Case Study – BL Hairdressing

BL Hairdressing have been delivering City and Guilds hairdressing courses since 1986. They provide a recruitment service for school leavers and young people who are interested in a career in hairdressing and barbering, providing courses for everyone, from Apprentices through to Salon Managers. They deliver training to over 550 employed hairdressing Apprentices in over 330 salons.

---

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEFORE USING ECORDIA ?

Before moving across to Ecordia, we were using a paper based system which resulted in mountains of paperwork, storage issues and time consuming processes.

In addition, signatures were being missed-off completed holistic assessments as well as learners forgetting their logbooks / portfolios on occasions which caused delays in assessing and ultimately in their course completion.

---

WHAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT THAT LED YOU TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION?

With so many learners forgetting their logbooks, the assessment process was incredibly difficult.

We needed a solution that was able to link the holistic assessment through each of the different units.  Specifically we wanted a ‘Start Page’ that highlighted a ‘To Do’ list and included due dates of IQA sampling.

And finally a system that provided a percentage overview of the unit completed, without having to trawl through piles of paperwork and look back through course history that would take so much time and manpower.

---

HOW HAS ECORDIA SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED THESE PROBLEMS?

Ecordia has made a world of difference by providing a customisable system that really works for us.

We now have password protected holistic assessments linked through one piece of evidence which is instantly and easily accessible by both the learner and assessor. What’s even better is that we’re not restricted by how learners or assessors access their logs, they can use their laptop, PC, tablet or smartphone.

A real difference has been made to the huge reduction in paperwork. Using an e-portfolio means that learners don’t have to lug around their logbooks and assessors don’t have to trawl through piles of paper history.

Everything is online, meaning that resources and induction material for both learners and assessors can be more easily accessed. Resulting in a much more efficient and timely course completion, which is better for us and our learners alike!

---

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES YOU LOVE ABOUT ECORDIA ?

●  Firstly that everything is in the one place: the learner details, plans, their assessments and IQA’s. ●   Secondly, the IQA sampling reminders and IQA action required reminders. This makes a big difference to the efficiency of our course management. ●  Thirdly, the reports can give you instant information on the courses, individual learners or satellite sites. Our staff particularly love the new split screen on the assessment feedback page!

---

WHY DO YOU LOVE THESE FEATURES?

The main reason is the reduction in time for learners and assessors. The whole holistic assessment is a much more fluid and simple process. The burden of over assessment is reduced by easy linking of contingency PC ‘s and E3.

---

HOW HAS ECORDIA HELPED YOU TO DELIVER VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ?

●  Quite simply by allowing us to cross-centre IQA and upload all product evidence to the one place, which is easily accessed by learners and assessors.

●  We have no more delays, missing logbooks, or missing signatures once assessments are completed.

“We highly recommend Ecordia for being so easily customisable to meet our specific training needs – and for the online access that means both our learners and assessors can log in whenever suits them.  No need to wait for office opening hours or appointments!”