Criterion Partnership's quest: Company history and mission
Criterion's history
Criterion Partnership was founded as an unincorporated partnership (Criterion Partnership) by Richard Hunter in 1991. It now operates as a limited company (Criterion Partnership Limited) which is owned entirely by its directors.
In Criterion Partnership's first year of trading, the development of two product ranges was sponsored by client organisations. Ford sponsored the development of tests and a personality questionnaire for roles in manufacturing: these were published as the Criterion Workforce Series. South Western Electricty Board sponsored the development of a range of materials for implementing self-development programmes: these were published as part of our range of self-development materials.
During the next six years (1993-1998), Criterion Partnership added products steadily. Throughout these years Criterion Partnership's primary aim was to develop a comprehensive range of assessment and development products to be used by HR professionals and consultants. The development philosophy centred on the provision of instruments that are more practical, user-friendly and penetrating in their impact than anything else that is available.
In later years (1998-2002) Criterion Partnership published its first brochure and website, which described the range of products and services developed during the preceding five years. At the end of 2002 Criterion Partnership evolved into a new structure of share ownership, which enabled the key consultants to become more deeply involved in the future of the company. The office was relocated from Lewes to Brighton.
In recent years we have grown more dramatically as a business in terms of our team and our portfolio of clients. We have developed a market leading specialism in the areas of online assessment and leadership development programmes.
Criterion's mission
At Criterion Partnership we believe that in order to make a difference to businesses, and to the people who work in business environments, it is vital to have a deep understanding of the human condition.
To make successful choices about people in commercial settings it is essential to appreciate the individual's experience of humanity. Our quest, therefore, is to pursue an ever-greater understanding of the human condition, with a view to applying this knowledge to people at work.
We do this by ensuring that we understand not only the business needs, but also the human implications associated with new initiatives. Consequently our interventions are characterised by the constructive integration of commercial understanding with sensitivity to human emotions and motivations.
The development philosophy we employ as a basis for our products and services ensures that they are more practical, user-friendly and penetrating in their impact than anything else that is available.
