Posted By RP Organisations such as, City and Guilds, CITB HCTA, RTITB, ect, allow training centres or individuals to apply to become an assessment centre by registering with them. In registering the training centre/trainer/assessor is entering into contract to abide by their rules in the delivery of training and assessment. This is checked by regular external verification/moderation by the awarding body. Any training sylabus may be divorced from an actual assessment carried out, but most require theat the trainer is competent to train to a set criteria or standard. It is often the case that they must hold appropriate trainer and assessor qualifications. There are awarding bodies which will allow training centres or individuals to register a specific training course with them for certification purposes. For this there must be some kind of examination that delegates undertake to demonstrate a 'learning outcome'. The 'teaching' time will vary according to the set outcomes of the training. Any assessment is open ended, as candidates will vary when achieving a certain performance criteria (how long does it take to pass a driving test for example). Putting all eggs in one basket is one way of ensuring that the standards of training are maintained, and everyone gets the same story. Whatever the training and its intended outcomes, it must be agreed by the employer/customer to ensure that all points are covered. Assessement on the other hand is predetermined by the Awarding Body and industry standards. If you want to learn to fly, use an experienced pilot to training you

Posted By Linda Crossland-Clarke Hi And sometimes it is the personality of the trainer that gets the message across, even though the content may be the same. The way the trainer learns also has an impact on how he/or she may deliver the course. If you are evaluating one training centre then perhaps they should let you sit on a few courses for free to see if they would fit well with your employees? Regards Linda

Posted By Pete Stewart Hi All, I deliver both IOSH & bespoke courses. To deliver IOSH courses you require a certain standard of knowledge and experience and are visited by assessors when delivering. They also have a QC procedure in place to ensure consistency of marking on all papers. For bespoke courses, I work with the company to ensure that the material being delivered is relevant to their needs and appropriate to the target audience. Like anything else, you need to do the research to ensure you are getting what YOU want at a fair price, not what the trainer thinks you need. Pete

Posted By Glyn Atkinson Fair points there, Keiran. Learning objectives should be to gain exerience or understanding that is taken away from the session and used in the normal work place, not just a text book read or parrot fashion recital of facts. We always include a feedback form for training done, and in some circumstances, ask for a Q&A paper to be completed for courses. The training co-ordinator then follows up onto the shop floor to make sure that value has been attained from the cost of training. Bosses always want to know if changes in methods or practice have improved safety, production or lowered accident rates - things they can see and report on.