testimonials


Blue Triangle Housing Association

We are employed by Blue Triangle Housing Association, providing support and accommodation to homeless people.  We trained as Tenancy Award assessors with B C Consultants so that we could deliver the Tenancy Award to young people living in our supported accommodation. The Tenancy Award provides the candidates with a flexible level 1 course designed to assess existing skills and pass on new ones relating to responsibilities and expectations of being a tenant. The young people that have been involved so far have enjoyed the course immensely and linked in with agencies like the Police, Community Wardens, Fire and Rescue Service, Personal Safety officers and British Red Cross. Their confidence was increased by being involved with these agencies. I believe it backs-up and reinforces the work we are already doing as housing support workers and provides the candidates with a positive experience of education and a certificated qualification. (Audrey Bain and John Murray, Housing Support Workers)

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Caddon Health Care

I would recommend the SVQ programme to anyone. I really wanted to do this; to be able to do my job and know my job more fully, so that I could do it as well as possible. The qualification is really all about what you are already doing and much more. You don’t realise what you know and what you don’t know: if I can do it, anybody can! (Lorraine Huguet, Care Worker )

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Cherrytrees Nursery

The SVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, learning and Development was a really enjoyable course.  I am a very practical learner and this type of course is very hands on.  You get to learn on the job. The SVQ programme gave me the chance to apply to go to Sweden and learn about childcare in another country. I would definitely recommend this course. The tutors were very helpful throughout. (Ashleigh Dixon, Nursery Practitioner)

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Grange Loan Nursery

I have now completed my SVQ 4 Children’s Care, Learning and Development and would just like to say that Liz King is an amazing tutor. The support and dedication that she offered was fantastic, always encouraging me when I felt frustrated and sometimes feeling that I wanted to give up. When someone believes in you it really keeps you motivated and that’s what Liz always did.  I don't think I could have done it without her support: she was always there for me, sometimes having to explain things several times, and was always patient; giving me the time to make sure I understood things. Just thought it was nice to give credit where it was due and Liz certainly deserves it.(Andrea Melville, Nursery Practitioner)

 

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Scottish Borders Council

This work based qualification allowed me to learn flexibly, plus I had the added benefits of gaining experience working in an office environment and having support from my colleagues.  I found the SVQ Level 3 Business and Administration both enjoyable and rewarding.(Esther Murdoch, Administrator)

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Scottish Borders Council - Hospitality

Three years ago a lack of direction and no clear personal progression or career route meant that staff were disaffected and disillusioned about their future prospects.

What was identified was a need to offer training that would allow for the development of personal staff skills while offering the service, improved leadership and a progression route.

 

Over the past three years my management staff have undertaken management SVQ’s at level s 3&4 with Borders College. They have responded far quicker than expected with the college due to a superb tutor that allowed the team to work at a pace that suited their individual needs. All staff have completed their respective levels in less than half the expected time for a full time employee on this type of course.

 

All staff have moved on to higher levels and all staff have demonstrated improved skills throughout their roles which has been reflected in improved grades through the appraisal system.

 

An example of the areas where skills have improved would include; Communication, Decision Making, Evaluating, Influencing, Involving others, Monitoring, Negotiating and Persuading, Planning and Presenting information, Financial management, Delegation and Leadership. Wider skills would include improved knowledge on Policies and Procedures, Project Management and Legislation.

 

It would be unfair to suggest that these staff didn’t have some or all of these skills but the college certainly helped them to  identify and develop them through the work placed visits and excellent tutorials. (Alistair McIntyre, Catering Service Manager)

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Teen Challenge

I have just completed the SVQ 3 in Health and Social Care and the tutoring I got from Mandy Davis was excellent. There were many obstacles for us at the start, as firstly, due to an accident, my first tutor couldn’t tutor me anymore, so Mandy came in midway through my award; secondly because I worked in Teen Challenge which is a residential rehab for men with life controlling problems it was not your stereotypical care setting; and lastly because we had a deadline since I had been offered a position overseas. Mandy worked tirelessly with me and was there for me at the end of the ‘phone and through e-mails when I was struggling and needed her valuable input. The award was both challenging and rewarding, having not done any sort of academics for twenty years: it was a great sense of achievement sitting down and signing off the completed units. When I come back to the UK I will definitely be looking into doing a level 4 and would encourage anybody to use BC Consultants as the service is outstanding and the hands on approach I received from Mandy was above and beyond the call of duty. (Paul O'Connor, Support Worker)

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Thornton Rose Riding Ability Group

I have already completed Outdoor Pursuits: Horse Riding through the Skills Accreditation Programme and am currently working towards achieving Knowledge of Horse Tack. I enjoy my horse riding very much, but I also enjoy learning about other things to do with horses, like the parts of the saddle and bridle. I'm also learning how to groom the horse with various different brushes and how to clean his feet with a hoof pick ... and I can now help prepare the horses feed after the riding lesson. The Skills Accreditation Programme units have helped me learn these new skills and I also get a certificate at the end of the course as proof! (Joseph Gillespie, Skills Accreditation Programme Candidate)

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Waverley Residential Home

I recently attended the First Aid and Health Emergencies course at the Borders College Campus in Hawick. We covered basic life support, recovery position, choking, electrocution, loss of consciousness, poisoning, bleeding, burns and scalds. Chris Murphy was the trainer. I really enjoyed it: the way it was delivered was great...easy to understand and a lot of fun! (Billy Thomson, Get Ready for Work participant)

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