Welcome to Rochdale Training

Welcome to our Summer 2008 newsletter keeping you up-to-date with our recent projects & activities.

In this issue we’re pleased to congratulate Rochdale Boroughwide Housing on achieving the Sword of Honour and all the learners that have received qualifications with us recently as well as featuring some of the many projects we’ve assisted. There’s a note on our recent OFSTED inspection and a feature on Maria Williams, one of our experienced trainers.

If you’d like to know more on any of these features or wish to discuss your own training needs then don’t hesitate to contact us– we’re sure to be able to help.


John Huxley
Chief Executive 

        

OFSTED Inspection

In November we were audited by OFSTED as part of their regular appraisal of government approved training organisations. The audit found some areas where we needed to make significant improvements but also acknowledged our many successes. These included our recovery and growth strategy, our learner and company satisfaction and our learner success rates.

Our apprentice success rates are 86% compared with 63% nationally and 84% complete to time, compared with 45% nationally. These are indeed figures to be proud of and they reflect our learners’ better chances of succeeding and thereby progressing their careers.
  

Trainer Profile

Maria Williams – Edgworth Tiling Company

Maria has only worked with us since last Autumn but already she’s a big hit, working on tiling & decorating courses for the people we assist through Connexions and KYP. She manages her own successful business Edgworth Tiling Company but still finds time to work with us. Maria explains: “I’ve always loved DIY. I’ve done it for years, done up my own house and know that it’s not hard to do if you know how, so I’m really keen to get other people enthusiastic about what I do.”

She continues: “I really enjoy this training work, passing on my skills and giving people the confidence to try things themselves. If we can unlock their potential & help them decide on this as a future career, then that’s great.”

If you’d like to contact Maria call 07917 701583 or contact Rochdale Training on 01706 631417. 

The Best in the World

Walt Leebetter and Noreen Aslam of RBH with the Sword of Honour

We would like to warmly congratulate Rochdale Boroughwide Housing on receiving the British Safety Council’s prestigious Sword of Honour – one of only 40 organisations across the World presented annually with this award, which is widely acknowledged as the pinnacle of safety achievement.

Occupational Health, Safety & Risk Manager at RBH Walt Leebetter and his team of 8 gained this award because they have implemented safety systems that are among “the best in the world” having achieved the maximum rating of five stars in the BSC’s Five Star Health & Safety Management System Audit.

Mr Leebetter comments: “RBH handles the landlord services for around 14,500 properties on behalf of Rochdale Council. It is my team’s responsibility to ensure our 650 staff are fully aware of best practice policies and procedures in health, safety and risk assessment, whether they are fixing a roof or repairing a lock.

“Rochdale Training acts as a training partner for us. We specify what training the staff must have and they deliver it for us. We like them because they’re very flexible: fitting in with shift work and early hours, and they’re much better value than comparable BSC training.”

Walt continues: “Working with Rochdale Training we’ve had only 7 accidents in the whole of 2007 – a major achievement among 650 staff operating 365 days a year.”

We wish Walt and his team every success in their attempts this year to win a RoSPA Occupational Health & Safety award and BSC’s International Safety Award for a fourth consecutive year.

Sartex signs up for Training

Mr Ahmed in the Sartex showroom

Sartex Quilts & Textiles Ltd are specialist manufacturers and distributors of household textile products selling to many major UK & European retailers. Employing over 100 people in Castleton, they recently agreed a substantial training programme for 24 staff members in a wide range of NVQs including Management, Team Leading, Customer Service, IT, Distribution & Storage and Manufacturing Operations.

Sales & Marketing Director Saleem Khalid comments: “From an operational point of view we believe it is better that our staff have more knowledge & are better trained so they can contribute more to the business." 

As an approved provider for government-funded training, Rochdale Training helps many local businesses receive training much of which is free for eligible staff. 

Contact Sartex on 01706 357490 or for information on free NVQ training call Rochdale Training on 01706 631417.

Haven't they done well?

We’d like to congratulate 179 learners for achieving qualifications with us over the last few months. Well done to you all!   
 
If you would like to know more about qualifications you can work towards and/or free government training schemes call us now on 01706 631417 or email: info@rochdaletraining.co.uk