Impellam Group PLC

Impellam Group PLC Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Rebecca Perry, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection date(s): 10–11 September 2019

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

800 The Boulevard Capability Green Luton LU1 3BA Monitoring visit: Impellam Group PLC, 10–11 September 2019

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Context and focus of visit

From October 2018, Ofsted undertook to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision which began to be funded from April 2017 or after by ESFA and/or the apprenticeship levy. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of those arrangements and as outlined in the ‘Further education and skills inspection handbook’, especially the sections entitled ‘Monitoring visits’ and ‘Monitoring visits to providers that are newly directly publicly funded’. The focus of these visits is on the themes set out below.

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Context and focus of visit

Impellam Group PLC (Impellam Group) is a specialist recruitment company providing services throughout the world. It is based in Luton and provides apprenticeships throughout the UK, primarily to client companies. The majority of apprentices are based with employers in the south east, London and the midlands. Most of the 181 apprentices are over 19 years old. Most are following a level 3 standards-based apprenticeship in team leading, business administration or customer service. Twenty- two apprentices are following a level 2 standards-based apprenticeship in these subjects and 13 follow the level 5 management apprenticeship. Impellam work with British Airways to provide 44 level 3 engineering apprenticeships on a mixture of standards and frameworks.

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Significant progress

Leaders plan programmes very effectively in partnership with employers. They establish accurately the existing skills and knowledge apprentices have at the start of their programmes. They use this information, along with their excellent knowledge of employers’ businesses, to ensure that apprentices make rapid progress in their learning programmes. For example, at British Airways, apprentices are assigned to different work areas based on their skill gaps and existing expertise.

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Significant progress

Leaders work effectively with existing Impellam Group clients to identify and recruit apprentices. They provide highly effective information, advice and guidance to all at the application stage to ensure that apprentices enrol on the right programme for them and their employer.

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Significant progress

Leaders ensure that programmes meet the principles of apprenticeship programmes in full. For example, they plan, track and review off-the-job training thoroughly to ensure that apprentices receive their full entitlement. Apprentices complete useful activities as part of this aspect of their learning. Monitoring visit: Impellam Group PLC, 10–11 September 2019 Leaders and managers have worked diligently to prepare themselves, employers and apprentices for their final assessments. They stay up to date with developments and changes to the apprenticeships and communicate this highly effectively to all involved. This includes up-to-date knowledge and preparation for changes to qualifications in English and mathematics.

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Significant progress

The managing director of apprenticeships provides highly effective challenge to senior managers. He supports them to provide high-quality apprenticeship programmes. Leaders provide honest and informative reports to the board which enable the board to challenge performance effectively. As a result, there has been swift improvement to the quality of the provision since the apprenticeship programmes began two years ago.

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Significant progress

Leaders track the progress apprentices make highly effectively. They use their up-to- date information about each apprentice’s progress to intervene swiftly when an apprentice falls behind. As a result, the vast majority of apprentices make excellent progress towards timely completion in all aspects of their apprenticeship.

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Significant progress

Apprentices quickly develop significant new knowledge, skills and behaviours. They apply new skills adeptly in their workplaces. Apprentices on team leading standards develop excellent coaching skills which they use to develop their team members further. Apprentices on business administration programmes understand legal implications of everyday tasks, such as minute-taking. Many apprentices gain additional responsibilities at work or advanced roles.

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Significant progress

Apprentices benefit greatly from individualised training programmes. Trainers accurately assess apprentices’ prior knowledge and skills at the start of training and understand apprentices’ job roles well. They meticulously plan training activities for each apprentice that enable rapid progress.

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Significant progress

Employers are fully committed to the apprenticeship programmes. For example, senior managers from employers attend off-the-job training sessions with their apprentices to share their experiences. They help guide apprentices to apply knowledge gained at training sessions to their specific work roles.

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Significant progress

Trainers are credible experts in their subject areas. They have the excellent skills, knowledge and expertise required to deliver high-quality training. They regularly complete professional development activities to stay up to date both in their subjects and in improving their teaching skills.

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Significant progress

Apprentices develop good skills in English and mathematics. Trainers are adept at helping apprentices improve these skills through training and link them effectively to Monitoring visit: Impellam Group PLC, 10–11 September 2019 apprentices’ workplaces. They adapt sessions to accommodate apprentices’ development needs in these subjects. For example, apprentices on level 2 programmes are supported to calculate percentages to understand their own performance in winning bids.

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Significant progress

Apprentices are fully aware of the requirements of their final examinations. Trainers have high expectations for their apprentices. They ensure that apprentices are aware of the grades they can achieve and that they aim for the highest standards in their work.

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Significant progress

Apprentices have a very good working knowledge of British values. They recognise how these values relate to their organisations’ values, and how they apply to the workplace. For example, apprentices consider unconscious bias when shortlisting from application forms.

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Significant progress

Leaders ensure that safeguarding is central to the apprenticeships. As a result, apprentices have a sound understanding of safeguarding, staying safe at work and outside of work. For example, apprentices working in finance can relate bribery and corruption to accounts and the law. Apprentices and their employers know how to report concerns about themselves or their peers.

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Significant progress

Staff, employers and apprentices understand well the policies and procedures designed to safeguard them. Leaders ensure that staff are suitable to work with young and/or vulnerable learners.

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Significant progress

Two leaders act as designated safeguarding leads (DSLs). Both have an excellent understanding of safeguarding and their responsibilities. Staff complete mandatory training in both safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty and receive regular updates from the well-qualified DSLs to ensure their full understanding of its importance. Leaders have an effective process in place to fully and promptly resolve any concerns raised. Monitoring visit: Impellam Group PLC, 10–11 September 2019 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

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Significant progress

children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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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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