The EEC is the first and only professional coaching services company in Spain to obtain Qfor certification, a prestigious seal specifically for training and consultancy providers, which guarantees the professionalism and quality of the EEC's programmes and services. An achievement reached in 2015, a year of "challenges" and "effort", according to its members, who are looking forward to 2016 with the desire to consolidate what has been achieved.
The Escuela Europea de Coaching has achieved Qfor certification, a prestigious seal specifically for training and consultancy providers, which is a guarantee of the professionalism and quality of the programmes and services offered by the EEC in Spain. The EEC is the first professional coaching services company and the first coaching school to obtain this seal in Spain.
In order to obtain this Qfor certification (Quality assurance for training and consulting organisations), the EEC underwent an exhaustive audit with an empirical measurement system that evaluated the evidence of compliance with the requirements of this European standard. This analysis has resulted in the award of the seal in its two possible models, the Qfor ProcessScan and the Qfor ClientScan.
For Eva López-Acevedo, founding partner and executive director of the EEC, this recognition "is important for us to continue with our focus on being innovators and pioneers in new programmes and business applications of this wonderful discipline that is coaching, further strengthening the values that have characterised us from the beginning".
In particular, the Qfor ProcessScan module of the Qfor certification involved auditing processes and resources to determine how the organisation works, what resources it has and how it uses them. Through the Qfor ClientScan module, a high level of customer satisfaction has been certified.
This last point of satisfaction of students, clients and companies is specified in the auditors' report when they state that "in most cases it is considered that they have learned what they expected or even more", and also that "it is clear that for many clients the [coaching certification] programme has had an important effect, with expressions such as "it has been a bomb", "something very valuable for me", "it has been a change in my life" or "it has been more than I expected".
"Undergoing the cotton wool test in search of a quality label means being committed to continuous improvement. Reviewing how things are being done and having the courage to change what is not working and the effort to generate new alternatives is a constant challenge for us. In this sense, we are constantly improving the programmes by assuming not only our own quality standards but also those of those labels that we consider useful to achieve excellence,
SILVIA GUARNIERI, FOUNDING PARTNER
A strategic decision
"The implementation of this demanding evaluation process and the achievement of the Qfor seal serves us to evaluate where we are and also to continue working for the excellence of our products and services to our customers", continues Eva López-Acevedo, for whom "quality has always been the only commitment of the EEC".
"With the Qfor certification, we want to increase the value of our certification and specialisation programmes for coaches and also the training we provide for our business clients. This quality process is part of our ongoing effort for continuous development", adds Silvia Guarnieri, founding partner and Academic Director of the EEC, on this recognition, which is added to other approvals that already support the quality of the EEC, such as those granted by the ICF and the Official College of Psychologists of Madrid.
"It is the result of the rigorous work carried out by the EEC. We must not forget that in order to obtain this certification we have carried out a thorough analysis of the satisfaction of our customers and the quality of our processes. That is why this seal is a reward for our efforts and good work".
EVA LÓPEZ-ACEVEDO, FOUNDING PARTNER
Balance of successes
This has not been the only success of the EEC in 2015, says Silvia Guarnieri. "The relationship between our professionals and the companies that hire us is what forces us to grow more and more every day. The challenges posed to us this year by our clients far exceed the challenges we have faced over the last 14 years. This is due to the large number and diversity of projects", continues the ICF Master Coach, for whom "what used to be an answer now becomes a great question".
"We closed the year absolutely renewed and strengthened", reveals Eva López-Acevedo, who says that "after a long period of economic crisis and important changes to surf the wave, 2015 has been a rewarding year".
In view of the imminent arrival of 2016, Silvia Guarnieri shares that the challenges for the EEC are along the lines of "consolidating digitalisation, improving processes" as well as providing "even more appropriate and boutique services for clients". And also to settle geographically in Latin America. "Although we are already working in Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Argentina, the challenge for 2016 is to expand our scope of action to respond to the needs of companies and consolidate existing markets".
This opinion is shared by Eva López-Acevedo, who alludes to her intention to "consolidate prestige beyond our borders" as a challenge for the future. Her vision also includes "working to be better every day" as well as "continuing to enjoy what we do with the passion that characterises us and expanding the wellbeing generated by the awareness and authenticity we achieve through coaching".
