The Dulux Academy is now available from your back pocket anytime with the launch of “The HUB”
Dulux Academy is the home of painting and decorating excellence. Launched in 2016, over 12,500 have trained at one of the venues across the UK by attending courses that are designed to meet the professional and personal ambitions of decorators at every stage of their career.
With the successful launch of Dulux Academy Live, an online based solution in 2020, the team are now perfectly placed to deliver a new industry-leading offer that puts Dulux Academy in your pocket and available at a time and place that suits you.
Dulux Academy is thrilled to announce the launch of The HUB: a flexible online platform where decorators can access their own personalised learning and networking experience 24/7, anytime, anywhere.
The portal will be made available to everyone that has taken part in an Academy course – be it in person at one of the Academy’s locations across the country, or an online free Dulux Academy Live workshop.
Since launching Dulux Academy Live – a series of free online training workshops – the needs for accessible learning that decorators can access at their own leisure and convenience has become clear – and that is why.
The HUB is so important. “The HUB was born as a result of this evolution in how the trade engages in training – it’s been developed for the trade, by the trade. It is a market-first for the painting and decorating industry, and we’re really proud to be the ones offering it,” Vickie Mather, Dulux Academy Lead, explains. “We’re revolutionising tradespeople’s access to training by making it accessible to them at any place, any time. We’re excited to be providing these new services to Dulux Academy delegates, giving them even more depth to their learning with personalised experiences, plus the added benefit of online peer-to-peer engagement.”
A variety of training resources will be available, all designed to enhance skills across painting and decorating: from application and colour choices to business management. Each individual will be offered a unique experience tailored to them, with content recommended based on what they have previously engaged with.
Tailored learning plans
Live Academy courses will be broadcast on The HUB, allowing users to interact and engage in real time. E-learning courses will also be made available, which users can complete in modules at their own pace and quiz themselves with test questions. Users can create their own learning plans, which allows them to review what they have completed and organise what they work on next. Once they have completed a course, users unlock exclusive information and content to help further support their learning.
Users can also listen to podcasts from the Dulux Academy team about a range of industry topics, or watch instructional videos at a time and place convenient to them. All content is completely unlimited, so learners can revisit resources as often as required.
Content on The HUB is easily searchable, with it being categorised into five groups: Skill Level, Content Type, Topic, Rated, and Most Watched. Featured content can also be pinned for all learners for even greater ease of access. The HUB prides itself on being highly personalised, with the option to add personal business logos and pictures to user profiles.
Vickie Mather explains why The HUB has come at the perfect time: “While the COVID-19 pandemic only put a temporary end to face-to-face training, it did prove to us the effectiveness and importance of flexibility when it comes to learning. Over lockdowns, we launched Dulux Academy Live, which saw over 3,500 users attend a variety of online workshops – so we know there is a hunger for people to learn at a time and place that is convenient to them.
“We’re excited for The HUB to provide such flexible experiences and opportunities, really establishing the Dulux Academy name once again as a leader in training current and the next generation of painter and decorators.”
New and improved features
Alongside the launch of The HUB, Dulux Academy will be introducing its new website. This site will house The HUB and offer new features of its own, developed using customer insights and feedback to ensure an improved experience for those purchasing Dulux Academy courses. This includes the ability to now search for courses by date, the improved visibility of facilities and their addresses, regular news updates on events and activities, and links to CITB Skills Funding.
The Academy has also earned recognition from the British Coatings Federation, and has a strong relationship with a range of suppliers, such as Mirka, Graco, Tesa, Graham & Brown and Axus, giving attendees access to the latest and greatest tools on the market.
The new Dulux Academy website, with information about The Hub, can be accessed here www.duluxacademy.co.uk
