Rockwell Automation has set up a series of training “hubs” at sites across the UK and Ireland, in response to a trend which has seen the proportion of training courses being run at or near customer premises rising from around 25% to 75% over the past two years. The training hubs – mostly at systems integrators and partner companies – are typically less than an hour from customers’ premises.

John Hartfield, Rockwell’s customer support and maintenance delivery manager, explains that customers now want to able to get access to their staff even when they are training, and that they are also looking to reduce travelling and expenses.

Rockwell has also introduced “blended” training which is tailored to trainees’ and companies’ needs and includes assessments of individual skills, personal training plans, and the use of personal mentors.