More than 100 employees at vehicle rental and contract hire company Burnt Tree now have an NVQ qualification, a year after the programme’s launch.

A further 90 employees have signed up to complete this NVQ programme and by August 2014 the company anticipates that more than 50% of its employees will have a NVQ qualification.

Commenting on the success of the programme, Richard Metcalfe, chief executive at Burnt Tree, said: “The NVQ programme has achieved a culture of learning within the company, where continuous improvement is not just words, it is part of everything we do. The sheer volume of qualified employees is a resounding success, especially as this has been a voluntary signup process.”

At Burnt Tree, the NVQ programme is being overseen by the company’s Shropshire general manager Will Henderson and it covers the whole company, from senior management through to branch-based driver valeters.  

The differing types of NVQ being undertaken by Burnt Tree staff include a range of subjects, from business administration and customer service through to employee responsibilities and accident repair.

They are all independently assessed by the company’s appointed NVQ supplier, SWP Training Ltd from Durham.

Henderson said: “By working closely with SWP, we have been able to create a minimum impact, maximum effect solution that fits in with the busy nature of our business as well as linking into our performance driven culture.

"Each NVQ qualification takes approximately 12 weeks to complete and every single Burnt Tree branch now has staff with this internationally recognised qualification.”