Chamber wins recognition as Centre of Excellence for business support and advisor training
10/03/2008
The Chamber has been successful in achieving the standard to deliver nationally recognised business advisor qualifications and enterprise support across the eastern region. The Chamber, which represents businesses in Bedfordshire and Luton, has become one of only twenty Centres of Excellence for the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI).
Established in 1995, SFEDI aims to continuously raise the standards of learning, training, coaching and business support available to prospective and existing small and home business owners. The term Centre of Excellence is SFEDI's quality kitemark for organisations that deliver useful, focused and entrepreneur-friendly support and learning to meet business needs. Staffed by individuals who really understand their field, Centres of Excellence focus on business objectives, identify needs and tailor approaches to meet those needs.
To become a Centre of Excellence, the Chamber was assessed by SFEDI, whose inspectors were extremely impressed with the work of the business support organisation. Said Ruth Lowbridge, Director of SFEDI:
'The Chamber has demonstrated excellence within a small business learning environment and a quality approach to small business development.'
The Chamber will be helping those who advise businesses gain SFEDI accreditation, which is widely seen as the most reliable indicator of an advisor's knowledge and competence. In addition, it will be providing support for small businesses looking to develop and grow with a range of high-level training and support solutions.
'We are delighted to have won this recognition' said Sue Munn, Workforce Development Advisor for the Chamber 'It was a pleasure to work with SFEDI who, despite the necessary stringency of their assessment, were both constructive and supportive.'
Added Sue:
'We are now looking forward to setting up the Centre of Excellence, a task we are well equipped for as so much of the work builds on our existing portfolio of activities in enterprise support and business advice.'
