Quality Guild was established in 1994 by Cumbria Training and Enterprise Council after extensive market research revealed a gap in the provision of Quality Management Standards for small and medium sized businesses. It developed a new ‘quality’ standard based on BS5750 that helped businesses win contracts from the public and private sector.
It was also recognised in those early years that SME’s failed to have access to cost effective health and safety training, therefore sourced training for ‘members’ that helped them keep compliant.
In 2001 Quality Guild was transferred to Business Link for Cumbria and was delivered under the prestigious government brand for the following six years under the leadership of Brian Lightowler the then Chief Executive.
In 2006 Brian Lightowler purchased Quality Guild and established QG Business Solutions Ltd.
Since then Quality Guild, now known as QG Management Standards has become a leading player in alternative procurement standards to ISO 9001, ISO 14001. OHSS 18001 and ISO 27001 across the North of England and Southern Scotland. Hundreds of businesses have won tenders through public and private sector procurement processes by meeting the QG Standards.
With our partners, Instinct Training we deliver electronic training, initially via cd, then DVD and now available on-line so that a wider range of business can take advantage of the training.
We also facilitate legal advice through another partner. Burnetts Solicitors, based in Carlisle.