BLACKBURN College has been awarded an international accreditation for delivering impartial information, advice and guidance.

The Hub team, who offer students and East Lancashire residents advice about courses, training, careers advice, student finance and counselling, has been awarded ‘matrix status’ following a two-day assessment.

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The accreditation is an international quality mark which all colleges must have in order to deliver courses for adult learners, and also measures the overall quality of the information, advice and guidance service.

During the assessment, which took place earlier this month, members of the student services team, students and external college partners were all questioned about the quality of provision by an inspector.

On the last afternoon of the inspection the team were given the news that they had passed, and would not be assessed again for another three years.

Student services manager Michael Rigby said: “For us this proves what we already know, that we are providing students and members of the public with a quality, impartial service which supports them in making the right choices. We are absolutely delighted.”

The “Matrix Standard” is a framework for organisations to assess and measure their information, advice and guidance services.

It consists of four elements that fit around themes such as leadership and management, resource, service delivery and continuous quality improvement.

Any organisation which delivers an advice or guidance service can be accredited to the Matrix Standard.