I hear of a new Training Provider popping up every other week, a basic website cobbled together, advertising dates on social media, offering X course or X assessment, at this rate or that, only to hear a couple of months later that a Company and/or Learner(s) have used them and not had their qualifications registered as they’d expected and paid for, and the person that conducted them has stopped taking their calls, or the provider no longer exists or something of a similar nature.
Some of these entities aren’t even actual registered Training Centres with the Awarding Organisation, but rather mere ‘Brokers’ or ‘Third Parties’ advertising as their own established and approved Training Centre but actually ‘piggy backing’ onto another Centre’s approval to deliver events, which for them means there could be very little come back should things go wrong, as a large portion of the accountability as far as the Awarding Organisations are concerned, is with the approved Training Centre that is registering the event, hence why it is very easy for the ‘Third Party’ to become uncontactable or even disappear and dissolve the so-called ‘Training Centre’ so quickly.
Fortunately, Lantra has recently acknowledged the issue and concerns of the ‘Third Party’ advertising of Training and Assessment services, without clear detailing of who the actual affiliated NHSS Training Provider is.
They acknowledge the confusion this creates for industry, who believe that they are dealing with a single organisation when, in reality, they are potentially engaging with multiple Companies, and so to ensure transparency and correct lines of accountability, Lantra has now set out and distributed the following guidelines for Training Centres regarding this subject :
Key Guidelines for NHSS Training Providers:
1. Transparency with Third Parties:
o It is imperative that any third-party organisation advertising training and assessment services makes it clear which Lantra-approved Training Provider they are partnering with.
o All promotional materials and communications should explicitly state the name of the registered Training Provider responsible for registering the training and assessment, including the official Lantra reference number.
2. Clarity for Learners and Employers:
o Learners and employers have the right to know which NHSS Training Provider is responsible for their training and assessment registration.
o Ensure that all Instructors and Assessors clearly communicate their affiliation with the registered Training Provider to avoid any misunderstandings.
3. Compliance with Lantra Standards:
o Training Providers must ensure that their business relationships with third parties comply with Lantra standards and guidelines.
o Any third party using Lantra’s logo or promoting Lantra approved training and assessment must have explicit permission and must clearly state their partnership with the registered Training Provider.
4. Actions Against Non-Compliance:
o Lantra will take the necessary actions against organisations that misuse our logo or misrepresent their affiliation with our accredited Training Providers.
o This includes legal action where appropriate to protect the integrity of our brand and the interests of Learners and employers.
Role and Responsibility:
NHSS Training Providers must maintain transparency and uphold the quality assurance standards set by the Awarding Organisation. We encourage you to:
• Review your partnerships with third parties to ensure compliance with Lantra’s guidelines
• Educate your Instructors and Assessors about the importance of clear communication regarding their affiliations
• Report any instances of non-compliance or misuse of Lantra’s logo to our quality assurance team
A step in the right direction from the Awarding Organisation, in ensuring that industry receives accurate information, transparency of what they are entering into and ultimately high-quality training experiences.
You can check all NHSS Lantra Awards registered Training Centres here:
https://www.lantra.co.uk/media/4ypi2qhq/lantra-approved-nhss-providers-may-2024.pdf
