Administrative Services and IT Department
Ιnformation Communication Technology (ICT)
This division monitors the condition of the Group’s information systems and ensures that they function continuously and at top capacity. The executives provide technical services to all of the Group’s firms and departments as well as support to users. They also repair equipment while also assisting in creating computer networks and databases. Finally, they keep an eye on new developments in the field and suggest ways to best utilize new technologies.
Business Intelligence
The job of this division is to collect and analyze data concerning consumer patterns and features, shifts in market trends, market shares and the company’s competitive edge. It creates statistical models for forecasting trends and proposes systems and methods for improving figures. It observes and analyzes all business productivity indexes and compiles reports for decision-makers at the management level. Finally, it ensures that all company systems are linked, placing special emphasis on Customer Relationship Management (CRM), which it manages for all the companies within the Group.
Administrative Services
This division provides all the services that are necessary for the smooth operation of the Group companies and contributes to the efficient scheduling and coordination of each department’s activities. Another one of its responsibilities is to tend to the cleanliness of the office space and cafeteria while also making sure that supplies are properly stocked.
Product Research and Development Department
ELiSS & Examination Systems Development
This division is responsible for implementing IT system development projects and maintaining IT systems. It collects demands, documents software and technical requirements and also develops new software. It performs trials, installs and distributes software while also maintaining systems and providing user support. The division’s main aims are to provide cutting-edge information systems in line with the Group’s procedures, to take advantage of the best software technologies and to document the developed software. The information systems that the division develops aim at managing the Group’s certification programmes overall. The most significant of these are the ELiSS and City & Guilds managing systems, the ATES and City & Guilds automated examination systems, the e-learning system, and the QMS system for developing examination content. Finally, of prime importance is linking these systems to the Group’s and partners’ other internal and external information systems.
Content Development
This division is responsible for developing and adapting exam material and content to the Group’s certification programmes in Greece and abroad. The division executives are involved in creation and localization, programming and monitoring the exam content for the Group’s automated or non-automated exam systems (ATES or MTES) and more generally, in the creation of any form of material that supports the Group’s certification programmes. In addition, the division is in charge of seeing that exam content specifications are observed and of approving educational publications concerning the certification programmes.
Analysis & Software Development
This division of the Product Research and Development Department is responsible for collaborating with the Group’s other departments and external partners in documenting specifications, implementing the analyses and overseeing the department’s projects as well the quality control of the Group’s information systems. The participation of the division in the department projects is a decisive factor in monitoring the timetabling of the projects and in making sure deadlines are adhered to. The main aims are the comprehensive documentation of corporate demands, the prompt production of the required documents, distributing them to the relevant parties for implementation, monitoring the implementation, monitoring the versions of the software to be installed and carrying out trials to ensure that the product observes specifications.
Contact Centre
This centre supports and solves matters and addresses complaints made by the Group’s partners. It provides support either by phone or online by solving any technical or administrative problem that may occur during either the ECDL or the City & Guilds examinations. It also provides phone or online support for anyone who may have queries concerning the Group’s activities and makes outgoing calls of an informative nature or to promote sales.
Exams Department
This division approves the ECDL and City & Guilds exams, prepares them and conducts the examinations. It is responsible for the prompt recruitment of appropriate invigilators, examiners for the oral exams and the correction of scripts. It is also in charge of approving the ordering of certificates and other products of the Group. It handles the printing of the certificates as well as the supervision of the certificates. It makes suggestions concerning the exams and the exam procedure manuals. Finally, it provides support for proper and secure exam procedures carried out through the manual system, in accordance with the Exam Centre Operation Manual; for the evaluation procedure through the professionals who mark the exams; and for issuing results according to the Group’s system of procedures. At the same time, it makes suggestions concerning the manual system exam procedure.
Sales and Marketing Department
Sales
The Sales division maintains, supports and develops the sales network, aiming to boost sales by satisfying the company’s partners. This division promotes the products and services to the Group’s partners and local communities while also upholding its reputation and prestige. It creates and sustains good working relations with the company’s partners and public authorities. The members of this division design and implement sales promotion campaigns, observe the performance and efficiency of the partners and keep a close eye on the activity in regional and local markets.
Marketing
This division designs marketing strategies and tactical actions according to a business plan, aiming at achieving the company’s goals in terms of both quality and quantity. It develops and implements programmes that either create or fortify demand and designs promotion plans with the continuous upgrading of the corporate image and the improvement of company name and product/services recognition as its yardstick. It employs all available marketing tools that impact the corporate image, name recognition, customer satisfaction and consumer demand, such as advertising, direct mail shots, seminars, training, events, creation of sales material and Internet/intranet sites.
International Business Development Department
Supports Management in defining the international development strategy of the Group. Explores opportunities and coordinates the integration of new products in the Group activities. Coordinates the development and explores new channels of distribution for the products in the international market. Draws the strategic placement and promotion of the products of the Group on the international market. Coordinates the services provided by the offices abroad.
Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility Department
This department outlines the strategy and implements the action plan concerning Corporate Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility. All the activities are related to the desired Corporate Image regarding the various public affairs that interest the Group and that affect its operation in different ways. It therefore creates the tools needed to facilitate communication and convey the Group’s true image. As part of this plan, it develops and cultivates relations with the mass media, boosts publicity, organizes events, creates printed and digital or audio-visual material while also designing and implementing sponsorship programmes. This department ensures that corporate messages are clear and consistent and follow business strategies.
Quality and Business Excellence Department
This department is responsible for designing and implementing the corporate programme for managing quality according to ISO standards, as well as for conducting internal and external controls. It designs corporate procedures aiming to maintain quality, reliability and security while supervising these procedures through internal controls and controls of the network of partners. It schedules, activates and follows up the signing, renewal or termination of contracts and monitors instances of complaints by means of inspections.
Finance Department
This department carries out all of the Group’s financial work in accordance with the accounting system enforced by Greek legislation. It ensures the accuracy of accounting documents, prepares and checks the Group’s payrolls and makes payments to suppliers and those on the payroll. Lastly, it compiles monthly financial reports, budgets and annual reports.
Human Resources Department
This department ensures the smooth and efficient functioning of the Group’s companies in matters of human resources, aiming at observing policies and procedures as well as following the Group’s standards regarding managing human resources. It is responsible for staffing the organization, training, developing and assessing personnel as well as for making sure the Group’s bonus policy is followed.
Language Certification Department
The Language Certification Department is responsible for academically supporting the City & Guilds English language examinations as well for research and development of new language examinations in other European languages (Italian, German, French) and new methods of assessing language competence using technology. The department develops materials to support teachers, produces examination material, conducts seminars for teachers and selects and assesses academic staff to support the examinations (item writers, examiners, markers), while it is responsible in any case for ensuring that the academic quality of the assessments offered is of the highest standard.