Quality Practitioner Apprentice Achieves CQI Practitioner Status

Emma Harrison PCQI, Managing Director of Whyy? Change, has recently become the latest member of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) professional community.

Following her achievement of becoming the world’s first-ever Quality Practitioner Apprentice to achieve a distinction, Emma upgraded her student membership to achieve ‘Practitioner’ status with the CQI.

This accolade is widely recognised, amongst quality professionals, for the work they do in improving their organisation's quality functions' ability to contribute to the bottom line and the brand.

The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) is the professional body for experts in improving product, project and service quality. Founded over 100 years ago, they champion organisational excellence by setting professional standards for quality management globally.

Upon finding out the news of achieving CQI Practitioner status, Emma said: "After successfully completing my Quality Practitioner apprenticeship at the end of last year, I applied for the upgrade to my student membership with Chartered Quality Institute and I’m thrilled to share that I have been awarded the grade of Practitioner with CQI. Thanks to my amazing colleagues for their continued support to help me achieve this.”

Emma’s journey started in January 2021, when the Level 4 Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship was first announced as a brand new standard. Emma’s journey to becoming an apprentice, aged 46, for the first time breaks the stereotype of apprentices being 16-18. At the time, Emma was one of the first Quality Practitioner Apprentices to be enrolled on to the apprenticeship.

Since starting her apprenticeship in January 2021, Emma has gone on to be promoted twice, appointed as Governance Director in April 2021 and Managing Director in September 2022.

Throughout the apprenticeship programme, Emma completed additional qualifications which were included in the apprenticeship to further develop her knowledge, skills and behaviours. Highly regarded by Quality professionals, the Bureau Veritas Internal Auditor Certificate in ISO 9001:2015 and the Lean & Six Sigma Yellow Belt included by Whyy? Change.

In December 2022, Emma officially became the World’s First Quality Practitioner Apprentice to achieve a distinction, supported by the End Point Assessment organisation, Occupational Awards Limited.

Emma’s tutor, Lynda Holbrey CQP MCQI, Head of Quality HSE at Whyy? Change who is a Chartered Quality Professional and a member of the Chartered Quality Institute shared a few words on Emma’s achievement and apprenticeship journey:

“Emma was a massive contributor in all training sessions, never afraid to use the tools and technics, come back with a self-reflection on her successes and always looking to establish how to use tools and techniques to their maximum and make a difference in her company.”

CEO of Whyy? Change, Ray Byrne, shared his praises for Emma: “An outstanding individual with an eye for quality, professional development, and is an asset to our organisation, Whyy? Change is in safe hands with Emma at the helm.”

Lee Reddington, Head of Partnership Development for Occupational Awards Limited also added: “Emma truly lived up to the title of Quality Practitioner in her approach to her apprenticeship and EPA, the result speaks for itself.”

Lynda went on to say: “Her skills have developed from some core understanding and knowledge to a true practitioner in Quality and her quality behaviours have been demonstrated in everything she has worked on and achieved, including working with newer members of the Quality apprenticeship supporting them and sharing her experiences and knowledge.  It was an absolute joy to be a part of her journey.”

If you’d like to join Emma in becoming a Quality Practitioner Apprentice and achieving Practitioner status as part of your continuous professional development (CPD) plan, you can find out more by visiting www.whyychange.com, calling Whyy? Change on 0114 400 0077 or emailing them at info@whyychange.com.