Quality training counts
The East Midlands now has 14 providers with the Training Quality Standard (TQS). With 50 registrations, there are plenty more in the pipeline.
The TQS is the new standard for employer responsiveness. Once they have achieved the standard providers can also achieve a status of Excellence in one or more sector specific areas.
Stephenson College in Leicestershire has achieved the standard and are planning to submit applications for excellence status in three sectors before the end of this academic year. The college is currently working with over 600 employers including Cummins UK. Cummins UK is a division of Cummins Inc one of the world’s largest designers and manufacturers of diesel engines.
The college is training over 30 Apprentices with the company, all taking the Performing Engineering Operations NVQ Level 3. The programme is delivered by the college in conjunction with Cummins Service Centres and their Wellingborough training centre. There has also been several success stories associated with this work, where Apprentices have advanced to higher level positions, such as from Workshop Technician to Service Centre Manager within the company.
The college recently welcomed a new intake of Cummins Apprentices with their parents at a joint company and college induction day. This gave the new intake the opportunity to meet senior company managers, college teaching staff and support teams, and have any questions or queries answered.
Trevor Nodding, Cummins UK Training Manager, said: "Cummins UK has successfully worked in partnership with Stephenson College for a number of years and we are very impressed with the high quality training our employees receive. Our company prides itself on the training opportunities made available to our staff. We firmly believe that investing in Apprenticeships and staff development is a key factor for the future of our company. Stephenson College are helping us to achieve this".
College Principal Nigel Leigh said "Stephenson College has a tradition of working with employers to provide the high quality workforce they seek to promote the interests of their business. The recognition of the quality of our training through the Training Quality Standard communicates clearly to employers and employees that we are an organisation they can rely on."
For further information about TQS, please visit: www.trainingqualitystandard.co.uk
Image above (left to right): Tom Hull (Apprentice), Bob Kelly (College Vice Principal), Pamela Carter (Cummins President of Distribution), Nikki Jannaway (Apprentice), Ron Somerville (Cummins Managing Director - Greater Europe RDO), Amy Adams (Cummins Managing Director - Europe, Middle East & Africa), Graeme Cram (Apprentice) and Nigel Leigh (College Principal).
The picture was taken during a recent visit to the College by the companies American based President of Distribution, during a recent Europe-wide visit.