Success Stories

Total People

• Implementation of ITQ
• Developing Valuable Skills
• Using e-Solutions to Provide Fast and Flexible Service to Clients
• Delivering a Valuable Solution
• About Total People

Implementation of ITQ

Working with awarding body OCR, training provider Total People was one of the first companies to pilot ITQ with a selection of its clients, who range from small businesses to large corporations. As one of the largest suppliers of work-based training services across the Cheshire and Warrington region, it has extensive knowledge of business training needs, particularly IT, and was quick to see the value of the ITQ to business of all sizes.

"ITQ immediately appealed to us because it has been designed to effectively meet the widest range of IT user training requirements for modern organisations. It is a truly portable qualification that can benefit any type of business by enabling employees to be even more productive in their job,” said Penni Owen, Premier Business Adviser, Total People. “Not only does it provide the ability to qualify people in the context of their day-to-day job role, it is also highly customisable allowing businesses to provide personalised training based on clear business objectives."

"The ability to mix and match modules so that you can tailor skill development to specific job roles or customised systems, is particularly appealing to many businesses. A lot of companies use bespoke software and with the ITQ even a company’s internal IT systems, protocols and specialist applications can be part of the qualification. This is groundbreaking in terms of training as there has been no way of assessing skills around this before," continued Owen.

"Also, ITQ is the first qualification that enables employees to certify all of their existing IT knowledge under one national qualification, such as specific software accreditations or skills that have been picked up or self-taught," added Owen.

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Developing Valuable Skills

"What our clients have found particularly valuable with ITQ, is the way it allows specific frameworks to be set-up for tailored training. Then they can clearly see where there are skill gaps and address them in with targeted training methods. This enables them to easily certify and structure the IT knowledge in their organisation ,” commented Owen. “For example, one of our clients, a medium sized manufacturing company, has used ITQ to bring the IT skills of their entire workforce up to date and get everyone to a standard level. It had operated in a very traditional environment and was looking to automate more of its business processes. It had to ensure its employees had the skills to allow them to get the most out of any new technology investments."

ITQ also enables organisations to address specific training needs. A recruitment organisation working with Total People is using ITQ to enhance specific IT ‘office’ skills within its sales department. Its field executives have to present monthly sales data and statistics and had been relying on the IT department to develop their Powerpoint presentations. The company’s management realised it would be more efficient for the sales staff to have the skills to build their own presentations. This action would also free up the time of the IT team allowing them to focus on their core work.

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Using e-solutions to Provide Fast and Flexible Service to Clients

Total People use a combination of e-tools and e-learning packages to support the assessment processes and training programmes involved in delivering ITQ to its clients. This provides its candidates with easily accessible resources to help them undertake self-assessments and follow courseware online. It also gives candidates the ability to work on courseware from any location and at times convenient to their employer.

Total People is also piloting the e-skills Passport. The e-skills Passport allowed candidates to create a unique and ongoing record of their IT skills that can be accessed and updated at any time via the Internet. In addition, the e-portfolio tool allows participants to present the coursework part of the qualification digitally using mixed media. This removes some of the administration that has been prevalent in NVQs to this point.

"Using the e-skills Passport and e-portfolio tools ensures a more efficient method of collecting and assessing candidate information. It also enables our training candidates to track their own progress, which is very motivating for them as they can see what they have achieved. It provides them with a clear log of their experience and qualifications, which they can use to support their own career progression."

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Delivering a Valuable Solution

"We think ITQ is a fantastic qualification. Response from the employers we have worked with has been very positive,” concludes Owen. “ITQ really is designed for today’s business. Not only does it offer a highly personalised training programme but provides a solution that can meet a variety of IT training needs regardless of the complexity, scale or specific requirements of a company."

"Most importantly, the qualification aims to deliver significant returns to both employer and employee, as it focuses on developing skills that will enable staff to use technology and systems to their full potential. Employees enhance their job performance, which ultimately benefits in greater business productivity and efficiency."

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About Total People

Operating in the North West and Midlands, Total People is one of the largest suppliers of work based training in those regions.

Total People is recognised for delivering and supporting flexible quality training in the workplace. Currently it is working with over 1500 employers and in excess of 3000 candidates in a range of apprenticeship and NVQ programmes. The company is organised into occupationally specific areas, each of which has competent and qualified advisers with a wealth of knowledge in their particular field. The advisers support the candidates through Apprenticeships and NVQ programmes in a flexible manner designed to meet the needs of both the individual and the employer. This is achieved using a diverse range of delivery methods, including workshops, one-to-one training sessions and innovative open learning materials which are supported by regular review and assessment.

Total People have a fully equipped Learndirect centre and have recently been awarded ‘Premier Business Centre’ status enabling them to offer high quality training and development packages to businesses.

In a recent independent inspection, Total People Ltd was awarded with grades placing it in the top group of training providers in the country.

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Last modified: 16 Jun 2007