Quality, quality marks, and recognition

TopTaal stands for high-quality, customized education. To demonstrate that we deliver and safeguard high quality, we are regularly audited by independent external quality organizations and certification bodies.

PSO Step 3

Our growth toward social entrepreneurship has been recognized with a PSO certification. TopTaal has achieved Step 3 on the Social Entrepreneurship Performance Ladder (PSO). This means that we make an above-average contribution to employment for people with a distance to the labor market.

The PSO is a quality mark from TNO and measures how socially an organization operates in an independent and scientifically substantiated manner. The assessment shows that we provide work in a qualitatively strong and sustainable way for people who find it difficult to enter the labor market.

In practice, PSO Step 3 means that when filling vacancies, we consciously look beyond the obvious candidates. And vice versa: if we discover talent among our students or employees, we offer them the opportunity to work at TopTaal.

At TopTaal, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to participate. This certification therefore aligns perfectly with our mission and our way of working.

Why this is important An increasing number of organizations and government bodies value social entrepreneurship. It fits within corporate social responsibility (CSR) and demonstrates that your organization has an eye for both impact and inclusion. By achieving Step 3, we demonstrate that we actively contribute to a more social labor market — not just in words, but also in deeds.

ISO 9001 and ISO 27001

At TopTaal, we constantly strive for the highest quality and reliability in our services. We are therefore proud to have achieved both ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification.

ISO 9001 is the international standard for quality management. The certificate demonstrates that we continuously improve our processes and place customer satisfaction at the heart of everything we do. In practice, this means that we strive for high customer focus, commitment, and sustainable relationship management. We involve employees through internal communication, staff days, and the Works Council (OR) — and students through the student council.

ISO 27001 is the leading standard for information security. This certification confirms that we handle confidential information with care and implement strict measures to optimally protect the data of customers, partners, and employees. In practice, this means, for example, that employees log in using two-factor authentication and that we invest in software that meets current security requirements.

This milestone underlines the importance we place on quality and security, and gives our customers and partners the assurance that they can rely on a professional and reliable organization. View the Kiwa register.

Blik op Werk Quality Mark

Blik op Werk is an independent quality organization. Training providers who ensure that people participate in society again, find paid work, start their own business, move from job to job, can continue to work healthily, and follow integration courses, are eligible for the Quality Mark. An independent auditor checks whether the provider meets all high quality requirements. The Blik op Werk Quality Mark is a star system. TopTaal has the maximum number of four stars.

Classroom supervision

In addition to administrative and process-related checks, Blik op Werk also assesses whether the content of the lessons is sufficient. This check consists of a combination of a digital self-evaluation tool and an assessment by a qualified inspector. The inspector visits a number of lessons to see if the quality of the lessons is in order. The inspector’s report showed that the quality of the lessons at TopTaal is excellent.

Satisfaction score

An important part of the Blik op Werk Quality Mark is the satisfaction score. A student who has followed an integration course at TopTaal receives a questionnaire via email or post. The satisfaction score is derived from all the responses. A provider must have a 6.5 to receive the Blik op Werk Quality Mark. TopTaal receives an 8 from its students.

NRTO quality mark

TopTaal holds the NRTO quality mark. We have been audited by an external certification body and meet high quality requirements. A training provider with the NRTO quality mark is transparent about products and services, offers adequate service delivery, maintains professional interactions with customers, employs expert staff, and measures customer satisfaction. Furthermore, for training buyers, the quality mark is an important selection criterion: providers with the quality mark comply with conditions such as the UWV Purchasing Framework and various subsidy schemes.

Crebo (diploma) recognition

TopTaal was one of the first private training providers in the Netherlands to receive Crebo recognition for ‘Other Education’: programs aimed at adults who struggle with basic skills, such as low-literate native speakers and non-native speakers. This recognition means that, as a language and basic skills provider, we are officially approved by the government and may offer formal education under the WEB (Adult and Vocational Education Act). This guarantees the quality and value of the diploma obtained, even though TopTaal is not a regular MBO institution. The Inspectorate of Education supervises these programs.

CRKBO

TopTaal is included in the Central Register for Short Vocational Education (CRKBO). This register contains training providers and educational institutions that comply with the quality code for training institutes.

Social Enterprise NL

TopTaal is a member of Social Enterprise NL. Social Enterprise NL is the national network for social enterprises—businesses whose primary goal is to create social added value (impact).

Employers’ Language Agreement

As a provider of professional Language in the Workplace training, TopTaal is a partner of the Employers’ Language Agreement (Taalakkoord Werkgevers). By participating in the language agreement, employers contribute to the language proficiency of employees by making language in the workplace a topic of discussion and by training employees. With the Language Agreement, we work together with employers on language and share knowledge and experiences.