QA reviews

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, QA has taken extensive measures to ensure that it can continue to serve its customers and provide critical training virtually, while its training centres have been closed. Our business has successfully migrated almost all of its training to virtual, retains a strong balance sheet and is focused on emerging from the lockdown in robust shape, allowing it to retrain a large number of people across its client organisations. As you will know in Jan 2020 the business announced a strategic decision to refocus its Apprenticeship Division to more technology focussed programmes. This resulted in around 90 roles being made redundant. Apart from this, there have been no other material numbers of redundancies in 2020. Due to the severe economic recession however, it is now clear that activity in our sector will be reduced for some time and this has been confirmed in recent conversations with clients. It is correct that we have entered into a consultation process with our employees to discuss our proposals to address this. The number of total redundancies has not been decided on, since it will depend on the consultation process but it is likely to be substantially less than the number suggested here. In these unprecedented times it is my priority to work with our employees to ensure the best possible outcome given the above constraints. Karen Orr, Director of People and Engagement