A Pearl in Pitman’s Crown: Husband and Wife Team Celebrate 30 Years in Developing Careers

Husband and wife team, Fran and Tom Maclean, have something to celebrate this month as they mark their 30th year at the helm of their business which has supported tens of thousands of local Scottish people to achieve their career goals.

Fran and Tom set up their flagship Pitman Training centre in 1987 from their office in Castle Street, Edinburgh, where they initially conducted business with manual typewriters. They then moved to their High Street premises in 1988 where they worked with electronic typewriters, leading them to become the first Pitman Training centre outside of London to embrace the electronic age, and then went on to set up another centre in York Place, Edinburgh.

The Macleans have consistently ridden the wave of technological advancements, supporting people across Scotland who are undertaking training to start, or progress their careers. They have been quick to embrace new technology, inclusive of e-testing, online learning and digital marketing, to progress the development of their business. The Pitman franchise itself has also evolved from teaching Sir Isaac Pitman’s shorthand and typing, to offering courses in just about anything that you may use in a modern work environment. 

In addition to assisting private individuals to achieve their career goals, Pitman Training in Scotland also works with hundreds of businesses big and small to help them with staff development, aided by the accreditation of most of their courses by the Continual Professional Development (CPD) Standards Office.

Together, Fran and Tom consistently achieve a turnover in excess of £1 million per annum from their two centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and they also provide support to other training centres in Scotland. Having built the business from scratch, the married couple now employ 17 staff and have become an inspiration to others in business.

After a fall on holiday saw her plunge 40 foot down a cliff and suffer a punctured lung, a bruised spleen and ten broken bones, Fran, 59, never takes a day for granted. As part of their celebrations, Fran and Tom are now calling out for other local business people who have overcome adversity to achieve their goals to showcase their successes through the Pitman Training SuperAchievers awards. 

The categories featured are ‘Working Mum of the Year’ and ’Working Dad of the Year’, alongside Inspirational Achiever of the Year, Boss of the Year, Pitman Training Student of the Year and more.

Claire Lister, MD of Pitman Training Group said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate Tom and Fran’s success as they make such a notable contribution to the group as a whole, as well as having built up a great business in Scotland. Their business acumen and hard work, as well as support from their family and staff, are all elements that have driven them forward. We’re very proud to have them as a part of our team.”

Fran said: “Pitman is a brand which has been trusted for generations and it’s great to be able to still work within this British heritage brand that’s progressing with the times. It has been important to have an open mind to developments and changes and to adapt to these and not to get stuck in a rut – this flexibility I think is one of our secrets to success over the last 30 years and something I’d advise all business owners to embrace”.

Pitman Training offers flexible, tailor-made courses and qualifications with one-on-one student support in subjects including Office, IT, Administration, Finance and Business and Personal Development which are recognised by employers.

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