Case Study: Gatewen Training Services – A Pioneer in Quality Standards

05/03/2026

Case Study: Gatewen Training Services – A Pioneer in Quality Standards

Founded in 1971 and proudly based in Wrexham, North Wales, Gatewen Training Services Ltd has spent more than five decades raising the bar for excellence in vocational training. Renowned for delivering high-demand skills in areas such as HGV, PCV and Material Handling Equipment (MHE), Gatewen supports a wide and diverse learner community, with a strong focus on empowering individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas of high deprivation. Building on fresh labour market insights and a detailed sector-based training needs analysis, Gatewen is currently in the process of expanding its offer with an exciting new range of training opportunities tailored to the growing Plant and Construction sector.

A Milestone Achievement: The First IAQF and matrix Dual-Accreditation

Gatewen has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first organisation to achieve the Information and Advice Quality Framework (IAQF) mark in conjunction with the matrix Standard. While the matrix Standard is the Department for Education’s (DfE) benchmark for high-quality information, advice, and guidance (IAG), the IAQF is a Welsh Government framework designed to ensure consistent quality for advice services across Wales.

The 2025 accreditation review confirmed that Gatewen successfully met the requirements of both, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and high-quality service delivery.

Driving Organisational Quality and Growth

Holding this dual standard and award is not merely a badge of honour; it is a strategic asset. Julian Hughes, Managing Director, at Gatewen, noted that maintaining these standards “continually improves the quality of the organisation and helps attract additional funding and contracts.”

This is evidenced by Gatewen’s ability to secure vital contracts and funding streams, including:

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) ‘Multiply’ contract to enhance numeracy skills.
UK Government Adult Skills Fund (ASF) to support unemployed learners.
Access to Welsh Government Personal Learning Accounts (PLA) funding.
Welsh Government ‘ReAct’ funding, which supports individuals at risk of redundancy.

Strategic partnerships further enhance this growth, allowing Gatewen to remain at the forefront of the Welsh Government skills agenda while accessing learner referrals and employment opportunities.

Tangible Impact on Learners

The implementation of high-quality IAG has led to remarkable performance outcomes:

Improved Retention: The introduction of structured awareness and taster sessions saw learner retention rates jump to 95% (a 20% increase).
Academic Success: Over 300 learners took part in the North East Wales Skills Academy (NEWSA) project, many returning to education or training after long absences, with more than 90% successfully achieving nationally accredited qualifications.
Diversity in Logistics: Gatewen has successfully increased female participation in the traditionally male-dominated transport sector to 18%, compared to a sector average which is approximately 9%.
First-Time Passes: The first-time pass rate for Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) stands at a robust 75%+.

Continuous Improvement and Innovation

Following their initial assessment, Gatewen has demonstrated a proactive approach during their Annual Continuous Improvement Check (CIC). Key developments in 2025 included:

Bilingual Accessibility: To meet IAQF requirements and serve the local community, Gatewen launched a bilingual website and is developing a Welsh Language Progress Plan.
Resource Investment: To address equipment “pinch points,” the organisation invested in a range of new vehicles to support practical testing.
Digital Roadmaps: The team have developed an LGV flowchart designed to help learners visualise career pathways and IAG touchpoints.
Soft Skills Tracking: Gatewen have invested heavily in the development of their CRM system and the interrogation of related data to better capture “distance travelled” in areas like learner confidence and resilience.
Artificial Intelligence: To provide careers advice the highly regarded and acclaim Career Chat is currently being utilised to support learners alongside traditional human support to add further value.

Conclusion

Gatewen Training Services exemplifies how a commitment to rigorous quality standards like matrix Standard and IAQF can help to transform a small training provider into a regional leader and powerhouse. By focusing on high-quality IAG, they have not only improved their internal processes but have also created life-changing opportunities for their learners, ranging from securing employment for the formerly homeless to protecting workers from redundancy.