Failing to follow the guidance – big mistake number five

The last of the big mistakes is one that no one needs to make.

When I am asked to review Training Quality Standard applications, I am always amazed at the number of documents sent to me which have clearly been produced without reference to the application writing guidance.

The Assessment Guide and Evidence Framework document is an excellent support to the whole TQS application writing process, as are the Part B support documents produced by the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). Managers writing an application should use these documents to guide their work throughout the time they are writing their submissions.

However, in many cases – and probably in the majority of applications that I see – people have written what they think they should write, rather than using the published guidance to help them to be clear about what to include in their applications and what to omit.

As a result they just don’t cover the issues that need to be addressed, or they cover them badly, or they include lots of material that just isn’t relevant.

Remember, you don’t have to make this mistake.

It’s probably the easiest of the five big mistakes to avoid. . .

. . . so, make sure you follow the instructions . . . and avoid this particular problem.