Society of Shoe Fitters: Courses & Examinations 2011 / 2012

Published: 15 December, 2011

With a great start to the new season’s courses this September, the Society of Shoe Fitters are going to go on booking the 10 month course through to the end of February until the start of their new 5 month course – 1st March 2012. The new course format is allowing them to be far more flexible and in tune with people’s needs as they have reduced the number of Workshops from three to two, but are repeating them within the same year, so if students miss one they don’t have to wait too long to attend the one they’ve missed. Another change taking place is the presentation of their qualification. Whereas students who completed their coursework early had to wait until Workshop 3 to receive their certificates, goodie bags etc., now they will be sent immediately upon approval of their Tutor.

Surprisingly they have booked more Deluxe Courses than usual (which includes gauges and an instore visit for staff training), which is good news as it means ‘new shops are opening’ – a real injection of confidence for the trade and great for their Associate Members!

The two new official start dates in 2012 for the 5 month course (both starting directly after the MODA show) are: MARCH 1^ST 2012 and SEPTEMBER 1ST 2012. and the two workshops will take place during each 5 month course – which are also offered to Deluxe Students and those on the 10 month course. The dates are:

DIARY DATES:Workshops 2012:

Workshop 1 = Anatomy/Children’s Fitting/Returns: choice of March 21st or October 3rd

Workshop 2 = Factory Visit/Manufacturing & Construction Methods/Adult Fitting: choice of June 6th or November 14th

They make the Workshops available to anyone who has missed a Workshop during their course and were disappointed to do so. If you are a previous student and would like to come to one of these dates, please email the office and give a week’s notice, if they can fit you in they will. These are opened up to non-students if space allows.

The Entrance Examination is available online (www.shoefitters-uk.org) for highly experienced shoe fitters who wish to qualify as members, and they have recently welcomed Phillip Taylor of the Cordwainer Unit inHopeValley, Derbyshire and Lisa Preston of Shoemed inStratforduponAvon, Warks. If you have someone in your shop who has been fitting for years, why not encourage them to do the examination and receive all the many benefits of belonging to the SSF!

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