Your Guide to Microsoft Digital Skills Week

by Ben Jermy

Microsoft Digital Skills Week kicks off on Monday the 23rd of November. Read this blog to get an insight into the week, what's going on and how you can get involved. Plus, learn how it ties in with our incredible FastPass deal!

Announcement: Apprenticeships receive glowing Ofsted results!

By Ben Hansford

Firebrand received glowing results our Covid-19 Monitoring visit from Ofsted! Check out the following blog to find out what this means for you as an employer or apprentice working with Firebrand Training.

Introducing AWS Learning Needs Analysis (LNA)

by Faisal Malik

Is your organisation Cloud-ready? Want to learn how to get the most out of AWS? Check out the following blog to find out about our free Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) in partnership with AWS.

The Free Training for Life Winner 2020 is...

by Ben Jermy

The Free Training for Life Competition (FTFL) for 2020 is now officially closed! Find out who the winner is and how you can get involved in getting access to over 1000 courses for FREE, for LIFE! 

Announcement: Firebrand Training partners with Computer Task Group

by Benjamin Long 

Account Director, Benjamin Long, discusses the launch of Firebrand's new partnership with Computer Task Group (CTG). 

Firebrand Training Centre is Open!

Update: September 2020. The Firebrand Training centre is now open. Read on to find out the latest information on the reopening of the Firebrand Training centre and what it means for you.

FastPass: Unlimited Microsoft Training for £6,000

Firebrand Training is launching FastPass again! Get in touch to find out how you can receive unlimited Microsoft training for £6000!

Announcement: Firebrand Apprenticeships ranked Top 20 Training Providers!

Firebrand Apprenticeships are delighted to have been awarded 18th place in this year’s RateMyApprentichip Awards! Managing Director, Ben Hansford, discusses our excitement and celebration as a company, and what this means for the future of Firebrand Apprenticeships. 

Job Survey: Where do you want to take your career?

by Phoebe Savvides


We’ve created a job survey to find out what your career ambitions are as an individual, as well as an employer supporting your business; how you endeavour to achieve them, and what we can do to support your growth.

Announcement: Support Scheme for Apprentices

by Ben Hansford

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new bonus scheme for employers to be paid up to £2000 to support young employees aged 16-24, and specifically, apprentices. The following explores how to apply for this scheme, and the current status of apprenticeships on an international scale. 

Firebrand Sprint | Webinars & 1-Day Accelerated Courses

by Phoebe Savvides



The demand and growth of the tech-world has only accelerated during these troubling times, with everyone from certification bodies, to training providers and employers understanding the need for staff to get properly certified. But which certification? We’re introducing Firebrand Sprint: your new source for webinars and 1-day accelerated training to make sure you get all the information you need before investing in an IT certification.

The Lockdown Lessons We Must Remember When Rebuilding the Workplace

by Mike Brown

In this guest post by one of Firebrand’s leading instructors and all-round cloud expert, Mike Brown identifies the latest rules of working from home, the benefits and future of hybrid-working, and how the pandemic has accelerated the necessity for the cloud.

7 tips to win with Online Instructor-Led Training

by Dr Richard Diston

Training is changing. Being in a classroom understandably isn't top of many people's list of things to do right now. Online Instructor-Led training is a viable alternative if you follow these seven tips.

Test, Test, Test!

by Graham P. Hunter


Working from home will play a big role in the 'new normal' after COVID-19, and remote learning arrangements require change from certifying bodies, too. In this post, Graham Hunter, Vice President of Skills Certification, EMEA of CompTIA, recounts how CompTIA has recognised this need, and gives tips on how to prepare for a remote exam.

14 Reasons to be Kind

by Natalie Wilson

It's a tumultuous time for us all, and the time more than ever to focus on our mental health. A note to our apprentices, and to everyone else who is in need of a helping hand: it's Mental Health Awareness week, so we've collected a list of ideas to help you stay positive, optimistic, and healthy. 

What certifications can I get online?

by Phoebe Savvides


As digitisation accelerates due to COVID-19, IT skills are more important than ever. And now you can achieve many certifications from your home, thanks to the effort of certification entities and testing providers. These are the certifications you can get completely online.

We Need to Talk About the Future

by Robert Chapman

We’re going through the most challenging time in a generation, and the risk of failure is higher than ever. And not just failing as a business, but failing as humans. I’ll argue that this need not happen, and we can emerge from this better and stronger.

10 Ways Companies Can Make a Difference During the Pandemic

by Thiago Earp

We humans are wired to try and help others in times of distress. Companies are just a bunch of humans working together - and together humans can make a disproportionate difference. Read on for examples and ideas to inspire you to make a difference, too.

Cyber crime in the time of COVID-19

by Phil Chapman

Criminals take advantage of their surroundings, and cybercriminals are no different. With coronavirus looming and internet activity at a record high, here’s some advice from our law enforcement and cybercrime expert Phil Chapman.

10 Ways to Earn Money During the Coronavirus Lockdown

by Thiago Earp

If the lockdown has left you out of work, furloughed, or in need of a few extra quid at the end of the month, the internet is here to help. We have compiled a list with good ways to earn money and stay sane during this period. Read on!

Thank You, Techies

From all of us here at Firebrand, an open letter to every worker in the tech industry.

10 Unexpected Microsoft Easter Eggs

Are you up for a tech-savvy Easter egg hunt? Release your inner digital rabbit and come hunt the most incredible and unexpected Easter eggs laid by Microsoft.

10 Legendary Easter Eggs in the Tech Industry

by Thiago Earp

Even if everything points to an Easter holiday spent indoors, all is not lost. Again, technology comes to the rescue with these legendary Easter Eggs, hidden right behind your screen. Read on and let the hunt begin!

Firebrand Apprenticeships | Coronavirus updates

Read on for the most up-to-date information on Firebrand Apprenticeships for apprentices and employers during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Introducing Online Instructor-Led Training | Firebrand OIL

Please head to this page for more information.

At Firebrand, we are committed to helping you achieve your certification as fast as possible, and we’re determined to keep this promise throughout these difficult times. In an effort to accommodate students who are presently unable to attend classes, we are offering an online alternative for attending courses during this period. One way or another, we’ll get you certified.

Coronavirus | Updates and Actions

UPDATE: 28th September. Read on for the most up-to-date information on Firebrand’s operations and actions during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Current Update - 28/09/2020

Please follow this link to find out any information regarding the current COVID 19 measures in place at our training centre. In summary:

• Our training centre is now open and delivering courses
• We now offer a choice between taking courses at our training centre or online using our OIL service
• Our training centre blog will be updated to reflect any future changes

Update - 23/03/20 

In order to help authorities in the effort to suppress the spread of coronavirus, until the end of June, 2020, all our courses will be delivered exclusively via Online Instructor-Led virtual classrooms.

This means we won't be taking any students into any of our training centres (including the UK, Germany, or the Netherlands). This measure is effective from today, March 23, and provisionally extends until June 30, 2020.

As a business our priority is to safeguard the health of our learners, staff, and partners, and we don't take this measure lightly. 

Firebrand is closely monitoring the situation, and we'll communicate you when the situation changes. 

Update - 19/03/20 

We continue working to honour our commitment to deliver training during the ongoing challenges posed by coronavirus. In an effort to allow you and your team to continue upskilling even if travel disruptions are in place, we've put together the option of sitting courses online.

Starting Friday, 20th of March, all our courses will also be delivered simultaneously via OIL - Online Instructor-Led. Read all about it on this page.

If you'd like to choose that option, please contact our training experts to make the necessary arrangements.

Update - 17/03/20 

We’re determined to honour our commitment to the hundreds of people who have trusted us to deliver training. Our current position is to continue to operate until official government policy determines otherwise.

We’re closely monitoring both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and official UK guidance for any changes. Should any changes require us to make amendments to your course, we’ll notify you immediately via email and phone. 

At the moment, we’re looking into alternative options for course delivery and we’ll be in touch with more information when we have a solution in place.

That said, we’d like to reiterate that, until further notice, all ongoing and upcoming courses are planned to go ahead.

General FAQ

What’s Firebrand doing to prevent the spread of the contagion?

We’d like to reassure you that we’re doing all we can to minimise risk to our customers and staff across all our facilities and training centres.

• Sanitisers strategically placed across the training centre 
• Careful and thorough cleaning of all lab and class equipment/environment 
• Surveying all delegates and staff before courses for the presence of symptoms 

We recommend you take individual measures as per official guidance, wash your hands carefully and constantly, and notify our staff immediately should you feel unwell.

What should I do if I suspect I’m ill?

If you’re due to attend a course, we encourage you to self-assess before travelling. If you have a cough or any other symptoms of COVID-19, we kindly ask you to follow the official advice from the government and stay at home. Contact us as soon as possible so we can assess your options.

If you’re already training with us, rest assured that our staff are here to help. Should you have any concerns while at the training centre, please reach out to Firebrand’s front desk.

Where do I find official Coronavirus COVID-19 guidance?

More information can be found on the following links: 

• UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public 
• Germany: https://www.infektionsschutz.de/coronavirus-sars-cov-2.html 
• Netherlands: https://www.rivm.nl/coronavirus/covid-19/vragen-antwoorden 

Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any other concerns.

Cybersecurity and coronavirus: keeping your business safe

by Philip Blake

Measures to mitigate the outbreak of COVID-19 have led to an unprecedented increase in remote working across the board. Our guest author Philip Blake, European Regional Director at EC-Council and cybersecurity expert, outlines key challenges and tips for staying secure while away from the office.

Scrum vs Six Sigma: which one is right for you?

by Thiago Earp


If you can’t decide whether to use Agile Scrum or Lean Six Sigma for your next project, we’re here to help. This article compares both methods to help you settle the debate.

10 Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2020

by Firebrand Training

Discover the 10 best cybersecurity certifications in 2020 and how they can help you advance your career and upskill for the digital economy.

What are Azure Blueprints (and how can they help with compliance)?

by Mike Brown

In this Firebrand Q&A video, Mike Brown, cloud expert and instructor at Firebrand, explains what are Azure Blueprints and how they can help with compliance.