Eastleigh College have successfully achieved Matrix reaccreditation, demonstrating the consistent strength of our information, advice and guidance services for learners and affiliates of the College.

The Matrix Standard is owned by the Department of Education and has become the international quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and guidance as part of their service offering. The requirements of the Matrix Standard reflect best practice in customer support services, and all successful certifications are subject to Continuous Improvement Checks (CICs) every 12-24 months to ensure the high-quality provisions are maintained.

The accreditation process entailed a three-day review by a qualified assessor, with input from almost 40 staff members and learners across our College delivery areas. This year’s accolade is particularly noteworthy given that the two teams who were the main focus of the review have been operating for under a year, with our Learner Hub opened only last summer and our Brand, Engagement and Learner Recruitment team since February 2022. Despite this, both teams received strong positive feedback from the assessor.

Roger Chapman, Head of the Matrix Service for The Growth Company, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Eastleigh College and I would like to congratulate the team on their success. We believe that at the heart of high-quality advice and support services are strong leadership, excellent service and a focus on continuous improvement, all underpinned by effective use of the resources available. With their accreditation success, Eastleigh College is working to provide the best possible support to their clients.”

Nicky Tramaseur, Head of Brand, Engagement and Learner Recruitment at Eastleigh College, said: “We are delighted to successfully achieve our Matrix Standard accreditation again which demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our learners, customers and the wider community have access to high quality advice and guidance to support their learning goals". She added: “We have a dedicated team of eighteen staff members in the Brand, Engagement and Learner Recruitment team supporting learners to ensure that they are on the right programme at the College. Our service is open to anyone interested in studying at the College and we will soon be opening up our lines of communication to include Live Chat on our website to make our advice and guidance even more accessible. Our learners are from all areas of the UK and we deliver onsite, online and blended learning experiences, with many courses running in the evening, so being able to offer high quality advice in a flexible way to busy professionals is very important”.

Tracey McAdam, Head of Learner Support, said: "We are thrilled to have achieved Matrix reaccreditation. Having all of our front facing learner support located within the Learner Hub has ensured we are able to focus on delivering high quality support and guidance in a way that is easily accessible. We are delighted that the assessment report noted that our IAG had 'a clear statement of purpose in overcoming barriers, making professional choices to take control of life and learning, maximise benefits of lifelong learning and resilience in managing change and transition."

Our Eastleigh College values are paramount to everything we do, and this accreditation encapsulates all four of these in our approach to supporting learners and partners with information, advice and guidance.

For more information, please contact the College at BeBetter@eastleigh.ac.uk.