Guard Business Solutions Limited

Guard Business Solutions Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Nigel Bragg, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Suite G First Floor Market Hall Chesterfield Derbyshire S40 1AR Monitoring visit: Guard Business Solutions Limited, 29–30 October 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

Guard Business Solutions Limited (GBS) is based in Chesterfield. The company started to deliver apprenticeship training in November 2018. GBS delivers standards- based apprenticeships through the employer levy. Currently, GBS has 53 apprentices, of whom 21 are operations/departmental manager apprentices studying at level 5. In addition, 15 business administration apprentices and 13 team leader/supervisor apprentices are studying at level 3. The remainder are infrastructure technician, software development technician or digital marketer apprentices studying at level 3. GBS does not subcontract any of the apprenticeship provision.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders have built on the strengths within their consultancy business to implement a clear strategy for information technology, and leadership and management apprenticeships. Productive collaborative working between managers and employees ensures that GBS only recruits individuals who can benefit from apprenticeship training. Managers have taken care not to contract with employers who do not commit fully to the development of their apprentices. The programmes meet the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders have made appropriate arrangements for apprentices to complete the end-point assessment (EPA). They make sure that employers are aware of the testing procedures and apprentices’ readiness. At the time of the monitoring visit, both apprentices who had undertaken the EPA had passed.

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Reasonable progress

Governance arrangements are adequate. They hold directors to account for their actions in developing and implementing programmes that meet apprentices’ and employers’ needs. This challenge has led to the adoption of better practices that improve the quality of apprentices’ learning experiences. Monitoring visit: Guard Business Solutions Limited, 29–30 October 2019 A detailed strategy for developing apprentices’ knowledge and skills in English, mathematics, and information and communication technology is in place. However, managers acknowledge that delays in implementing the required support have slowed the development of a minority of apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders have suitable oversight of apprentices’ progress in developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours. Managers use an appropriate range and variety of information to manage programme performance. However, they have not yet established comprehensive staff and programme targets to aid monitoring.

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Reasonable progress

Quality assurance arrangements are adequate. Senior managers have a good awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship programmes. Leaders recently introduced processes that place an appropriate emphasis on developing trainers’ professional practices. However, the improvement plan does not have enough measurable and challenging targets. This limits managers’ capacity to raise the standard of training rapidly.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices are developing new knowledge, skills and behaviours that make them more effective in the workplace. For example, apprentices were able to apply recently acquired competence in conflict resolution to deal successfully with challenging customers. Many apprentices develop good thinking skills, resulting in more efficient team-working processes.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from opportunities to work independently when undertaking workplace projects that meet employers’ needs. For example, apprentices are developing and establishing processes to increase business efficiency. This work is leading to the saving of considerable expense and waste.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices receive good-quality on- and-off-the-job training. Well-qualified trainers plan clear, logical curricula that build on apprentices’ prior learning, attainment and experience. They deliver creative sessions that apprentices enjoy attending. Apprentices particularly like opportunities to discuss case studies, compare different management approaches to work-based problems and make presentations. Trainers link taught session content skilfully to apprentices’ employment contexts. This helps apprentices to become more effective employees as they utilise their off-the-job learning at work.

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Reasonable progress

The detail and usefulness of trainers’ feedback to apprentices requires improvement. Not all apprentices are fully aware of the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to develop further. Support for a minority of apprentices fails to be rapid enough to help them to catch up quickly when they fall behind. Monitoring visit: Guard Business Solutions Limited, 29–30 October 2019 Trainers establish apprentices’ starting points appropriately before they begin their programme. They record assessment outcomes accurately in apprentices’ electronic portfolios. Too often apprentices have a weak understanding of their knowledge and skills development needs in English and mathematics. These apprentices have a poor awareness of how to improve further. A minority of apprentices have not undertaken enough learning to prepare them for functional skills examinations, despite being at an advanced stage in their programme.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders have established safeguarding arrangements that protect all apprentices and staff. Appropriate policies and procedures are subject to regular review to maintain their relevance. Trainers and the designated safeguarding officers receive relevant training. They make good use of it to update employers on how to ensure apprentices’ well-being.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers work closely with apprentices to raise their awareness of how to safeguard themselves. Apprentices have a good understanding of how to stay safe when using social media. They have a sound appreciation of the dangers associated with radicalisation and extremism. Consequently, apprentices report correctly that they feel protected while they are training and working.

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Reasonable progress

Close collaboration between training staff and employers allows for early identification of apprentices who could be subject to harm. These apprentices receive suitable help that addresses effectively their concerns. However, managers acknowledge that incident recording needs to improve to facilitate effective trend analysis. Monitoring visit: Guard Business Solutions Limited, 29–30 October 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 children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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