Five members of the Perfect Colours sales team have attained Master grade at the DesignJet Production Academy, a rigorous training programme devised by HP.
The course ensures that customers receive the best possible service from reseller partners, covering installation, software, technical and graphics applications, and matching product to business need. It primarily covers the new HP DesignJet T-series machines for technical and CAD applications; released yesterday, these include the T730, T830, T930, T1530 and T2530.
Freddie Ashmore, Les Bird, Lee Heywood, Sam McKay and Nick Martin are now amongst the few world-wide to have achieved this grade, with the UK the only country to offer it in the whole EMEA region. Having studied under the supervision of Perfect Colours sales director Jon Telling, the five-strong team took the examination at HP's Bracknell offices.
With a pass-mark of 75 percent, the HP DesignJet Production Academy is composed of four modules, whose technical rigours demand hands-on experience across all elements of the DesignJet series. Graduating with the title of 'Master' means that the five Perfect Colours team members scored more than 85 percent, signifying an exceptional level of technical competence that guarantees Perfect Colours customers the right long-term solution for their business needs.
Having shone during the testing, all were invited to a graduation ceremony in Barcelona last Friday to receive their awards. The five team members, however, were kept in the dark about their results until they arrived at HP's regional headquarters. Freddie Ashmore, sales account manager, explains: "The surprise of finding out on the day made graduating from the HP DesignJet Production Academy even more rewarding than the training itself. Knowing how tough the course is, coming home with the Master grade gave all of us a real sense of achievement.
"The four modules were highly educational and I now feel completely confident in the product range. When a customer is about to invest in the newest printer in their fleet they need to know you are technically competent, as well as understanding their business. Being able to demonstrate that HP has accredited me as a Master in DesignJet equipment will give them peace of mind as they come to a decision.
"The experience was very rewarding and I recommend that any sales person looks into this kind of training to boost their knowledge and give them the edge. Perfect Colours always jumps on those opportunities, so for all of us on the team, it's fulfilling to keep learning and honing our skills."
Jon Telling, sales director, confirms that education is central to ensuring competence across the business. "We all know that business owners are bored of the Dutch auction approach to sales, so training like the HP DesignJet Production Academy offer sales people a credible way to differentiate themselves," he adds. "This is a fantastic achievement for the Perfect Colours sales team and we're committed to this kind of opportunity, as well as to our customers."
