CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing Distance Learning Prospectus

CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing Distance Learning Prospectus Join the best Established in June 2004, the Marketers Forum Ltd (TMF) has quickly established an outstanding reputation for innovation and excellence. You will be joining like-minded marketers who also strive to be the best. The CIM Diploma assessments are linked to a professional competency framework in other words you will be tested on your ability to do the job (not just your knowledge). l l The subject matter is continuously updated so you must demonstrate a grasp of the latest trends and techniques. You will need to write professional work-based reports, compile on-line portfolios and pass a threehour exam in other words you will need to develop a wide range of skills to complete the qualification. This prospectus provides a summary of the unique benefits of our Distance Learning solution, that we believe provides you the very best available. We look forward to working with you. Quentin Crowe Managing Director The Marketers Forum Page 1 of 10

1 Programme Overview The CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing directly addresses the needs of a wide range of employers from small agencies to professional services, multi-nationals to charities. Course Modules To complete the qualification you need to pass three course modules in total. You will have access to the course materials for all modules. Marketing (Mandatory) Assessed by a two-hour multiple choice written exam, topics include: What marketing is How marketing contributes to the success of an organisation Customer behaviour and effective targeting The external environment and how it influences marketing planning Using the marketing mix or 7Ps Integrated Communications (Mandatory) Assessed by a 12-page work based assignment, topics include: The importance of effective internal and external communications Communications planning Product and brand management The marketing communications mix Digital Marketing (Elective) Assessed by a three-part portfolio comprising research, plan and report, topics include: Skills to improve digital marketing effectiveness The challenges and opportunities within the digital environment The skills and tools required to support and enhance marketing activities The importance of effective digital monitoring and measurement techniques It is possible to complete one of the above modules as a stand-alone course, upon which an individual award can be achieved. 3 examination boards To deliver each module, we work backwards from CIM s 3 examination boards April, July & September The programme should take you twelve months to complete. You will complete one module in each 12- week term. Each module starts twelve weeks before the relevant examination board as follows: Course Module Start date Exam Board Marketing (mandatory) January April Exam 5 th April (9.30am to 11.30am) Integrated Communications April July (mandatory) Digital Marketing (elective) September December Page 2 of 10

2 Course Delivery Traditional Distance Learning failings We started by asking people who had studied CIM courses via Distance Learning elsewhere and who had transferred to The Marketers Forum. The results were interesting: We were shocked that some transfers from other study centres told us that they had felt abandoned by faceless support tutors Attrition levels on Distance Learning courses are very high Many candidates struggle with the demands of distance learning and simply give up, not even registering for the assessment of a single module Many start online and transfer to conventional courses Some candidates expressed a sense of loneliness or feeling distant from live events and other students Poor course structure for Distance Learning Misleading promises some complained that promises e.g. 24 helpline were not what she expected So we set about creating a new Distance Learning experience that directly addressed these issues. Distance Learning redefined Candidates told us they wanted both the learning experience of a live course with the flexibility of Distance Learning. We have designed a programme for people who don t live close enough or have the time to attend live courses in London. The key to the new delivery is that our Distance Learning courses are directly aligned to our live courses. Page 3 of 10

CIM Certificate Timetable Distance Learning Course: CIM= Professional= Certificate Intake: January/2016 Format: DISTANCE LEARNING Delivery: Thursday/Evenings Start/time:// 19.00 Finish/time:/ 20.00 Duration: Tweleve months Each%module%is%delivered%over%10%x%hourly%webinars%that%are%recorded%and%uploaded%to%your%learning%portal.% Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Marketing (10=x=Hourly= Webinars) 14/21/28 Jan 4/11/18/25 Feb 3/10/17 March Exam 5 th April E X A M Integrated= Communications (10=x=Hourly= Webinars) 14/21/28 April 5/12/19/26 May 2/9/16 June Assignment Digital= Marketing= (10=x=Hourly= Webinars) 15/22/29 Sept 6/13/20/27 Oct 3/10/17 Nov Portfolio Costs UK= Tuition= Fees==(Full=Programme) 1,425 +/VAT Single Module 475/+/VAT Optional TMF=Membership==Fee 100/+/VAT CIM=Annual=Membership 50 CIM=Assessment=Fee x=3 130 Page 4 of 10

Key benefits of The Marketers Forum Delivery: Unlike rival offerings, our Distance Learning courses follow the course structure of our live courses. This means you benefit from the following: Dedicated support tutor - to guide you through the programme Access to and participation in live training sessions, which you can attend via the GoToTraining software Participate in the same Webinars as our live candidates. You can also watch the recordings of these sessions at your leisure Masterclass videos Full access to all course materials via your Online Learning Hub Dedicated Support Tutor You will be allocated your personal support tutor. During the course you will be in regular email contact with your tutor. GotoTraining Live Sessions You can choose to participate in live sessions using the GoToTraining software. This means you will be able to see and hear the trainer in a live course and even participate. You will be able to ask questions of the trainer as the session evolves. You can even join in with debate. There will be 10 x 1 hour sessions for each module running on Thursday nights between 7:00pm and 8:00pm UK time. These sessions are also recorded and accessible via your Online Learning Hub. Webinars We use webinars to provide feedback on specific activities. During the course you will be set various tasks. All candidates will submit these tasks to their allocated tutor for feedback. We then ask all tutors involved with each module to share their findings via webinar. All candidates whether they are attending live courses or studying via Distance Learning will attend the same webinars. You can ask questions of the tutor team during these webinars and obtain clarification on technical issues as they arise. Masterclass videos Each term we invite specialist speakers to deliver Masterclasses on contemporary topics such as: Developing your personal brand using LinkedIn Visual DNA who broke digital? These sessions are filmed, so you will have access to the videos. Practice exam questions You will be required to complete weekly tasks including practice exam questions for the Marketing module. It is imperative that you complete these tasks. Exam technique for professional qualifications is different to academic qualifications. However competent you may be at exams, you will need to develop a technique for CIM examinations. You will also need to complete a mock exam in your own time. Again, you will need to scan and submit your answers for feedback. Page 5 of 10

Course Materials Via your Online Learning Hub, you will have access to the following course materials: Step-by-step Guidance Notes for each assignment task Slides for the live sessions Online quizzes Masterclass videos Instructional videos for CIM registration, assignment submission Additional contemporary reports, articles, blogs etc. Other relevant materials will be added as the course progresses. More detailed information is provided later in this document. Free Soft Skills Sessions You will also have access to our special soft skills videos to help you develop key skills that will both help you with your coursework and your career. These include: Research Skills for CIM assignments; MS Word skills for CIM assignments; creating compelling Marketing Budgets using MS Excel. 3 Course Suitability Distance Learning requires candidates to be self-disciplined and fully committed. It does not suit everybody. We offer Saturday courses for candidates who prefer classroom teaching but are not able to attend mid-week evening sessions. However, we have tried to remove much of the stress and aggravation for you as possible. The programme is designed for candidates who are not able to physically attend our London workshops either through geography or time availability. For the CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing you should have: Completed the CIM Foundation Certificate or hold A Non Marketing related degree Or have a minimum of 6 months to 2 Years marketing experience Ideally you should be currently in full time-employment in a marketing role. You will be assessed using work-based assignments. This places students who are not in full-time employment at considerable disadvantage. 4 Your support team We currently employ 23 specialist trainers. Each has specialist areas of expertise. All our trainers are current marketing practitioners who have a passion for sharing marketing best practice. To ensure consistency and quality, all our trainers undergo a rigorous train the trainer programme before they are allowed to deliver any courses. The tutor team for this Winters CIM Certificate programme include: Page 6 of 10

Ann Prayle Ann Prayle is the Course Level Director for the CIM Certificate Programme at TMF and teaches a number of the modules, in addition to the MRS Advanced Certificate course. With a background in healthcare marketing, Ann began her CIM teaching career as a part-time hobby shortly after completing the Professional Postgraduate Diploma in 2003. Nowadays she juggles motherhood, with a little marketing consultancy and a lot of marketing tutoring. She sits on the CIM Greater London Board, regularly organises CIM events to help new CIM delegates and now holds a first-level PTLLS teaching qualification.. Orla O Connor Orla is Course Level Director for the CIM Foundation Certificate programme with TMF. She is also a Marketing & Entrepreneurship Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. A creative-thinking and dynamic marketer, her experience spans a wide range of sectors including market research, FMCG, financial services, creative industries, not-for-profit and green technology. Career highlights include strategic marketing planning within the Lloyd's insurance market, digital campaign implementation and evaluation at BPP, and international market development and stakeholder engagement at City University London. She is currently supporting an independent artist to develop her online business, an energy efficiency company to capitalise on the Department of Energy & Climate Change's Green Deal initiative, and a financial consultancy provider to market their investment operations benchmarking service in Luxembourg. Elizabeth Taylor Liz Taylor teaches on the CAM Diploma and CIM Certificate programmes. Liz worked in the entertainment industry for 12 years on film launches such as Harry Potter, Fast & Furious and Mamma Mia. During this time she gained a wealth of experience in marketing, including advertising, promotional planning, trade marketing and marketing communications. The latter was predominantly focused on digital media and how to use new and emerging platforms to engage with consumers. Liz took a maternity break, during which time she completed her Masters in Social Media Marketing, and then decided on a career change to professional academia. Liz is now focused on teaching and supporting students for CAM qualifications, and supporting several local businesses with marketing consultancy services. Page 7 of 10

Fiona Eriksen Fiona is a CIM Member with over 15 years experience across B2B and consumer marketing in the drinks, healthcare and food industries. She has worked in branding and product management at companies such as Birds Eye, Diageo and Johnson & Johnson. Her key skills include; marketing communications, new product development, strategy development, market research and project management. Page 8 of 10

5 FAQs How will I be supported? You will be appointed a dedicated support tutor at the start of each module. You will also receive access to your Online Learning Hub, which will enable you to access all your course materials. How much time should I allocate to my studies? You will need to allocate at least 100 hours per course module, which roughly equate to 8 hours every week. It is imperative you are disciplined and do not procrastinate. Set aside time each week for your studies. This could be a whole day during the weekend, whilst you are travelling, lunchtimes etc. Find times that best work best for you. What if work gets in the way and I have to defer? We would strongly advise that you maintain momentum through your course. Sometimes exceptional circumstances such as bereavement, pregnancy, and redundancy create havoc with studies. Whatever your circumstances, please contact your tutor as quickly as possible. What if I fail? If you follow the course structure to the letter, the chances of success are extremely high. However, in the unlikely event of you failing you can re-sit the course, you be charged an additional 150.00 (ex vat) This covers: Access the course materials for a further three months. Dedicated tutor support including feedback on draft assignments and practice exam questions. Are books included? The days of textbooks are thankfully gone. Whist you will need to cover core theories, the world of marketing is moving very quickly. You will need to keep up to date with the latest thinking. More importantly you will need to apply these concepts to your chosen organisation. The emphasis is therefore about developing your skills as well as your knowledge. Whilst we would not deter you from buying the recommended reading, you should find all that you need from the resources we provide or direct you to. As a studying member of CIM, you will have access to an extensive range of resources including full online library service and the brilliant Marketing Expert resource. We look forward to working with you. Page 9 of 10

6 Distance Learning Costs Tuition Per module: 475.00 plus VAT 570.00 (including VAT) Whole programme: 1425.00 plus VAT 1710.00 (including VAT) Optional Annual TMF membership (worth up to 2000!) 100 plus VAT Ideal for candidates that live in London, benefits include: 30% of TfL save up to 1,200! NUS Extra discounts of Apple, Microsoft, 25% of Odeon and minimum 10% of all major retailers Masterclasses and special events Free for TMF members and a guest (usually 25 per delegate) CIM fees You will also be required to register and pay directly with the Chartered Institute of Marketing the following membership and assessment fees. Full instructions will be given upon booking the course (www.cim.co.uk) CIM Annual Membership CIM Assessment Fee per unit 50 (VAT exempt) 130 (VAT exempt Total Payable to CIM - 440 (vat exempt) 7 How to book You can book online, by going to: www.themarketersforum.co.uk. Choose Courses from the main tab and select Book Here. You can then select the Distance Learning option. Page 10 of 10