Investors in People is a national award that recognises the success of organisations through the training and development of its staff, customers and associates. SCT was awarded ‘Investors in People’ status for the first time in 1994. The award is recognition that SCT ‘is fully committed to developing its people in order to achieve its aims and objectives’.

The report recognises the significant and continuing improvements made in managing and developing staff, specifically through

• high quality training for staff, employers and trainees
• target-setting
• use and implementation of good practice

The changes have ‘had the benefit of improving retention of trainees and the number of trainees completing Apprenticeships’. Significantly, no weaknesses have been identified during the review.

City & Guilds are the Awarding Body for all SCT NVQ and Key Skills qualifications. SCT has had extremely positive External Verification Reports. Reports have consistently given top quality indicators for ‘Management Systems’, ‘Candidate Support’ and ‘Continuous Improvement’.

Comments have included:

• Continuous improvement particularly with documents and systems
• Good practice demonstrated in ongoing training of assessment team
• 'Good Practice Series’ monthly bulletins to all assessors on latest updates and information for improvement
• High safety awareness
• Very good scheme management and documentation for candidates and employers
• Links with industry and external bodies well established
• New initiatives to develop the scheme and sector are ongoing and innovative
• Well respected scheme with good employment records
• Thorough internal verification and assessment procedures
• Exceptional support for both employers and candidates

SCT focuses on continuously improving the quality of teaching and learning in Underpinning Knowledge training sessions, through the Masterclass Series and in the workplace.

Recent successes have included:

• all SCT trainers and employers have been through an intensive Employer Development programme, activities including observations of teaching, seminars, Masterclasses and Equine Transport qualifications
• SCT one of 10 providers nationally to improve numeracy teaching through the STEM programme
• variety of Beacon Innovation projects to promote world class training, including: ‘Wright Opportunity’, ‘Optimum Employer Engagement’, ‘World Class Apprenticeships’, ‘Peer Referencing on Employer Engagement’, and ‘SkillHORSE skills competition’
• SCT has worked closely with the Department for Education and Skills Standards Unit to develop new teaching and learning materials for the land-based sector
• SCT has worked extensively with the LSC, LSIS and other providers to promote best practice in teaching to improve standards for all industries and providers
• Specialist Skills for Life support through NVQ Portfolio Workshops
• the Masterclass Series enabling all trainers and employers to have training from world-class trainers, including Ian Stark OBE, Matthew Wright, Yogi Breisner, Michael Whitaker, and Jeanette Brakewell
• Skillscheck booklets to structure and record Workplace and Underpinning Knowledge training, and competence
• 98% of trainees have achieved the CIEH Health and Safety qualification through SCT
• Trainer Training for all employers
• 68% of employers have achieved the CIEH Health and Safety qualification through SCT