At Signature, we are dedicated to supporting our centres in delivering high-quality BSL and ISL qualifications. A key part of that support comes from our Centre Relationship Lead, Abbie!
Since joining Signature in 2023, Abbie has built strong relationships with our centres, guiding them through setup, growth, and qualification delivery. In this blog, Abbie shares more about her role and the ways she can support Signature centres.
Alongside responses from Abbie, we have also received feedback from Signature Centres.
Keep on reading for more!
- Hi Abbie, please could you introduce yourself to our Signature engagers, and a bit about your time at Signature.
Hi everyone…it is me, Abbie! For those who do not know me, I am the Centre Relationship Lead here at Signature. My journey started here at Signature back in August 2023 as a Customer Support Officer. Within this role, I was able to gain the confidence to build relationships with Signature centres. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching our centres continue to build their business to pursue and promote our qualifications. The ongoing support from the Signature team has allowed me to pursue my new role as Centre Relationship Lead.
- Can you tell us a bit about your role as Centre Relationship Lead?
For those who wish to know more about my new role, then look no further! As Centre Relationship Lead, I get the opportunity not only to continue to build relationships with our current Signature centres, but to welcome brand new centres to join our organisation. It is amazing to watch our centres build their business and raise awareness within the deaf and deafblind community through the promotion of our BSL and ISL courses.
Take a look at some comments I have already received from our new centres about their journey since becoming a Signature centre.
Signature Approved Centre:
“We have been a Signature Centre for more than 15 years. The new INTRA6 qualification was quite complicated to implement but we had lots of discussions with and support from the Signature team. This support enabled us to deliver the qualification effectively to our learners. The Signature teams focuses on maintaining high standards in interpreting assessments, and this is something that is really important to us as a centre.
We have sometimes found the portal (IRIS) difficult to navigate but the Signature team has always been helpful in guiding us through processes”.
Signature Approved Centre:
“As both an Interpreting and Training Agency, a successful and positive ‘end result’ has always been key to everything that we do. Becoming an Approved Centre with Signature provided us with the opportunity to expand the training side of our business. The fact that our Centre could be sourced vis the Signature Website, allowed us to reach more ‘potential’ trainees for this profession, and continues to do so.
Signature is committed to providing high quality BSL education and this is an ethos we share. Over the years, we have moved from being a provider of their BSL courses to focus on delivery of Interpreting / Translation L6 Diploma (INTRA6), as well as our own shorter CPD workshops.
As a Training and Interpreting Agency, it is extremely rewarding to see students go through the training process to receive the Signature INTRA6 Diploma. Once registered as Interpreters and Translators, they are then on another learning journey within the workplace and often accepting bookings via our Interpreting Agency. This is a positive outcome for all, and one that we (as training providers) couldn’t achieve without being an Approved Centre. Signature’s wealth of knowledge and experience as an awarding body in BSL education is invaluable, as is their continued support.”
- What sort of support can you offer to centres in this new role?
Are you thinking about becoming a new centre to deliver our qualifications? As Centre Relationship Lead I can certainly support you through your application process….I mean do not take my word for it, please see comments from recently approved centres, I have supported so far this year!
Here is some more feedback that we have received from Centres, old and new:
“Abbie is the most helpful and lovely person. Setting up a new centre can feel a little daunting, but Abbie made it such a stress free process. She has been more than happy to answer all questions and set up virtual face to face meetings with us to guide us through the system, to register course students and book exams. We couldn’t recommend Abbie at Signature highly enough”.
“At Lancashire County Council, we found the experience of registering to be a centre for providing BSL Level 1 and 2 to be smooth and straightforward, largely due to high levels of tailored support and guidance from Abbie, Signature’s Centre Relationship Lead.
I had a number of 1:1 online sessions at a time to fit into my other work commitments and walk me step by step through the process. The guidance and instructions were clear and manageable steps were put in place. I received reminders and prompts to help navigate through the process and was reassured that Abbie would respond to my queries in a timely manner.
Thank you to Abbie and the Signature team for all your help and support. I look forward to continuing working with you as our learner’s progress through their BSL programme.”
- Helen Hodkinson, Qualified Teachers of D/deaf Children and Young People Team Manager Lancashire County Council.
Ready to get started…Let’s start off with a virtual meeting!
Already a centre and want to offer something new and exciting, contact me directly and together, we can explore your options!