Recommendations

 "Oilean give a great deal of assessor time to each candidate and this has resulted in awards being completed in a shorter timescale and is very good practice"-SQA external moderator

"Oilean is a dynamic company with a highly experienced and professional staff - both full and part-time - who are wholly committed to the company and its aims"-Investor in People,

"Oilean masterclass study days have been extremely valuable as I am able to meet with others and discuss how things are going. They have also made me feel part of a group and not so isolated. They have given me motivation when I have been struggling. I feel that the study days are absolutely essential and have given me a large amount of knowledge and understanding for SVQ units" - Claire, candidate 2004

"I wanted to do my A1, so looked about and felt most comfortable with Oilean.  I was very impressed by their web site, and the level of qualifications of the Directors.

On the day of appointment John greeted me and then introduced me to Jean.  I was very impressed with Jean’s ability to make you feel right at ease, she talked about the A1 in a way that made me more determined that this was next step for me, any negative thoughts I had were gone. We made an appointment to meet next week, Jean wanted me to go home and think, on all she had said and read material.

I arrived back next week, still as enthusiastic, this time, I had with me relevant documents Jean needed to see, and photocopy. After a long discussion, Jean asked me to watch a video and do a Direct Observation on it. (GULP) did not expect that. However, that is what I was signing up for - to learn how to be an assessor.  My first attempt was not too bad. Jean pointed out a few points that I did not mention, but I have to say, not in a way to make you feel you have failed, but opposite, encouraging you and making you want to do more.

So as a next step Jean invited me along to a training day in-put into “challenging behaviour” where I would meet candidates doing SVQ 111.

From start to finish, I was relaxed, felt very comfortable, Jean and John have a style that complements one another when working as trainers. They bring so much insight into the work, I never once felt like I was wandering off, as I have done on many occasions on training days in past when I got a little bored with too much talking.

The trainers worked enthusiastically in partnership with candidates and me. It was evident they had engaged thoughtfully in planning the session, organising materials and presenting. John and Jean were able to reflect on their own past, subsequent training, and what best worked for them.

The day past quickly, the candidates were keen to get on with work, not afraid to ask questions if they did not understand anything.  I was very impressed by John and Jeans ability to make everyone feel so relaxed, including me.

I found that night I was remembering work I had done in the past: this training day had opened up my mind; it took me back to an occasion where I had to do a risk assessment. Therefore, for me the day was a great success as I was now thinking again in student mode. The day had prepared me more for wanting to do A1.

To sum up I feel Oilean are a very approachable team; they have a way of making you want to listen, learn. The examples, which they gave from their experience, illuminate theories which otherwise could have appeared dry and unfamiliar, particularly for candidates just starting. Their openness and genuine interest and commitment to the value of SVQ, A1 and Oilean are clearly evident." - Margaret Watson, trainee assessor 2006