The Institute of IT Training (IITT) has awarded its first accreditations to two training service providers - BroadSkill, and Book-A-Trainer.

According to the IITT accreditation represents recognition of the way in which these two organisations have developed people and processes targeted at the training requirements of both training providers and users.

The IITT has been accrediting training providers and internal training departments for over ten years. However, organisations providing services to both of these constituencies had previously been excluded from this programme.

As a result of the continuing growth of service provision to both training providers and users, IITT members encouraged the Institute to develop an 'External Service Providers' accreditation programme.

"This new accreditation programme has been released after extensive trialing and testing," said Colin Steed, chief executive of the IITT. "It marks a major milestone for the Institute as the breadth of services provided by organisations to training providers and training departments continues to grow rapidly.

"BroadSkill's directors impressed the accreditation team with their high standard of business ethics and innovative resourcing and service model, while Book-A-Trainer has successfully deployed a web-based approach to trainer resourcing - and grown rapidly in a time when the overall market is flat.

"Both organisations have demonstrated that innovation and flexibility, together with a clear focus on client needs, is a recipe for success," Steed added.