For Joy Renshaw, the story of Pitman Training Brighton is not really about vocational training. Not at first glance anyway. It is about people trying to improve their prospects, fit learning around life, and pick up the kind of practical skills that actually move careers forward.
It is a thread that runs through everything Renshaw says about the business she has spent more than two decades building.
“I was initially an Executive PA to two entrepreneurs making their millions for a few years, learning lifelong commercial skills like payroll/accounting/shorthand/typing and then I decided to be a freelance IT trainer because it was the time when Windows 95 and Microsoft exploded and although I had a lot of work I did find it quite isolating.”
The move into the Pitman Training franchise world came from wanting something more connected and collaborative.
“A light bulb moment happened when I thought of Pitman Training where I could be part of tutoring students and become part of a team and franchise network and sure enough there was a franchise already open in Brighton near where I live,” she explains. “So I contacted Pitman Brighton at the time they had no vacancies but I kept trying and finally they contacted me as they were looking for a centre manager/Corporate IT trainer which was the perfect job role for me.”
Renshaw started as Brighton’s center manager and corporate IT trainer before taking ownership in 2005, and the appeal of helping people gain commercially useful skills has not worn off.
“My passion for helping others in the learning of commercial skills has stuck with me over the years and I thoroughly enjoy helping people gain the right skills they need to get that job,” she says.
Flexible learning drives vocational training demand
There is something quietly unfashionable these days about talking up shorthand, typing and bookkeeping. Everyone wants to discuss AI, automation and digital transformation. But Renshaw’s point is that employability still often starts with practical skills and confidence, especially in today’s ‘skills based’ jobs market.
“Because I was a PA and learnt commercial skills which were invaluable throughout my career, I soon realised its not all about going to university and I wanted to help others gain important business skills and through the Pitman model and because Pitman it is so well-established, I’ve been able to help far more people than I ever imagined possible.”
The heritage of the Pitman brand remains a surprisingly important part of that conversation with students and employers alike.
“After all these years, I still absolutely love what I do, the people, and working at the centre. When you join Pitman, you become part of an established business model with over 185 years of heritage. There is no other training organisation with this heritage and it gives the brand a solid reputation.”
Renshaw adds: “My favourite Pitman strapline is ‘Trusted for Generations’.”
But the interesting thing here is not nostalgia for something outmoded, it is about adaptation.
Renshaw has watched vocational training shift dramatically during her years in the business, particularly through digital learning and changing workplace expectations.
“Over the 23 years I’ve owned the business, vocational training has changed enormously, mainly through the growth of digital learning and advances in workplace technology.”
She remembers a very different setup in the early days.
“When I first started, most training was classroom-based, with learners attending in person, using printed materials, and completing much of their work in centre on our PCs using CD-ROMs. Technology played a far smaller role in both training delivery and the workplace itself.”
Now, flexibility is everything.
“Over time, we’ve seen a major shift towards online and blended learning. Students now expect flexibility, with the ability to study remotely, access digital resources, complete assessments online, and communicate through virtual platforms.”
That shift has fundamentally changed who vocational training can reach.
“This has allowed training to become far more accessible for people balancing work, family, and other commitments.”
Pitman Training adapts to modern workplace skills
The other big shift has been the pace of transformation, with certain skills quickly becoming obsolete.
“Another significant change has been the speed at which skills now need updating. Continuous professional development is much more important than it was 20 years ago, as technology and working practices change rapidly.”
That creates pressure on training businesses to evolve quickly.
“We’ve adapted by offering more flexible, up-to-date learning solutions that support lifelong learning rather than one-time qualifications.”
The same applies to employer expectations.
“Pitman courses have evolved from focusing mainly on traditional office skills to including digital systems, cloud-based software, cybersecurity awareness, and modern business applications.”
Renshaw sees the flexible learning model as a direct response to how people now live and work.
“Everyones lives are busy and with our blended learning model students are able to study at times to suit them.”
There is flexibility in where students learn too.
“We have a flexible learning centre for them to study in or they can choose to study remotely. Either way they have help from me and our learning coaches.”
That support element is an important point of difference, because Renshaw is keen to position the business as more than just another online learning platform.
“This makes it not just online learning but a student-centred learning experience which is totally flexible.”
She believes that self-paced learning works because it mirrors reality for adult learners.
“Many employees are balancing jobs, family responsibilities, or career transitions. Self-paced learning allows someone to pause, revisit concepts, or accelerate through material depending on their situation.”
The business is now attracting a wide mix of learners, from career changers to existing employees looking to upskill.
“We have all different types of students who want to learn, students from different countries wanting to gain recognised certifications in this country, also students already in jobs who would like to upskill and their employer is funding the fees, career changers who have decided to throw themselves into the technical world by studying our range of technical courses.”
Others are simply trying to improve their prospects.
“Many learners may be retraining, returning to work or trying to improve their future prospects.”
For Renshaw, that remains the most satisfying part of the job.
“It is to me hugely rewarding and is the best part of running my Pitman franchise.”
There is also something very hands-on about how she approaches the business, even after all these years.
“My friends often laugh because I’m constantly speaking with students, offering course advice. I’ve been in the pub when my phone rings with a student stuck on a particular module – I’ll always help them.”
Why the Pitman franchise model still resonates
The structure of the franchise model itself is another key part of the story.
“Head office provides sophisticated business management systems and comprehensive marketing support. Being a Pitman franchise partner allows me to provide a level of service I simply couldn’t have achieved working independently.”
Renshaw believes that the combination of commercial structure and community impact remains a huge pull for franchisees.
“The Pitman Training franchise model is attractive because it offers franchisees the opportunity to run a profitable business while also making a positive different in peoples lives.
“The commercial appeal comes from the strength of the Pitman brand, ongoing demand for professional and digital skills training, multiple revenue streams and the support provided by the franchise system.
“At the same time, the business has a genuine social impact because it helps people improve their skills, gain qualifications, increase confidence and access better career opportunities.”
That balance between business and purpose is probably why Renshaw still sounds as enthusiastic now as she did when she first walked into the Brighton business all those years ago.
And that isn’t something you can teach.
