Scott Margison

Managing Director @Semester Learning And Development Ltd

I started this company in response to what I feel was the inflexibility and slow turn around of large FE Colleges. There was little chance to innovate or cater for the small business or individuals who could not access the courses. I have built a resilient company, that is flexible, able to respond quickly to customer demands, has excellent customer service and excellent teaching and training to boot. I started out small as the assessor for an Apprenticeship scheme and hired in some IV. As we got more clients, I took on another assessor, did some IV. I then developed the online learning side in both Engineering and IT as there was a need for it. We continued to grow the online business and employ more and more subject tutors, assessors, IV\'s, course developers, course managers, marketing and admin staff to where we are today. Along the way I have learned many skills to do with business and management, client relationship management, auditing, quality assurance, change management, educational management, marketing, human resources, customer relations to name but a few. What I have discovered is that this business is very complicated and to make any money you need to be very efficient. We are not selling widgets bought in at price £x, sold for £x+y (+VAT). There is so much more to it, which is why I love it. It is more like a mini production facility. We get the designs from the Awarding Organisations, build a course (product) around it, get it quality checked (IV, EV), advertise it and then get people interested in our product. Once people have bought it, used it, we get feedback and then we continually improve the products and become more efficient. New designs and needs are always needed. We recently took on the Fire Safety Inspector Apprenticeship standard as no-one else was doing it. We have also broken ground on the Compressed Air and Vacuum Technician Apprenticeship and continue to help employers meet their training needs.