Planning the TQS Development Journey (5) – Do you know what you want from the TQS?

Many training provider organisations are committed to gaining the TQS. It’s becoming the latest “must-have” in the sector.

The question is why?

There are lots of generalisations about the benefits of the TQS and the need to gain it, but have you really thought carefully about what you hope your certification, when you achieve it, will bring you?

You need to be clear about your reasons for going after the TQS. The first step on your journey to TQS certification is to make sure you know the answer to this question.

Perhaps you have more than one answer. If you do, it’s worth making a list of your reasons for seeking TQS certification.

You might even want to make the list now, before reading on.

Once you have your list check it against the outcomes of a discussion I chaired recently with a group of senior staff in provider organisations.

Noted below are the three main benefits that the participants want to gain from their TQS certification.

How does this list compare with yours?

“Training Quality Standard certification will help us to access funding.”
This is the benefit that most people talk about most often. Quite a few people believe that in the medium term only those who hold the TQS will be able to gain access to significant amounts of funding.

“Training Quality Standard certification will help us with reputation-building.”
This is where the whole issue of differentiation comes into play. What is different about your organisation? How can you promote your organisation as different, and possibly better, than the competition?

“Training Quality Standard certification will help us to build our business.”
This is a statement that is made regularly. People look to TQS certification to help them to build credibility in their marketplace and to encourage employers to choose to work with them.

So how does this list compare with yours?

It really doesn’t matter how close the two lists are. What is important is that you now know why you want the TQS.

You have taken the first step on your development journey.