What People Say About Us
"In the past five years or so, work-based training has improved so that it is accepted by government as a vital part of further education. It is at the heart of the national skills strategy. Ensuring that improvement benefits the majority of learners has challenged the biggest providers to achieve among the best. TBG's latest inspection results show the scale of that achievement, not just for the company, but for the whole of the sector which Martin Dunford represents so passionately as chairman of ALP. World-class skills, the final competitive edge, will depend on winning success through contestability; the creation of a genuine market for skills training. I congratulate TBG on its achievements so far and on its careful preparations for future success."
David Sherlock CBE, Chief Inspector, Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI)
“Learners are getting so much more out of their time at TBG than just the training. It was a real eye opener. They are bringing people together in a community of learning.”
Andrew Thomson - Chief Executive, Quality Improvement Agency, who visited a TBG Learning Centre in his former role as Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Development Agency.
Ministers
“I am really impressed with the breadth and range of learning provision at TBG Learning and I’m particularly impressed with the success and progression rates”.
Bill Rammell MP, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education
“Improving adult skill levels is a fundamental part of this Government's core aim of achieving economic growth with social justice. TBG
Learning is an innovative group which has a key part to play in this agenda. As I saw when I visited the group's South London centre in Brixton, in
offering exciting opportunities for people who might be turned off by a more traditional college-based environment, TBG is making a real
difference in its communities."
Ivan Lewis - MP Economic Secretary, HM Treasury
“It's absolutely right for this Centre to be here, with the emerging opportunities. It's completely timely and I am impressed with TBG Learning who identified the big
opportunities here on our doorstep with the Battersea Power Station and Clapham Park projects. The Entry to Employment programme has a proven track record and
you couldn't have a better deliverer of e2e than TBG Learning, with its own track record in getting levels of attainment above local and national levels. I am delighted to open this Centre.”
Keith Hill - Member of Parliament for Streatham and Parliamentary Private Secretary to The Prime Minister,Tony Blair
“TBG Learning is clearly doing good work with young people to develop their skills and help them move forward”.
Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Work
Partners
“Richmond upon Thames College has been working with TBG Learning in West London since 1995. The College values the work that TBG Learning does, providing learning opportunities for the most disadvantaged groups in the community. These learners have been achieving impressive results and acquiring the qualifications that change their life chances for the better."
Graham Try - Deputy Chief Executive, Richmond upon Thames College
“Learndirect is delighted to work closely with TBG who are one of our largest partners in London and make a real difference to the lives
of thousands of learners across the capital. I found it inspiring to recently visit TBG where Learndirect and a number of other programmes are working effectively side by side.”
Darren Sidnick - Ufi Regional Director for London
“TBG Learning provides excellent training for Jobcentre Plus customers in West London, in particular for those customers with Skills for Life needs - Literacy, Numeracy and English for Speakers of Other Languages. The quality of this training is reflected in the high proportion of these customers who move into employment.”
Georgette Budhram - District Programmes Quality Manager, Jobcentre Plus, London.
“Lambeth College has continued to enjoy a highly effective partnership with TBG Learning over the past 10 years. The delivery of Government policy for
learning and skills depends on this kind of collaborative relationship where the distinctive strengths of the two organisations can be brought together
to better meet the needs of the local community.We have agreed that we should look forward to see how together we can form a longer term strategy
which will enable local people to develop the skills they need to support them in their working lives.”
Richard Chambers Principal, Lambeth College
"I have enjoyed seeing firsthand the value of TBG's provision in London. The Apprenticeship programmes are of high quality and it is really encouraging
to see how the company is giving young Londoners a real chance of a meaningful career through its successful Entry to Employment programme. Moreover TBG have
forged excellent relationships with local colleges and this spirit of collaboration is the right way forward in responding to the skills agenda.”
Jacqui Henderson CBE formerly LSC London Regional Director
Employers
Business leader backs Apprenticeships
One TBG client,Wilson Chowdhry, Managing Director of AA Security Ltd in East London, urged more businesses to take advantage of Apprenticeships after his Marketing Assistant, Deniz Ibrahim, age 21, became one of the first specialist ITQ Apprentices.
“It's rare for a security company to invest in skills but I am committed to the professional development of all our employees and to getting staff to their highest possible levels of achievement. It's important to use any opportunities such as Apprenticeships.”
Wilson Chowdhry - Managing Director, AA Security Ltd
Gaining knowledge and qualifications
Essex company Show Carriage, a firm specialising in exhibitions and live events, was one of the first companies to take advantage of the new Logistics and Warehousing Apprenticeship after being recommended to TBG Learning by Business Link. Its new recruit Mark Croxson (pictured) has been learning about all aspects of the exhibition and freight industry, both in the warehouse and office as well as at events. He will gain his Apprenticeship qualification on completion of the training and on-the job assessment.
“Not only will Mark expand his knowledge of logistics and warehousing, he will also achieve a recognised qualification to help further his career.”
Bryan Wyton - Office Manager, Show Carriage
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
“Working with TBG is an example of excellent partnership working. TBG have worked hard to understand our organisation and provide a flexible, tailored service that responds to our needs.”
Nick Alcock - Acting Head of Learning and Development, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Greater London Magistrates' Courts
TBG has worked with Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority (GLMCA) for over two years across a number of its London sites and has received praise for its high standards of learning provision and support to Apprentices and staff aged 25 plus who have worked towards NVQs.
“We were very impressed by TBG Learning's knowledge of the qualifications they were offering. The recent evaluation proved that the provision of external Employee Development Specialists makes the difference to a busy organisation.”
Cyrus Cooper - Senior Learning and Development Consultant, Greater London Magistrates' Courts Authority
London Borough of Lambeth
“Just as an employer this is a great thing. Our training costs are covered by the Learning and Skills Council and the assessment in the workplace is provided by
TBG Learning.We can manage each employee like every other,which works very well, making them feel part of the team.The fantastic, regular support
from the TBG Employee Development Specialist helps the line manager by taking away concern about the Apprentice following the correct learning route.
From the perspective of the local Council brief,we're helping train and offer jobs to young people in the borough and we'd like to see this scheme
embedded in the Council's training policy and adopted by other departments. As an accredited Investor in People we also wanted to improve our own standards in people development and set an example to local employers.”
Ben Smith - Head of Education Business Partnership, London Borough of Lambeth, seen right in the picture above with Apprentices and TBG Learning's Employee Development Specialist.
Russell Hotel Reservations
“We're over the moon at how it's worked out.We're a colourful, fast paced, twenty-four hour operation and not a normal business in any respect.We wanted to recruit a young person we could develop here - and TBG Learning gave us the platform.We're very supportive of the training.”
Ben Smart - Managing Director, Russell Hotel Reservations, who have offices in West London, High Wycombe and Derby and are one of the UK's fastest growing hotel reservation agencies.
The Ritz Hotel
“Over the last year, whilst working with TBG Learning, the feedback from our employees has been very positive. The NVQs have helped them develop in their careers and they have enjoyed doing them. Our Room Service Supervisor has been promoted into this role whilst completing her NVQ in Customer Service, which has helped her to develop her job knowledge and her confidence. I have been very impressed by TBG Learning.”
Joanne Meredith - Human Resources Manager, The Ritz Hotel, London
“TBG has been responsive and flexible to our needs as our workloads have flexed. The Apprenticeship programmes are highly relevant to the skills we want our employees to have and trainees have been able to work their way up to more senior positions within the company as they develop.”
Andrew Dallison - Logistics Manager, Genesis Forwarding Services,West Midlands, one of the country's leading international freight forwarders.
Learners
“I feel like I'm at home with TBG. They are like our parents. Before coming here I had applied for nearly 200 jobs and I didn't know what to do or what qualifications I needed. I have been able to learn everything at TBG. It's
been excellent and what I wanted. It's also been a springboard for something further.”
Arachchige Edirisinghe - aged 34 from Ealing, who came to England from Sri Lanka and after gaining qualifications including ESOL now works part-time whilst following further courses.
From e2e to Apprentice with TBG
“When I first started e2e at TBG Learning my dream job was to be a model and work in fashion. Now a year on I have four qualifications and have started work in a bridal shop full time. I am also modelling shows for them, so I am really pleased with myself and with the e2e tutors who helped me get where I am.”
Amy Bell - joined e2e in Tendring, Essex, who arranged work experience for her at local business Beautiful Brides.
Amy started by helping with fashion shows and getting a feel for retail work at the week-ends. She has now won a full time job and will continue her training on an Apprenticeship programme.
From Apprentice to University
19 year-old Laura Leatherland from Derby won a place to study law at Nottingham Trent University after completing an Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Administration. She was employed at solicitors Varley Hadley Siddall and TBG, who supported her throughout her Apprenticeship, gave a reference to Nottingham Trent University and helped admissions staff understand her abilities.
“It's thanks to the staff at TGB Learning Derbyshire that it has all been possible. They encouraged me to apply for the course and through the confidence I gained as a result of the Apprenticeship I am looking forward to being a qualified solicitor.”
Laura Leatherland - Trainee Solicitor