Date: Wed, 08 Sep 1999 16:11:05 +0100
From: Julie Riach 
Subject: PR: OVER 4000 UK IT AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING COURSES ONLINE 

PRESS RELEASE - 8 SEPTEMBER 1999 

OVER 4000 UK IT AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING COURSES ONLINE 

Training Pages, an online database of IT and management training
courses in the UK, has officially passed the threshold of 4000
entries.  At the time of writing, the database detailed 4027 courses
from 347 companies.  These numbers will almost certainly increase by
the time this notice is released.

Training Pages (http://www.trainingpages.co.uk) has some unique
features which lie at the heart of its success as a comprehensive, yet
specialist web site.

First, and foremost, it is a site which is automatically updated in
real-time.  When training companies wish to create or update course
entries, they simply point, click, and immediately see the results on
the web site itself.  

As soon as a course entry is visible, the provider can take real-time
enquiries from potential customers whilst receiving web usage
statistics on their own courses and those of their major competitors.

Apart from direct access to course details and their providers,
potential clients benefit from a site which is easy to search and
navigate.  Providing it is listed in the database, anyone looking for
a course, no matter how obscure, will find it.

No other UK training site offers comparable levels of interactivity
and dynamic web services.  The secret behind the site's functionality
is it's integration of open standards, open source software, and a
smattering of in-house programming trickery. 

By separating the dynamic functions from the presentational elements
of HTML, the site can constantly be adapted and improved with minimal
human intervention.  The programme code currently contains a host of
premium features which have yet to be activated. e.g. direct booking,
last-minute booking, course evaluation, trainer evaluation, freelance
trainers, etc.

Training Pages was developed by GBdirect, a boutique IT consultancy
and training company based in Bradford.  A detailed case study of how
they designed and built the site is available from: 

http://www.gbdirect.co.uk/press/1999/trainingpages.htm


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ABOUT GBDIRECT:

GBdirect are a bespoke IT consultancy and training company based in
Bradford, UK.  They are acknowledged leaders in the implementation of
e-commerce solutions using Open Source Software.  Their training
division is unchallenged by competition in the specialist Linux
market.  IBM, Dell, Compaq, Planet (Energis/Freeserve), Hawke Systems,
BSS and Bryant Homes are amongst the companies they have helped with
open source strategies during the last six months.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dave Fisher                                       +44 (0)1274 772277
Business Development                            davef@gbdirect.co.uk
GBdirect Consultancy and Training                 www.gbdirect.co.uk
27 Park Drive                                www.trainingpages.co.uk
Bradford BD9 4DS                             www.linuxtraining.co.uk     

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