Application for the Training Quality Standard is designed to be of benefit to all organisations, public or private, including universities and other institutions, where there is a commitment to:

• achieving the highest standards in delivery of training and development solutions for employers, 
• demonstrating expertise in meeting the needs of employers through the development and delivery of products; and
• continuously improve, learn, and innovate.

 
Below are just some of the potential benefits to training providers both from being assessed against the framework and through holding Certification. We don’t expect you to take our word for it – so we’ve included quotes from those who’ve been assessed against the Standard.

Benefits of applying for the Training Quality Standard

• The application form gives you the opportunity to explore and explain your own performance: giving you a structure to review your strategy, approaches, and results in delivering training and development solutions to employers.

Elaine Summers, Centre Manager of Intuitions Ltd said:

''It’s a little bit like doing a self-assessment on yourselves and shows both strengths and areas needing further development. It really makes you look at your business from all angles and certainly gets rid of any cobwebs.''

• The detailed Feedback Report allows you to learn about your strengths and areas for improvement, and improve the service you provide.

Quality Manager of Premium People Training & Development, Stuart Angus said:

''The feedback report was very valuable in identifying common themes and areas where we are required to introduce changes to bring about improvements.  It was clear through the report that a number of our weaknesses were linked, and therefore, that provides us with the opportunity to have a positive impact on several areas.''

• Allows you to recognise areas of good practice.

Mark Cooke, Director of Business Development at Lewisham College commented that:

"The focus on impacts and outcomes, as well as structures and processes, meant that by testing ourselves against it, we could identify areas of good practice, as well as areas for improvement.“

• The Feedback Report informs you about your future development and helps you maintain the high level of quality training you provide.

Vicki Bonnett, Director of Hospitality Training Partnership Ltd said:

“The world is changing and we need to ensure that as an organisation we have systems in place to respond; the Training Quality Standard has helped ensure this is the case.”

• Gain recognition from employers you have worked with.

Director of Work Related Learning at City of Sunderland College, Lesley Griffin, commented:

“The College is delighted to have achieved the Standard.  Knowing that the robust external assessment process was validated by our employers is a real credit to our team.  The Standard is very beneficial to our sector and it will help employers easily recognise which providers are fully responsive to their needs in providing them with business solutions."

• Offers a robust, independent view of your achievements in terms of quality, capability and performance.

Stephen Brown, Programme Manager, Scania GB said:

 “…by taking part, we would learn whether what we considered good practice actually stood up to the rigour of the [Standard’s] verification process.”

Benefits of successful Certification

• Shows employers that you are among the best for delivering training development; and has the potential to increase business via employers’ recognition of your high quality training.

Sarah Hicks, Commercial Manager, City College Plymouth said:

"The Training Quality Standard has given us the opportunity to differentiate our employer-led training and development offer, setting us apart from the competition when it comes to availability of specialist sector training, and flexibility in the content and delivery of training.  The additional recognition we have gained for excellence in Construction, Engineering, and Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism also demonstrates our commitment to meeting sector specific needs and engaging effectively with employers, which has helped us to win business."

• Recognition of your expertise within the training sector.

Peter O’Brien, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Lancashire Fire and Rescue (an employer who had received training from a Certificated provider) said:

“As an employer that benefits from the training services the college provides it’s an honour to be involved in recognising its achievement in gaining the Training Quality Standard.  The achievement is a true recognition of excellence.”

• Demonstrates your progression, achievement, and commitment to continuous improvement to your staff and other stakeholders.

An employer, George Ross, who is the Managing Director of In2Action and received training from a Certificated provider, commented:

‘‘HTP took the time to understand our business and worked with us to develop a bespoke training package that really catered to our needs – that’s what makes Training Quality Standard providers so valuable.’’