The organisation is multi-sector and brings to the awarding organisation market the principles of mutuality, shared profit and co-operative networking.
“IQ has been established to provide a high profile qualifications brand for those organisations interested in quality, partnership and shared value,” explained Ray Clarke, the organisation’s CEO and former leader of both SITO and SAFE in the security sector.
“We believe that by creating an environment that recognises the users of IQ services as valued stakeholders and partners within the educational supply chain, we can change the whole dynamic of the sector.”
According to Clarke, in recent years the awards market has changed, with the proliferation of niche providers and the larger awarding organisations growing by acquisition.
“At IQ, we believe the vertical integration that’s becoming evident in the educational supply chain, the provision of knowledge at a discount supported by premium priced qualifications and the reduction in the value being placed upon the contributions of other stakeholders in the educational market is not healthy for the sector. The risk is that awards begin to be sold as a commodity. We’re seeking to provide an alternative to this.”
Members of a mutual body
At the heart of the IQ philosophy is the integration of awarding centres into the organisation as members of the mutual body. This approach gives users a greater say in the policy, direction and operation of the organisation and encourages the development of shared brand values.
Uniquely, IQ is the only awarding organisation in the UK that includes peer group review as part of centre approval, and can levy financial sanctions as a result of serious and systematic organisational malpractice.
“We recognise this is a bold move that mitigates against building volume from low quality centres,” asserted Clarke in conversation with SMT Online. “However, the IQ value is in our brand integrity, and this will not be compromised to the detriment of its members.”
IQ has also developed an organisational structure which provides a fair and limited return to its investors, with surpluses after investment agreed with members returned to members/centres. The intent has been to provide transparency and fair value.
“Our customers (members) know that after provision has been made to fund the delivery of a quality service, surpluses will be duly returned. Our comparative margins will be some 60-70% lower than some of our major competitors.”
Value for members in partnership
IQ has also focused on providing value for members in partnership. The involvement of representative bodies such as trade and professional associations in the interface with customers is an intrinsic part of the operational model. Opportunities are also provided for members to expand their operations through networking.
The development of a publications arm to help members bring their learning materials to market and the progressive opening of international offices to access new markets are planned moves for later this year and beyond.
The organisation is also building its presence in the FE sector, with a number of colleges already committed as members or founder members in the organisation.
Ian Millard, CEO of the City of Wolverhampton College (itself a founder member of IQ) commented: “We are very excited by the vision and potential for IQ. We believe that the approach adopted here will lead to shared value in a high profile quality brand, a chance to work with other colleges as partners of IQ in shared initiatives and the opportunity for market expansion.”
Millard concluded: “A college network group and a place for FE colleges on the IQ Board is a clear demonstration of the commitment to stakeholder engagement and the key role that the FE sector can play in the development of an awarding organisation in which it has influence.”
Security Industry Authority and Skills for Security endorse IQ
IQ has just announced endorsements from the Security Industry Authority and Skills for Security to offer licence-linked security qualifications.
As stated, IQ is a pan-sector, mutual awarding organisation that’s owned by its members. It has been designed to change the way in which awarding organisations operate: customers are members of the awarding organisation and have a greater influence on the policies and direction of the organisation. They also benefit from the return of surpluses made by the organisation related to their expenditure with IQ.
“We have sought to develop an operating model that ensures the highest level of quality, supports our commitment to partnership, involves members and provides real value in something approaching a commercial not for profit environment,” asserted Clarke.
“We believe that our approach to quality, which includes peer group review and financial sanctions for systematic malpractice, goes beyond that deployed by any other awarding organisation in the sector and will support our positioning as a premium brand.”
Team IQ: familiar to many
The IQ team will be familiar to those in the industry. Andy Wilson was head of Edexcel Employer Solutions when Edexcel entered the security industry and is now IQ’s head of quality and compliance.
Debbie Mallinson, IQ’s development executive, played a key role at Asset Awarding Body and then EDI in relation to its work in the security industry.
In August, IQ welcomes its first head of business development, a widely-known awarding body figure with significant profile in the security industry.
“We expect to start offering Security Industry Authority licence-linked awards in August, and will also offer the Providing Security Services award and trainers’ awards. We’re also developing qualifications in other sectors such as facilities and hospitality,” said Clarke. “Our focus on quality assurance, product and service quality, relationship and pricing makes us believe that we have a very strong offer for the industry that’s clearly differentiated from the existing market.”
Detail of the membership categories
Industry Qualifications was approved by Ofqual, the qualifications regulator, in March and then by the SIA in June. IQ offers three membership categories:
– founder members: investors in the company, these include colleges, training companies, corporations and trade/professional bodies… opportunities still exist for investment
– representative members: trade and professional bodies who manage or support the interface between IQ and their members
– members: assessment centres who pay an annual subscription fee of GB pound 50 per annum for their membership
