The Paxton Group is a global access control designer and manufacturer with a strong focus on installer training and education. Since its launch in South Africa in March this year, the company has experienced an unprecedented interest in its product offering as it introduces its installer training programme across the country.
Paxton’s training manager, Steven Woodbridge, and sales executive, Riaan Van Der Merwe, discuss their roles in installer training, and how Paxton is offering a fresh approach to education in the security industry.
The Paxton training programme is designed to be comprehensive and simple, offering free-of-charge workshops across the country, giving installers the opportunity to take part in short lectures and practical sessions to familiarise themselves with the company’s product range. Described by Woodbridge as “a unique offering”, the training sessions equip installers with a thorough understanding of Paxton’s products, enabling them to deliver security solutions that better meet the needs of end users.
Woodbridge says: “Paxton training provides installers with the tools to select the right product for the job and the ability to install confidently and correctly first time. Less time on site means more profit to the installer and greater customer satisfaction.”
Paxton’s training workshops focus primarily on the installer, and offer extensive practical experience to ensure they are confident with the product when recommending it to customers.
Van Der Merwe has 19 years’ industry experience, previously working as a South Africa-based installer. He believes that Paxton’s practical approach to training differentiates them from other companies in the security market.
He says: “The key to successful training is to have trainees engaged and involved with the product. Paxton has chosen the best training strategy, as the focus is on installers, who are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the product in a practical session.”
Paxton workshops offer the latest product ranges and comprehensive training materials. They are designed to meet the needs of installers from a range of security disciplines. Woodbridge says: “Whether the installer is from an intruder alarm background or their core business is networked products, our objective is to cater for all levels and backgrounds, whilst keeping the material we deliver consistent. Each session will vary slightly depending upon the audience attending. However, the same important key information will be delivered throughout the day.”
The first phase of training seminars in South Africa have been well received with 100% of installers saying they would recommend it to a colleague.
Quintin Masters, of SmartHome Technologies, described the training as, “well presented, clear and concise and overall informative and enjoyable”, while Christo Lotz, of Prime Security, said “the training showed me a new sales advantage on a new product”.
Paxton is confident that its strategy will build on this initial success and continue to have a positive impact on the training and development of installers in South Africa. Van Der Merwe says: “The feedback so far from installers has been very good, which is encouraging given our recent launch into the marketplace. Taking this approach is creating demand for our products and we will maintain this strategy of educating installers as we push ahead with our training and education objectives for South Africa.”
To sign up to the Certified Paxton Installer Programme, please visit http://www.paxtonaccess.co.za/training-request-za.asp
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