Having decided to run a computer training session for your staff, you are faced with the choice of running it in-house or going to an external location. Naturally, if this is a regular occurrence, it will make financial sense to start thinking about setting up a permanent facility. However, if this is training which will not be required regularly, for example, if you are training your staff to use the new database system you have developed, you may like to consider hiring a fully equipped training room.

There are clear benefits to using external training facilities. Firstly, you will save your staff a lot of time and hassle. Let’s say, for example, that you decide to train people in groups of 12 and that you have 60 people to train. The training will therefore last five days and will be held in your boardroom. To run effective computer training courses, you must ensure that each delegate has the exclusive use of a computer. You will probably therefore need to hire computers, set them up, link them up to your network to allow internet access and so forth. Secondly, it means that your staff will not be interrupted during the training by other members of staff.

Hiring a training facility which is already in place means that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. All you need to do is send a member of staff to inspect the room and ensure that the computers have the right specification for your requirements. Apart from the computers, other essential items are a data projector, whiteboard and pens and, almost certainly, internet access. When obtaining quotations from training room hire companies, you should establish whether these essentials are included in the price quoted or whether there will be an extra charge for them.

IT training room hire is a fairly specialised service and there are not many companies who specialise in it. Many computer training companies and colleges will hire out there training rooms when they are available. There are also a number of companies who specialise in the short term hire of all types of office space, including IT training rooms. Naturally, these companies wish to make their facilities as flexible as possible, so typically, there is one charge for renting the rooms and a separate charge for hiring the computers. In this scenario, it becomes difficult to see and fully test the facility before the training starts.

You may also wish to ensure that your staff are catered for during the training. It is therefore a good idea to obtain a quotation for the provision of light refreshments, such as tea and coffee, and possible a buffet lunch or lunchtime meal.

The author works for London Room Hire a company that specialises in hiring out computer training rooms in central London.