Horse wrote:it's difficult for professional trainers to provide such low-cost advanced training against the IAM Groups unless they have something different to offer
That's a general rule for selling any product. Unless you can differentiate your product, then you're not going to sell it. To sell anything successfully, you need to offer something near-unique that people value.
The IAM offers a good product: a well recognised qualification, combined with a good social side, all for a modest investment. RoSPA offers a good product: it's differentiated itself through the cachet of its Gold qualification, "not being the IAM" and a good social side, all for very little cost.
BMF Blue Riband at least offers a professionally-taught programme. Although relatively unknown, some BMF members will be aware of it through the BMF magazine.
What does DIAmond offer?
Without a structured programme like Blue Riband, it's unclear how to prepare for a DIAmond test. If DIAmond offered a well structured and professionally taught programme, combined with an advanced badge as a goal, then it might have something distinct to market. Many people like a badge for goal setting. And a well structured, professionally taught programme would differentiate it from the IAM and RoSPA's amateur observers/tutors. Mind you, DIAmond would still need marketing too.
Out of curiosity, I once considered having a go at the Special test, but it was totally unclear to me how I should prepare for the test. (The DIA's website showed no DIAmond instructors nearby.) I could neither discern what would be considered a fault in the test nor whether my Roadcraft positioning would be acceptable. So I didn't bother.
In short, not only does DIAmond need more promotion, but it needs to be much clearer about how to reach the required standard. Just stating "no more than two minor faults" isn't clear.
Perhaps Andy could add some clarity or ask Mike Frisby to post on here. He'd be a valuable contributor to this forum.