You’re a small organisation. You don’t have a cast of thousands (or indeed a budget of thousands). Yet, you need to keep getting things done, as well as staying abreast of new ways to market your organisation and its services.

The reality is that to make these things happen you’ll have to do them yourself – which is where marketing training and qualifications can be invaluable. Bottom line: Why spend lots of money on consultants, agencies or new staff when you spend a lot less and get the job done yourself?

Qualifications or training?

Only you and your organisation can truly gauge where you have the greatest need for new marketing skills and knowledge...

Choose qualifications if... marketing – and especially managing campaigns and staff/volunteers – is a major part of your job. Although the thought may seem daunting, the truth is that these days most qualifications are very practical and hands-on in the skills you learn. They also tend to be more flexible and can be fitted in around your schedule through online and blended learning.  Most importantly, if you work for a support organisation there’s a decent chance your employer will fund you.

Choose training if... you need to learn very specific skills (website design, writing, etc). Most of us have been there. Sat at the back of a classroom, watching a presenter with a flipchart and wishing we were somewhere else. But modern training – especially that which serves the marketing industry – has changed dramatically. Many training programmes these days will be built around the real-life projects and challenges you face, and include interactive elements like role-play.

Which should you choose?

Your choice will probably be determined by your budget, but there are many providers out there:

The Chartered Institute of Marketing should ideally be your first port of call. It’s the world’s largest marketing organisation and the only one through which you can become chartered.

Media Trust provides a wide range of training programmes for people of all abilities and experience levels - check out what’s coming up. We also have tailored Marketing and PR training events.

Charitytraining.com runs qualifications in voluntary sector management, which covers campaigning skills.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations offers events and training sessions covering campaigning.

The Learning and Skills Council provides information on local courses and qualifications.

The Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM) is particularly strong in digital marketing.

The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) increasingly focuses not just on traditional PR, but the growing field of social media.