Success Stories

Hugh Baird College in Bootle, Merseyside is the most recent success story I have to relate.

I have worked with Sue Lowe, Director of Corporate Services, and her team on a range of employer engagement projects, including the TQS.

Hugh Baird College has recently gained certification in the Training Quality Standard Part A plus Part B with excellence in Hospitality and Catering.

I asked Sue about the college’s TQS journey and the challenges Hugh Baird overcame along the road to certification.

What were the key challenges you faced when you first decided to go for the TQS?
“Financing the process, it took time but it was important to do.

We’re a big organisation. We saw that TQS needed a big investment. We needed to train our staff and get every one involved, - not just the lecturers, but student advisers, caretakers, receptionists, security – every one.

We needed to ensure every one was on board because a caretaker could be speaking to an employer just as easily as anyone else, so we had to get it right with every one.

Just as important was how we handled enquiries. We included training for all our front of house staff to do this. We also put in a new telephone system, along with new service standards, for each area of the College, including reception. All the schools in the college revised their service standards, too, and we measure performance every month.

People like having a standard to work to. They can do well and achieve excellence.”

How did you organise writing your application?
“You know we were assessed in September 2008. We began writing in November 2007. I had the first draft done by January 2008 and between January and May this year we kept updating and amending it.

We knew that A0 and A5 were the areas to focus on to get right.

Part B was different and a bit more difficult to complete. We did it though. The feedback we got said it was an excellent Part B application.

How did you prepare for the assessors’ visit?
“There was a lot of preparation but we felt it was vital.

We set out to look after our assessors well.

We had all the evidence there and ready for them. We made sure every one arrived in time for their interview.

We asked the assessors about any issues we could help them with at the end of each day.”

What hints and tips would you like to offer to anyone preparing for assessment?
“Get your application checked by someone who hasn’t worked on it. We had a consultant look at ours. It really helps to do this. The person who reads the application sees all the things you miss when you’re writing it.

Make sure every one, and especially the Principal and the SMT, are fully on board. Take time to get the Principal’s commitment.

We had that commitment. It helped us a lot.

Also be positive about employer engagement – all the time. Keep it in people’s minds. Make sure it’s covered in the Principal’s address, updates in staff newsletters and in staff training sessions.

When the assessors come, make sure all the evidence is there. Organise it. Put it in the room for the assessors.

It makes such a difference to be well prepared.”

You can learn more about Hugh Baird College by visiting the college’s website:

http://www.hughbaird.ac.uk