Is the Course Accredited or Recognised?

• GT courses are non-accredited, which was a deliberate and bold departure by GT
• The “leading” accredited housing courses on offer are overly theoretical & academic, expensive and lengthy, and ultimately not an essential requirement at entry level recruitment
• The job itself relies far more heavily on excellent communication and problem solving skills, well rounded knowledge of housing issues, in addition to a range of other generic and core transferrable skills.
• GT quality issues have been addressed by circumnavigating the accreditation of the courses and becoming accredited trainers with the main accreditation housing bodies of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and City &Guilds, in addition to registering the GT courses with the UK Learn Direct course directory
• Further to this, direct job outcomes with large RSL employers has helped achieve increasing gravitas and recognition for the quality and effectiveness of the course, and the GT course certification, which is equivalent to a CIH level 2-4 diploma or a Housing NVQ.

Will the Course Become Accredited in the Future?

Currently GT is not prepared to dilute our highly successful course structure, not even for the “leading” housing management course providers in the UK, and become accredited with them. They are equally reluctant to bend their course toward our current course structure. Discussions have taken place and are ongoing with Asset Skills, around the direction of travel for housing courses in the very near future, which will closely mirror the GT structure with greater emphasis on a vocational focus, rather than theoretical and academic approach currently taken by the “leading” course providers.

Further to this GT is currently in the final stages of an accreditation process with Open College Network (OCN), who are a leading diploma and vocational qualification provider, and are prepared to accredit the GT course based on its current structure. The new GT shaped and accredited courses are expected to be delivered from April 2011.

Accredited Courses or Not?

It is worth noting the accredited courses fail to address the operational issues and functions of the housing professional, and most crucially they fail to address the competency framework for potential recruitment into the sector, which is overwhelmingly why the majority of its candidates choose to study accredited housing courses - to secure a job, not to ponder on aspects of housing theory. As a result GT has had a significant number of clients who have completed the “leading” CIH accredited course though failed to secure a job, but have moved onto secure good quality housing jobs under GT’s guidance, training and tutelage.

It is worth noting the accredited courses fail to address the operational issues and functions of the housing professional, and most crucially they fail to address the competency framework for potential recruitment into the sector, which is overwhelmingly why the majority of its candidates choose to study accredited housing courses - to secure a job, not to ponder on aspects of housing theory. As a result GT has had a significant number of clients who have completed the “leading” CIH accredited course though failed to secure a job, but have moved onto secure good quality housing jobs under GT’s guidance, training and tutelage.