Manufacturing Excellence Limited

Manufacturing Excellence Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Rachel Angus HMI

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Innovate Chartermark Way Colburn Business Park Colburn Catterick Garrison North Yorkshire DL9 4QJ Monitoring visit: Manufacturing Excellence Limited, 8–9 October 2018

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Context and focus of visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of a series of monitoring visits to a sample of new apprenticeship training providers that are funded through the apprenticeship levy. Ofsted’s intention to carry out monitoring visits to these new providers was first announced by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector in November 2017. The focus of these visits is on the three themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Manufacturing Excellence Limited is a privately owned independent learning provider which specialises in providing apprenticeships in business improvement techniques to a range of manufacturing and engineering companies. In March 2017, the company began to train apprentices funded through the apprenticeship levy and, in January 2018, received funding to train apprentices from non-levy-paying employers. There are currently around 400 apprentices in training, all following apprenticeship frameworks. The very large majority of current apprentices are studying at level 2.

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Reasonable progress

Directors have a carefully considered strategy to specialise in supporting employers and training apprentices in business improvement techniques. Senior leaders have considerable expertise in engineering, manufacturing and the principles of lean production. Managers form effective relationships with employers and design apprenticeship training that meets the requirements of the individual companies that they work with. Trainers ensure that they understand fully the ways in which apprentices will implement business improvement techniques in each company. They use this understanding very well to plan training and assessments for apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Managers ensure that they review carefully how effectively training meets the initial goals that were set with employers. This process highlights that the training provided has a significant positive impact on the organisations employing the apprentices. For example, apprentices employed in a large motor vehicle manufacturer present their detailed understanding of the process of single minute exchange of die to national company representatives. They demonstrate thoroughly the new skills that they have learned on their programme and the positive impact that this has had on their branch of the company.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop new skills as a result of the training that they receive. For example, they calculate accurately and in detail the cost of production line rejects Monitoring visit: Manufacturing Excellence Limited, 8–9 October 2018 and implement improvement techniques to reduce the number of rejects. Apprentices compile comprehensive risk registers and implement sensible actions to mitigate risks, demonstrating an improved understanding of business risk.

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Reasonable progress

Managers plan apprentices’ training well and the vast majority of apprentices receive their entitlement to off-the-job training. Trainers visit the companies regularly and apprentices work on tasks and projects away from their normal job role in between training sessions. However, staff do not monitor well enough the extent to which apprentices receive their full entitlement. As a result, managers are slow to intervene on the few occasions where apprentices do not receive their full entitlement. Managers recognise this and have introduced a process to monitor training that takes place but it is too early to identify the impact of this.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders ensure that apprentices receive helpful initial information about the programme and an induction before they enrol. This ensures that apprentices understand the requirements of the apprenticeship and the commitment expected of them to be successful. For many apprentices, the programme follows a significant period away from education, and senior leaders successfully allay apprentices’ fears about returning to study. Apprentices do not receive sufficient individual advice and guidance based on their starting points and individual career aspirations. Consequently, a small minority are not clear about how their training will benefit their career.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use their skills and knowledge well to engage and motivate apprentices in their learning. They relate the theory of business improvement very well to the workplaces in which they provide the training. They use assessment techniques in lessons effectively to challenge apprentices and adapt sessions well as a result of their assessment of apprentices’ progress. Trainers use probing questions that deepen apprentices’ understanding by, for example, asking apprentices to provide detailed examples of the use of improvement audits in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices enjoy their training and they benefit from their trainers’ experience and knowledge. Trainers plan group activities well. These provide apprentices with the opportunity to develop teamworking skills and gain an increased understanding of the workplace beyond their own job role. Apprentices recognise the new skills that they are developing and how to apply these at work. For example, they carry out thorough audits of waste in different areas of their workplace. This enables them to understand fully the positive impact of implementing business improvement techniques in their companies. Monitoring visit: Manufacturing Excellence Limited, 8–9 October 2018 Apprentices receive regular one-to-one reviews of their progress with their trainers, during which they receive helpful feedback on how to improve the quality of their work. Most apprentices’ employers are appropriately involved in reviewing the

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Reasonable progress

progress that apprentices are making and the impact that this has on their work.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and trainers monitor the progress that apprentices make very well. Trainers quickly identify apprentices who fall behind and provide effective strategies for them to catch up. Current apprentices make at least expected progress, and many are making good progress.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use well-planned activities that relate English and mathematics to the work tasks that apprentices complete. For example, the accurate completion of standard operating procedures develops apprentices’ English and mathematics skills. However, trainers do not use information about apprentices’ strengths and weaknesses in English or mathematics quickly enough to target precisely which skills individual apprentices need to improve. Opportunities for apprentices who already have qualifications in English and mathematics to develop these skills further are limited.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have put a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place and review it regularly. They have considerable expertise in safeguarding. Leaders and managers ensure that all staff have pre-employment checks before their employment begins and they record this information appropriately.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead and the deputy safeguarding lead have received relevant training and provide helpful guidance to trainers about their role in ensuring that apprentices are safe.

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Reasonable progress

Managers have invested in a useful digital application that trainers use each time they deliver a training session to apprentices. This enables apprentices to report any concerns they may have, including safeguarding issues. Staff take swift and considered action when apprentices raise any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Although apprentices receive training on safeguarding on their programme, they have only a basic understanding and limited recall of issues related to safeguarding and the dangers of radicalisation and extremism. Managers have very recently implemented measures to improve this aspect of the training but the impact of these is not yet evident. Monitoring visit: Manufacturing Excellence Limited, 8–9 October 2018 the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . Learner View Learner View is a website where learners can tell Ofsted what they think about their college or provider. They can also see what other learners think about them too. To find out more go to

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Reasonable progress

Employer View Employer View is a website where employers can tell Ofsted what they think about their employees’ college or provider. They can also see what other employers think about them too. To find out more go to www.employerview.ofsted.gov.uk .

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to

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the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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