As the demand for home technology continues to rocket through the residential sector, businesses are turning their attention to how they can profit from this growth. How can an already established smart home expert benefit richly from this turn of attention? The answer is education.
What can be expected from CEDIA Education in 2016?
New Courses – The Brains Behind the Business
Already this year, CEDIA has made yet another addition to its ever-growing list of education sessions by adding two new courses to its curriculum. The new two-part workshop lead by ICON Business Advisor, Jon Peterman, explores the ‘8 Key Steps to Business Success’.
Day one will provide attendees with an overview of the sound principles used for running a business and how these can be applied to their own businesses. Beginning with the fundamental building blocks of a business and the importance of focusing on growth and development, attendees will explore the key principles related to setting the vision for their business. The second day begins with a brief summary and feedback from delegates on how their Now Action Plan actions have gone.
CEDIA has hinted of even more courses to be introduced to the industry this year. Make sure to keep an eye as more details will be announcing in the coming months.
Training Sessions Receive New Lease of Life
Two of CEDIA’s most popular courses, the Boot Camp and Technical School have received a course revamp.
An additional two days have been added to CEDIA’s now five day Boot Camp. Aimed at installers new to the industry, attendees will implement the skills taught on this course to build a foundation for a successful career as a technician, designer, or even business owner within the smart home sector.
Additional subjects, including one full day focusing on rack building and wiring fundamentals, and another full day teaching audio, visual and RF systems have now been included on the curriculum. The remaining three days cover the essential technical and personal skills for installers, a full health and safety course, and a cables, connectivity and structured wiring workshop.
CEDIA’s well-attended Technical School has also received an updated itinerary. Those who attend will now spend one full day focusing on project and business processes, understanding the essential basic technical skills. The following day is spent discussing basic wired and wireless networking before moving on to smart home control and lighting systems the following day. Day four is spent focusing on home cinema and HD video distribution. A number of these sessions are supported by individual online courses.
On day five of Technical School, students will sit the ESC-T Exam. Should students attend both CEDIA’s Technical School and its Boot Camp, approximately 90% of the ESC-T curriculum will be covered across both courses, putting students in good stead to pass the exam first time and become CEDIA ESC-T Certified.
How accessible is CEDIA education?
North and South Training Centres
It is high on CEDIA’s list of priorities to ensure its education is easily accessible to both existing and potential members, regardless of their location. CEDIA’s main training base is fixed at its headquarters in St Neots. However, last year, CEDIA announced a new venue to host its training sessions in the South. AWE, has lent its headquarters in Epsom as a southern training centre.
Now, brand new for 2016, CEDIA has revealed plans to offer its education in a Northern training centre. Distributor to the smart home sector, Unicam AV Limited has offered its headquarters in Leeds to host CEDIA education from April 2016.
In additional, Pulse Cinemas will host CEDIA’s two day Home Cinema Design course at its headquarters in Essex from 22nd – 23rd June and 17th – 18th November this year.
CEDIA also offers an online education resource, allowing both members and non-members to complete a training course from the home or office. This is particularly helpful, not only for those who are unable to take a full day away from work for training, but also for CEDIA’s international members.
What else can CEDIA offer?
City & Guilds
In 2015, CEDIA formed a new partnership with the governing body for training, City & Guilds. This development meant that those who successfully complete CEDIA’s Smart Home Technician or Smart Home Designer course will both receive a joint certification from CEDIA and City & Guilds*and become accredited within this area. This partnership has broadened access to the best training courses available within the smart home industry, not only by increasing awareness of the CI profession, but also by attracting new entrants into the market. Discounted price packages are available.
Learn and Save
When booking onto its training, CEDIA prompts its members to take advantage of its Education Voucher Scheme.
CEDIA realises that allocating the finances for training staff can be challenging at times. This is why it introduced the CEDIA Education Voucher Scheme, as it will provide members with the flexibility when budgeting for training, and will save money at the same time.
Get Recognised
CEDIA recognises the importance of providing home technology professionals with access to construction sites and has collaborated with the JIB (Joint Industry Board) to design an ECS Related Discipline card in order for the industry to be better recognised.
Installers must pass CEDIA’s one-day Health and Safety Assessment course and hold a valid CEDIA ESC-T (formally EST2) certification to be entitled to its ECS Home Technology Integrator card. To support this training course, CEDIA developed a new ‘Health & Safety Guidelines – Your Corporate Responsibility,’ document which is free to members and non-members.
For more information or to book onto CEDIA’s training sessions, visit www.cediaeducation.com
Wendy Griffiths is CEDIA's Executive Director.