Training in computerised Book Keeping - SAGE

Doublespresso

Hi all

Hope someone can help.

My friend is a trained bookkeeper but he only knows how to do this manually (the old fashioned way). For various reasons he has been out of a job for sometime and he really wants to get back to work as a freelance, but he realizes that he would need to get some training in computerised book keeping (preferably Sage) in order to have any decent chance of a renewed career in his field.

Are there any state-sponsored or cheap training available? On-line or in person? He is eager to study but has limited funds.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

LittleVoice

Has he registered for JSA? He should ask his Personal Adviser at the Jobcentre about what training they could sponsor.

Conor_3

There's some really serious money to be made doing freelance book-keeping.

Sage Line 50 seems to be the tool of choice.

ukdickie31

Hi

It's likely that the Jobcentre can't offer this training directly as the contracts they have are very limited and often you have to be on benefit for a length of time.

There may however be linked organisations or local organisations who can source this training.

Learn Direct (http://www.learndirect.co.uk/) would be my starting point, then the local libraries to see what is available locally.

Doublespresso

Thanks for the replies.

Whats JSA?

I've tried learn direct but couldn't find anything on Sage..

Any other ideas?

newlywed

My sister did a Sage course as an evening class at the local college. Can you try the local colleges and adult education lists?

ukdickie31

http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/findacourse/

Type in SAGE in the course search.

LittleVoice

Doublespresso wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

Whats JSA?

I've tried learn direct but couldn't find anything on Sage..

Any other ideas?

JSA is Jobseekers Allowance. It's the money the Jobcentre arrange to be paid to those who are unemployed and register with them (provided they meet criteria for payment).

before_hollywood

newlywed wrote: »

My sister did a Sage course as an evening class at the local college. Can you try the local colleges and adult education lists?

i did that, finished approx 1 year ago, worth speaking to your local colleges, mine was through pitman and cost approx £150 all in for levels one and two although the exam is VERY strict

timbellina

Hi Double;

If, as you say, your friend is an experienced book-keeper; it's not likely he'll benefit much from a course on Sage. Most of them spend their time trying to get your head round double-entry bookkeeping before starting you off on sage, which is mind-bogglingly easy to use.

As a user of Sage, and an accountant, I'd suggest downloading the free trial of Sage Line 50 from:

http://sage.support.makingithappen.co.uk/freedownload.htm

and then make extensive use of the online manual at:

http://sage.support.makingithappen.co.uk/manual/manual.htm

He'll probably have it sorted pretty quickly.

Sage do some pretty decent discounts for accountants who use their products - reasoning that if you use it, your clients are more likely to buy it.

Good luck - I'm not as sure as Conor about how lucrative it may be, but there's certainly a living to be made.

Tim