the flexibility for employers to select the elements of our service which will dovetail in with their own operations. This is already proving to be a welcome innovation for employers.

March 2011
Our direct Skills Funding Agency funding contract is renewed for the 2011/12 academic year

We are pleased to have now received the formal renewal of our direct funding contract from the Skills Funding Agency for adult training and development programmes. The contract extension will run for the academic year 2011/2012.

The continued funding will enable us to continue, extend and develop the programmes that are already underway with our established client companies and will run into the next year. It will also enable us to initiate new training programmes for new clients both throughout the Midlands and further afield.

February 2011
Pilot IMS is approved to deliver nationally accredited courses from OCR, a leading UK awarding body

As part of our strategy to be able to offer an ever widening range of relevant courses to our client organisations, we are pleased to confirm that Pilot has now been approved by OCR, the highly regarded national awarding body, which provides a wide range of qualifications to meet the needs of learners of all ages and abilities. This development compliments our present range of course made available through our established arrangements with our other leading UK awarding bodies: City and Guilds of London Institute and PAA\VQ-SET, the largest national specialist awarding body, which caters in particular for the fluids, chemical, pharmaceutical & petro-chemical and polymer industries.

Our new initiative with OCR will ensure that our clients will have access to an even wider range of training options for their staff, enabling PILOT to make each learner's opportunities even more directly relevant to their individual work roles and learning needs.

The initial OCR courses which we will be delivering will include the important range of Key Skills which cover the essential, fundamental capabilities in English language, mathematics and the increasingly important ICT. These courses will be available as both stand alone courses and as components of the apprenticeship programmes being delivered by PILOT.

March 2009
We move to larger premises in central Birmingham

We have now moved into more spacious offices on two floors at Floodgate Street in central Birmingham. These attractive, refurbished premises will enable us to undertake group training for client organisations in a state-of-the-art facility as well as handling our ever increasing workload more effectively.