Education and Training Awards 2021

Best Bookkeeping Training Provider - Scotland Formed in 1983, Ideal Schools specialises in provided home study training, specifically in the area of bookkeeping and accounting, including payroll management and taxation subjects. The school’s tutorial provision is set up to ensure that students are fully supported during their study, despite studying from home, ensuring that they are able to achieve their professional bookkeeping qualifications in a flexible manner, depending on their personal circumstances. Training is offered toward two of the largest bookkeeping and accounting qualifications bodies within the UK; The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) and the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). “Our aim is to help our students qualify to become professional bookkeepers, for the betterment of their careers and lifestyle, where self-employment as a bookkeeper or accountant is a goal of many,” explains Brian McVean, Director of Ideal Schools. “Our courses are provided in hard-copy, although online access is also provided and tutor/student interaction is via phone, email, live chat, and also via our award-winning social media groups, where students continue to be supported as they begin their new careers.” Although a very successful training provider, Ideal Schools is not large in size, therefore students are provided with a personal touch and can feel comfortable when interacting with our tutor team. It is this which Brian firmly believes separates Ideal Schools from other competitors, as well as the fact that it only focuses on one subject area and uses industry experts to teach its course programme. “We very much consider our student base as part of our IDEAL family,” he states. “We are always keen to ensure they continue to be guided as they take their first steps in their new careers and beyond, where peer support is provided as long as it’s required.” Regarding its dedicated tutors and staff base, the team has literally decades of industry experience in guiding students through their study, and the school is keen to employ tutors who come from professional bookkeeping backgrounds themselves to ensure that students are prepared for working in the real world, and not just for passing their exams. Ideal School may be based in Scotland, but there are no barriers as to where a student can study and the majority of students hail from the other parts of the UK. In recent times, the profession of bookkeeping has been thrust to the forefront because of the explosion in micro and small enterprises, all of which need help to man the businesses’ finances, therefore it is a profession which is currently flourishing. “Whilst Covid may have presented a challenging 12-month period, the flexible nature of home study has allowed many students to use the ‘stay at home’ message to press on with their study, gaining their qualifications, ensuring they are ready for their new careers as our living/working restrictions are eased.” This has also been made possible as the largest of the bookkeeping and accounting qualification bodies, The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), has flexible, online exam testing facilities, ensuring students could take their exams as and when required. Regarding the future, Brian has noticed a greater demand for more digital learning resources and is keen to get on board as technology moves forward, therefore Ideal Schools is currently creating a suite of video tutorials. “We’re looking forward to commencing a series of live, online tutorials, which could be recorded and shared with the student base, for the betterment of their own learning experience.” Contact: Brian McVean Company: Ideal Schools Web Address: www.idealschools.co.uk Apr21751 Ideal Schools provides a complete range of bookkeeping, payroll and taxation courses to help you become a self-employed bookkeeper or work within a financial environment. Nicole Atkinson receiving her ICB Student of the Year award Scot Van den Akker receiving his ICB Tutor of the Year award