14th July 2011
Major revisions to a prestigious national quality standard which promotes the effective delivery of information, advice and guidance are set to be officially unveiled on Wednesday 12th October.
Over the past decade the matrix Standard has provided a quality hallmark for providers of careers information, but now the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has introduced a number of improvements to the assessment framework.
Following an extensive review, a series of changes were proposed to make the standard both more robust and more accessible to a wider range of providers of careers information, advice and guidance such as schools, colleges, universities, trade unions and private businesses.
Now, following extensive trials, carried out by Derby-based standards accreditation experts emqc Limited, who have been awarded a three-year contract to manage the delivery of the matrix Standard, the revised matrix Standard will be officially launched by John Hayes, Minister for Higher Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at an event in London on October 12.
Dave Allan, Managing Director of emqc, explained: “The standard measures providers against a number of key criteria including staff competence and the provision of support that helps people to make their own informed choices.
“The revisions have most certainly strengthened matrix at a time when it is increasingly important that young people and adults receive the right information and support when it comes to planning their career.
“We are delighted that the trials we conducted have been so successful. We are now looking forward to working with even more organisations who want to achieve the matrix Standard, which is recognised across the UK as a mark of excellence.”