Consultants & Training Organisations

Our Register of Consultants and Training Organisations is a valuable resource for anyone using the services of a consultancy or training provider. It features member organisations who have signed up to a code of conduct governing their relationship with clients. Some are also licensed by the BQF to deliver EFQM Assessor Training. We recommend using our guidelines (below) before selecting any consultancy.

There are many providers of services who are not yet registered. In considering the proposals from such suppliers we would urge you to ask them why they are not registered and, more importantly, whether they feel they could sign up to such a scheme and the associated Code of Conduct.
 
For further information contact Sally Green on 0207 654 5010 or email sally.green@bqf.org.uk. 

Guidelines for selecting a Consultancy or Training Organisation

1. Specification of requirements

Produce a succinct written specification of your requirements, specifically:

• the overall objectives of the assignment
• the expected specific outputs from the assignment
• the scope and purpose of the assignment; if it forms part of a larger project, consider how it links into other parts of the project
• who else in your organisation needs to provide input to or agree the objectives
• the type of consultancy and technical skills your project requires and the type(s) of organisation most likely to be able to provide them
• the amount you are prepared to spend to achieve your objectives.

2. Research

Identify possible consultants/training organisations and find out as much as you can about them. Relevant points may include:

• size experience - in your industry or business, in organisations of your size, etc
• organisation, structure-specific skills and expertise, general commitment to quality, and the experiences of past clients.

3. Briefing

Discuss your requirements with representatives from a selection of organisations. Make sure that you give them a proper briefing. Ask at least two, preferably three, companies to provide written proposals. For larger contracts this may be done formally by issuing a tender document. You should be prepared to provide these companies with access to whatever information they need (within reason) to enable them to assess the work involved and the time required to carry out your assignment.

You will need to consider:

• the type of information you should, as a matter of course, make available to them,
• how you will handle any queries from them (particularly those you are unable to answer personally),
• how you will ensure that the same information will be made available to each organisation on your shortlist having a confidentiality agreement and assurances that the information provided will not be used by them for any other purpose.

4. Evaluate

Consider how you are going to evaluate the proposals. Check whether they state clearly:

• the approach proposed,
• the exact programme of work to be undertaken and the timescale for completion,
• the amount of time that the consultant expects to spend on the assignment,
• what the work will cost:
  • the fee scale/method and timing of charges and payment dates proposed;
  •  expenses;
  • any other costs which will be charged to you. (The cost quoted for the work is not as important as the value you should gain from working closely with the selected organisation. The right organisation can provide advice, coaching and help you to train your people to improve the quality of your product/service in the most cost-effective way),
• who will do the work?
• will different grades of staff to be involved?
• if so how much time will the more senior people spend on the assignment?
• will any associates or subcontractors be used? (On a large project you should ask to meet members of the team of consultants who will actually be doing the work to make sure that the chemistry is right. You will need to be comfortable with the personal relations between you and the RCTO and, in particular, with the person who will be leading the assignment),
• how quality and progress of work will be monitored and what the precise outputs from the assignment are to be, for example a written report, a presentation or an action plan.

5. References

Ask for references from the chosen organisation and follow them up.

6. Monitoring

Throughout the project progress should be monitored. Depending on the nature of the project, a full evaluation of results may not be possible until some time after the RCTO has completed its contribution. Feedback should be provided to the company.

View the Consultants and Training Organisations register.