SQMC is a unique, home-grown training organisation serving the British Isles, Europe and elsewhere.

Since our conception almost 30 years ago, we have steadily progressed from a think-tank of the University of Stirling's Management Science faculty, to become one of Europe's leading providers of Quality, Environmental and Safety qualifications. It's our pleasure and passion to assist a clientele of progressive individuals, SMEs and large multinationals to focus effectively on achieving their goals with maximum efficiency, in the industrial and service sectors.

Our small but brilliant team has ensured SQMC's prominence at the forefront in our niche sector since our earliest days. In 1992, we became the first organisation approved by the Institute of Quality Assurance (now Chartered Quality Institute) to provide IRCA certified Lead Auditor training north of the border. Shortly after that, it was SQMC's Director of Programmes, Ian Hannah, who drafted the original "180" Internal Quality Auditor programme on IRCA's behalf. With such a prestigious heritage, it's little wonder that SQMC's mission more than a quarter of a century later continues to focus on management systems innovation.

However, our mission goes much further than that. We conscientiously seek to exceed our clients' quality-of-service expectations; and we achieve this by intuitively recognising otherwise unnoticed opportunities to provide a solution to a certain want or need. Furthermore, we are ever-mindful to be respectful, ethical and reliable in all of our relationships.

Timeline

1984 The International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) is formed

1987 Leading Quality Standard, BS 5750, is superseded by ISO 9001:1987

1989 Stirling University Professor, Brian Moores, forms the concept of the Scottish Quality Management Centre (SQMC)

1990 Ian Hannah is appointed, as Director of Programmes, to 'activate' SQMC; and develop syllabi of short courses

1992 SQMC achieve "approved" status with the IRCA in London

1992 SQMC debut Scotland's first IRCA Lead Auditor course 

1993 Ian Hannah is the architect of the University's first master's degree in Quality Management 

1993 Ian Hannah drafts the original "180" Internal Quality Auditor programme on IRCA's behalf 

1994 SQMC debut our IRCA-registered Internal Quality Auditor course at Stirling Management Centre 

1994 SQMC awarded the Joe Bosworth trophy for Excellence in Quality Management training

1995 SQMC awarded 'Centre of Excellence' status by the Institute of Quality Assurance (now the Chartered Quality Institute) for the innovation of Scotland's first post-graduate degree in Quality Management; a concept which would be emulated later by other universities nationwide

1998 SQMC is restructured and transformed into a private limited company, independent of the University; with a Head Office in Dunfermline 

1999 'SQMC Online' is launched to a worldwide audience

2000 Thanks to its 'Ltd' status, SQMC now has the ability to provide consultancy assistance to clients who have long requested it 

2001 SQMC acquire additional premises, at Albany Business Centre, Dunfermline 

2003 SQMC introduce the iconic tri-colour stripes as part of our corporate identity. The azure blue representing our roots in Scotland's education sector; the red representing our English and Northern Irish team members; and the darker blue representing our global outreach to the 'blue planet' 

2004 SQMC move to larger facilities at Dunfermline Business Centre 

2005 SQMC's first overseas office is opened, in Vancouver, Canada; where Ian Hannah began his career in Quality Assurance 

2009 Former Scottish Enterprise advisor, Karen MacKenzie is promoted to the role of SQMC's Head of Strategic Development 

2010 The Scottish Quality Management Centre takes up its new residence within the conferencing and business facility on campus at Carnegie College, Dunfermline (since renamed Fife College)

2012 Further expansion of SQMC's infrastructure as Karen MacKenzie, Ron Rivans and creative design and business strategy specialist, Kenny Hannah, join the Board of Directors

2013 Ian Hannah takes well-earned semi-retirement, whilst Karen MacKenzie takes over his duties as chief course designer

2014 SQMC celebrates its Silver Jubilee

2015 SQMC become 'Partners in Excellence' with non-profit, EFQM proponent, Quality Scotland

2016 Launch of Version 7 of SQMC Online; built entirely in-house using cutting edge security and Growth-Driven Design methodology