The results of two recent employer surveys have been released and show that Access is providing a well-respected, first-class service to businesses throughout the region.
Every year Access asks all the employers and learners it works with to take part in a Satisfaction Survey. The survey aims to ensure its services are meeting the needs of its customers.
Employers were asked to grade Access from 1 to 10 across 15 areas.
Access is proud to announce that the 2012 survey shows that its performance has improved since last year – scoring higher in 9 out of the 15 areas. The scores on the doors were impressive – ranging from 8.22 out of 10 to 9 out of 10.
Employers were particularly positive about the professionalism of the staff delivering training and how well they support employees to gain qualifications. How the team tailors training programmes to meet specific business needs was also praised.
Results of national independent survey are out…
Employers also took part in an independent national review during 2012 called the FE Choices Employer Survey.
The survey asked businesses across the country to rate the service they receive from the colleges and training providers they work with. All results are published online so that employers can compare performance – helpful when choosing a training provider to work with.
Again, Access is very pleased with the results of the national survey – the Gateshead training provider scored an overall satisfaction score of 8.4, which compares favourably with the national average of 8.1. Access score is also higher than almost all of its local competitors.
Professionalism of staff and offering flexible training to meet employer’s needs were again the highest scoring questions in the survey.
As part of the surveys, respondents were asked what they like about Access and we received a wide range of positive comments, including:
- Access understood our training requirements and delivered outstanding results. The training we received was much better than we ever anticipated and they always went the extra mile with us. A highly recommended training provider – Jowetts.
- Skills advisers push our staff to expand their skills and knowledge – it isn’t just doing enough to get them through the qualification. – Peacocks Medical Group.
- ‘Always efficient and polite, having a good understanding of our needs when recruiting. Always very professional – Acrol.
- They seem to communicate well with and inspire their students – Gateshead Council.
- Friendly service, availability and flexibility. Relevant training – Fighters Only.
- Speed of providing candidates for apprenticeship position – TDR.
- Regular contact and reviews with the Access staff – SDY Plasma.
The FE Choices Comparison site can be viewed here >
Managing Director Malcolm Armstrong is very encouraged by the positive endorsements: We are very grateful to the employers who took the time to contribute to these surveys. It is so important for us to get the views of our customers.
We are obviously doing something right to get these levels of customer satisfaction. However, we know we can improve further and we always listen to feedback and act on any useful suggestions businesses make on how we can improve.
As a result of the feedback we have received, we will look to improve the information we provide about our services and also increase the number of work-based projects and assignments we use in our programmes.