Training Synergy is re-accredited for IIP and achieves ISO 9001:2000

Although Training Synergy was a successful training solutions provider before being first assessed against Investors in People (IiP) standard in 2003, it realised that its customers are becoming more sophisticated, better informed and their expectations are growing. It decided that, for any business, the only way to meet and exceed these expectations is to offer a commitment to quality.

According to Training Synergy's managing director, Daniel Hanlon, ongoing evidence confirms that continuing to match its business processes to the Investors in People standard is helping it more than meet its business challenges.

IiP has provided Training Synergy with the framework to manage their employees effectively and meet the increasingly sophisticated and challenging needs of its customers. Training Synergy's David Field explained: "Investors in People made us realise that we needed processes in place so that our people understand their job and what is expected of them."

Training Synergy trained all of its 120 or so staff on customer services techniques; the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL); motivation techniques; telephone skills and 'train the trainer' skills.

It also put in place comprehensive business processes - with detailed accompanying documentation.

In addition to these processes playing an important part in keeping the company at the forefront of efficiency and competitiveness, they also played a role in prompting an excellent review of Training Synergy's ECDL training by the British Computer Society (BCS).

Hanlon commented: "Since implementing processes relating to the IiP standard we've noticed that both internal and external communications are continuing to improve; our usage of time and resources is becoming more efficient and effective, and we have a continually improving understanding of our company's processes and systems.

"This is bearing fruit not only in rising levels of customer satisfaction but also in terms of staff retention, motivation and morale. In turn, we're finding that this is increasing our competitive edge and so cementing our place as one of the leading training solutions providers in the UK - especially to the IT industry," he added.

This has been demonstrated in Training Synergy's turnover climbing to £10.3m in the last year and being placed 15th in 2006's list of the 'Top 50 IT training companies', compiled by market analysts IT Skills Research.

Hanlon added: "Everyone agrees that people are an organisation's greatest asset and we all know that, for an organisation to succeed, everyone has to perform well. People need the right knowledge, skills and motivation to work efficiently and we've found that the IiP Standard gives us a framework to ensure that we achieve this.

"There are currently over 37,000 recognised 'IiP' organisations in the UK, employing over 27 per cent of the UK workforce," he said. "Studies show that the benefits of working towards and achieving the Standard include:
• Skilled and motivated people work harder and better, improving productivity.
• Employees become customer focused, enabling organisations to meet customer needs more effectively.
• The quality of work increases.
• Costs and wastage are reduced.
• The opportunity to review current policies and practices against a recognised benchmark.

"We've noticed that these are among the benefits that we've experienced in the three years or so since we began formally implementing policies and procedures that are in line with the IiP Standard," Hanlon added. "Not only are we delighted to endorse the IiP standard but we're also delighted to receive the Standard's continued endorsement of our approach to quality-focused business."

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Notes for Editors:

About Investors in People

The Investors in People Standard is a business improvement tool designed to advance an organisation's performance through its people.

Developed in 1990 by a partnership of businesses and national organisations, the Standard helps organisations to improve performance and realise objectives through the management and development of their people. Since it was developed, the Standard has been reviewed every three years to ensure that it remains relevant, accessible and attractive to all. The most recent review was completed in November 2004.

Investors in People provides a flexible framework which mirrors the business planning cycle (plan, do, review). The framework involves:
• Plan - developing strategies to improve the performance of the organisation
• Do - taking action to improve the performance of the organisation
• Review - evaluating the impact on the performance of the organisation.

About 'ISO 9000'
ISO is an international certification (from the International Organization for Standardization) that attests that a company conforms to certain standards. There are various certifications bodies that can approve a company to the ISO 9002 (now ISO 9001: 2000) level of quality and service.
ISO 9000 is a family of standards, guidelines and technical reports. This is the premier international quality assurance award. This family includes:
• ISO 9000:2000 - a starting point for understanding the standards. It defines the fundamental terms and definitions used in the ISO 9000 family
• ISO 9001:2000 - This is the requirement standard you use to assess your ability to meet customer and applicable regulatory requirements. Certain third party companies are authorised to assess you to this standard and provide you with the certification. This replaces the older ISO 9002 standard.

Among the things an organisation must do to achieve ISO 9001:2000 (ISO 9002) certification are:
• Have an established policy on quality and a quality procedure manual.
• Have an officer designated for ensuring and maintaining quality standards.
• Have regular reviews of quality. Audits are carried out both in house and by an external independent body.
• Have policies on various other issues including and not limited to staff training and development, and so on.
• Maintain a list of approved suppliers.
• Have all written procedures stated simply, unambiguously and understandably.
• When you are certified to ISO 9002 you have to: 'say what you do; do what you say; prove that you do it.'
• Have a system in place for monitoring customer satisfaction.

About Training Synergy
With over 300 training personnel working on projects across the UK at any one time and a turnover in excess of £10m, Training Synergy - part of the Synergy Group, formed in 1997 and now with an annual turnover of some £40m - is one of the UK's largest training solutions providers. Training Synergy delivers some 40,000 training days a year and has 7,000 trainers on its database.

Training Synergy provides a range of training services to support all types and size of training programme, from initial consulting right through to project-managed implementation. It also provides logistics and logistical services to support clients' ongoing training needs.

Its clients include IBM, EDS, Getronics, Unisys, Accenture and Atos Origin.

Training Synergy was placed 15th in 2006's list of the 'Top 50 IT training companies', compiled by market analysts IT Skills Research.

Further Information from:
Daniel Hanlon / David Field, Training Synergy, 0800 072 5900 or 020 7556 1140 /1141;
www.trainingsynergy.com
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405; www.boblittlepr.com