Member Article

National independent survey gives Access thumbs-up

The recent results of a national, independent survey that measures the performance of training providers has given one north east company a boost.

Employers who receive training and apprentices from Gateshead-based Access Training scored the firm a satisfaction score of 8.4 out of 10 – which makes it one of the best in the country by topping the national average of 8.1. Access also scored better than most of its regional competitors in the independent survey.

Employers across the country took part in the FE Choices Employer Survey last year. The questionnaire asked businesses to rate the service they receive from colleges and training providers. The results are published on the FE Choices website so that employers can make an informed choice, based on performance, when choosing a training provider.

The professionalism of Access Training staff and its flexibility to meet employers’ training needs were the highest scoring questions in the review.

A survey respondent at Peacocks Medical Group said: “Skills advisers push our staff to expand their skills and knowledge - it isn’t just doing enough to get them through the qualification.”

The scores of the national survey are also mirrored in Access’ own annual satisfaction survey. Employers were asked to grade the firm out of 10 across 15 areas and scores ranged from 8.22, to nine out of 10. Not only that - but customers also gave higher satisfaction scores across 60% of service areas, compared to 2011, demonstrating that the service is continuing to improve.

Managing Director of Access, Malcolm Armstrong, commented: “We are very grateful to the employers who took the time to contribute to these surveys. We are obviously doing something right to get these levels of customer satisfaction. However, we know we can improve further and continue to listen to feedback and act on suggestions about how we can improve.

“As a result of the feedback, we plan to improve the information we provide about our services and also increase the number of work-based projects and assignments we use in our programmes.”

Access Training is the only training provider in Tyne and Wear to achieve the prestigious Training Quality Standard (TQS).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jill Farmer (Dobson) .