Latest News

ABA Training Consolidate Their Offices

Please note that as of the 30th July 2010 ABA Training Ltd will be combining all activities at one location.

We have taken the opportunity with new office space becoming available at our registered offices in Sudbury to consolidate our activities into one location.

This means staff currently located in Great Baddow will officially be moving to Sudbury as of 1st August 2010.

We are taking this as an opportunity to work closer as a team and continue to grow programmes we are able to offer our customers.

Teaching Assistants (TAs) from the Sudbury area presented with their NVQ

We presented our latest group of successful Teaching Assistants (TAs) from the Sudbury area with their NVQ certificates on the 26th March along with another TA who has progressed to become an assessor and was awarded her A1 certificate.

The certificates were presented at our Sudbury offices, which is based at South Suffolk Business Centre by Liz Meadows who is the Workforce Adviser from Suffolk County Council. Liz congratulated the candidates and made it clear during the presentation that she was very proud of their achievement.

Four other TAs and 1 A1 assessor were unable to attend the presentation.

ABA gains Matrix Accreditation

We are proud to announce that both of the ABA offices were successfully assessed against the Matrix standard during February (12th, 23rd and 24th). The Matrix is a Nationally recognised Quality Standard for any organisation that delivers information, advice and/or guidance (IAG) on learning and work.

There are two elements to the standard depending on whether IAG is provided to internal staff and/or to external learners. We were successfully accredited to both elements.

Second Luton presentation event for Taxi and Private Hire drivers

Luton College hosted the second presentation event for Taxi and Private Hire drivers to have completed the NVQ in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving. 37 certificates were presented by the Mayor of Luton, Cllr Mohammed Riaz.

He said in his address "It is good for drivers to have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, good for the public who will benefit from having more confidence in their driver and good for the Licensing Service who will be able to witness first hand that the drivers who invest in themselves will lead to better standards. It is a win win win situation."

Peterborough licensed drivers presented with their NVQ's

26 Peterborough licensed drivers were presented with their NVQ in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving recently at a ceremony. The drivers completed the course as part of the mandatory licensing conditions in Peterborough.

Two more Associates earn their A1 Assessors awards

ABA Training were able to present two more of its Associates with their A1 Assessors awards at a recent training session. Receiving their awards from tutor Susan Thom were Alan Walsh and Teresa Adams.

ABA Staff and Associates, World Class Skills

25 ABA Staff and Associates took part in a training session enabling them to deliver effective Information, Advice and Guidance delivered by World Class Skills recently at their Great Baddow offices.

Gravesend drivers celebrated at Gravesham Council offices

57 Gravesend drivers celebrated at Gravesham Council offices after being presented with their NVQ certificates by Councillor Cubitt, Portfolio holder for Community Safety and Environment ´Clean, Green and Safe´.

Presenting the certificates Cllr Cubitt recognised the candidate’s hard work and dedication in completing the qualifications

Teaching Assistants working at Belstead School complete their NVQ's

Teaching Assistants working at Belstead School in Ipswich have been awarded their NVQ Certificates at an assembly held on 4th February 2010 after completing the NVQ in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.

Taxi drivers in Bury St Edmunds successfully complete their NVQ's

The first taxi drivers in Bury St Edmunds to successfully complete their NVQ in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving training course were congratulated by councillors, when they received their certificates at a licensing committee meeting on the 27th January.

Hilary Workman, St Edmundsbury Licensing Manager said,

" The drivers committed to an intensive ten week course, with practical on the job training and lots of learning. The day job involves long hours and I very pleased that they achieved these qualifications and that they are setting a new standard "

Certificates were presented by Cllr Frank Warby Chair of the Licensing Committee.

Terry Kinchlea Awarded Internal Verifiers certificate

Anne Howes, Director of ABA Training Ltd, was delighted to present Terry Kinchlea with his Internal Verifiers certificate at the recent ABA Christmas Luncheon.

Terry is very much a home grown product having completed his NVQ in 2007, his A1 Assessors qualification in 2009 and then shortly afterwards his IV award. Terry has been working on the various ABA projects in Nottingham, Bedford and Luton.

Bedford Drivers Graduate with NVQ

95 Bedford taxi drivers have graduated from a training course developed to raise standards of customer service.

A graduation ceremony took place where the drivers were awarded their NVQ certificates by members of the Bedford Borough Council Licensing Team.

Keith Simmons, Head of Registration and Records at Bedford Borough Council, said " The Council is committed to developing a professionalised Taxi trade in Bedford to meet the needs of local residents and businesses. This project is a major contribution to this aim and has brought Government funding through LSC into Bedford economy. In addition this project has given each of the drivers a qualification which demonstrates transferable skills and will support their professional development."

Shenfield Taxis

An informal presentation took place to on the 19th November to the drivers from Shenfield Taxis who have achieved their NVQ in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving. The event was a chance to recognise the hard work the drivers had been through in achieving their awards. Andy Frydd of Shenfield Taxis acknowledged that the drivers had benefitted from the course and said that the skills learnt were beginning to show through increased customers. The drivers achieved two qualifications, the NVQ and a VRQ in transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire. Both qualifications are nationally recognised and were funded by the Learning and Skills Council through the Train to Gain scheme.

ABA rolls out a new course to Transport staff

The Hackney Carriage drivers of Forest Heath District Council in the North of Suffolk were the first to benefit from the newly devised Disability Awareness course for Transport staff. The 14 drivers all drive wheelchair accessible vehicles in the area, and underwent a three hour awareness session. The course takes candidates through identification of different types of disabilities, assistance to be offered, as well as practical observation of loading and unloading passengers in wheelchairs. The session was delivered locally ensuring the down time for drivers were kept to a minimum.

Southend Drivers recognised

A presentation of certificates took place at the Balmoral Community Centre, Southend to the second phase of drivers completing their NVQ level 2 qualifications in road passenger vehicle driving. The presentation of certificates was made by Licensing Officers of the Council.

Harlow Taxi drivers recognised for customer care skills

A presentation took place to the drivers of A& Bee and ABC cars Harlow on the completion of their NVQ course in Road Passenger Vehicle driving. The course ran over a period of eleven weeks and combined a VRQ in Transporting passengers by taxi and private hire with the NVQ course. Drivers were assessed on their knowledge and by the production of evidence through observation and customer feedback.

Extra skills for local taxi and private hire drivers

Twenty-nine Luton licensed taxi and private hire drivers received their NVQ Level 2 certificate in Road Passenger Transport from the Mayor, Cllr Mohammed Riaz, Thursday 1 October at Barnfield College.

The training was delivered ABA Training who tailored the sessions to minimise the driver’s down time. Courses continue at Barnfield College where any driver who has problems with numeracy or literacy problems is also offered extra tuition.

Cllr Don Worlding, Executive Member for Licensing, said: "This is excellent news. What these drivers have done is invested in themselves by spending their own time at college and completing work-based portfolios to ensure they deliver the best possible service to local people."

These drivers are the first in Luton to achieve the qualification, which arose through the partnership with the Council, the college and ABA Training, an external specialist training organisation. The drivers have benefited from Government funding for the course.

Essex Chronicle Business Awards Winner

On Friday the 18th September 8 members of the ABA team joined a select group of business people from across Essex at Braxted Hall for the finals of Essex Chronicle Business Awards.

We were finalists in two categories: ´Best Growing Business´ and ´Best Training Programme´.

We were delighted to be announced as winners in the Best Growing Business category and as runner up in the Best Training Programme for our teaching assistants programme.

After the awards were all made we spent a couple of hours dancing the rest of the evening away in celebration.

New Apprentice Starts at ABA Training Ltd

We would like to welcome our newest recruit Daniel to ABA. He joined us as an apprentice on the 7th September and he will be working towards his Business Administration NVQ between now and June 2010.