The Forward Trust receives matrix Standard accreditation

The Employment Services division of registered charity The Forward Trust is delighted to have been accredited to the matrix Standard. It received the accreditation for its high quality Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services within its prison education dynamic purchasing system, as well as its vocational training and employability contracts in the community.  The matrix Standard is the international quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and/or guidance services, either as their sole purpose or as part of their service offering.

In the last year, Forward’s Employment Services division has supported over 2,000 learners in prison and 340 clients and learners in the community. 98% of learners completed their programmes and 88% sustained their job or apprenticeship.

Roger Chapman, Head of the matrix Service for The Growth Company said:

This is a fantastic achievement for The Forward Trust and I would like to congratulate the team on their success. We believe that at the heart of high-quality advice and support services are strong leadership, excellent service and a focus on continuous improvement, all underpinned by effective use of the resources available.  The matrix Standard is designed to benchmark organisations against best practice in these areas. With their accreditation success, Forward are working to provide the best possible support to their clients.

Commenting on the award, Asi Panditharatna, Director of Employment Services at Forward, said:

To be awarded this important national standard is a testament to the great work that goes on across our Employment Services division. Our staff often go above and beyond, working with learners who are from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them achieve real and tangible outcomes. Congratulations go to everybody involved in providing our services. We are thrilled to be officially recognised in this way, which demonstrates what I have known for a long time – that our services deliver to the highest standard.

For more information about the matrix Standard please visit www.matrixStandard.com.

For more information, please contact Jo Ritchie, Head of Communications at The Forward Trust on 07881 022927 or Jo.Ritchie@forwardtrust.org.uk or Amy Williams, Communications Managers at The Forward Trust on 07795 024 273 or amy.williams@forwardtrust.org.uk.

About the matrix Standard

• The matrix Standard is the international quality standard for organisations that deliver information, advice and/or guidance (IAG). Either as their sole purpose or as part of their service offering.
• Any organisation which manages, administers and delivers an information, advice and/or guidance service to support individuals in their choice of career, learning, work or life goals can become accredited to the matrix Standard. It does not matter whether the service or services are delivered face-to-face, through training, learning, remotely, or through a website.
• Organisations that have benefited from working with the Standard include Training Providers, Universities, Further/Higher Education Colleges, Schools and Academies, Sole Traders, Next Step Providers, Voluntary and Community Organisations and Private Businesses.
• The matrix Standard is owned by the Department for Education and is managed by The Growth Company on their behalf.

About The Forward Trust

The Forward Trust is social business and registered charity that empowers people to break the cycle of crime or addiction to move forward with their lives. For more than 25 years Forward has been working with people to build positive and productive lives, whatever their past. Forward believes that anyone is capable of lasting change. Its services have supported thousands of people to make positive changes and build productive lives with a job, family, friends and a sense of community.

About our Employment Services division

We support learners and job-seekers who are in prison, ex-offenders, and people in substance misuse recovery. We also work with young people at risk of offending and other groups in society who are unemployed or not in education, employment or training.

To find out more, visit our Employment Services page by clicking here.