National quality mark wins contracts for Paignton SEC

Training provider, Paignton Sec Info Tech Training Centre is experiencing a boost in business after becoming Matrix Standard accredited.

The private college delivers training contracts for the LSC, LearnDirect and other organisations across South Devon and has been able to apply for many more contracts since achieving the Matrix Standard and is also expecting to attract new funding.

The Matrix Standard is the nationally recognised quality mark for organisations which provide information, advice and guidance in both an employer and client context ñ and Paignton Sec took just under three months to achieve this.

ìWe have always had a strong belief in providing excellent advice and guidance to the people we train and had a considerable number of the systems suggested for Matrix Standard accreditation already in place,î says Pippa Garrigan, managing director of Paignton Sec. ìBut the journey we took has helped many of the staff to further understand the real importance of this guidance.î

Pippa continues: ìWe also gained a stronger awareness of the need for data protection and being careful with our customersí information. This all helped to improve the business as a whole and our team now feel that their hard-work has been recognised outside of the company.î

Paignton Sec Info Tech has been established for 41 years and run by the same family throughout that time. The organisation specialises in business and management, IT, customer service and basic skills training. The organisation sought Matrix Accreditation after the quality standard was recommended by Connexions, the Government support service for all young people aged 13 to 19 in England.

Pippa concludes: ìWe would recommend other organisations go through the Matrix Standard journey as it really does improve the quality of your service and helps you to focus on the advisory issues.î