Leaders In Business Ltd

Leaders in Business Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Sharon Dowling, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

3 Russell Street Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 5QA Monitoring visit: Leaders in Business Limited, 25—26 March 2021

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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

Leaders in Business Limited is an independent learning provider based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. The provider has held a contract to deliver apprenticeships since 2017. At the time of the visit, there were 83 apprentices in learning, all were standards-based. Forty three were studying IT solutions technician level 3, 14 were studying retail customer services at levels 2 and 3, eight were studying operations/departmental manager level 4, eight were studying business administrator level 3, with the remainder on digital support technician level 3, infrastructure technician level 3 and team leader/supervisor level 3.

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Context and focus of visit

The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been taken into account in the findings and progress judgements below.

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Reasonable Progress

Leaders and governors have a clear strategy for growth, with a focus on supporting small businesses to access apprenticeship provision. They have developed effective relationships with employers, fostering a partnership approach to training. They work closely with employers to ensure the standard selected is the most appropriate for the needs of the employer and the apprentice.

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Reasonable Progress

Leaders have a clear understanding of the areas for improvement, identifying feedback on apprentices’ work and English and mathematics as priorities. They have put in place strategies to bring about improvements, including the appointment of and English and mathematics trainer. Some impact is evident, for example with emerging improvements in feedback, however, due to the early stages of implementation, the effects of these interventions cannot yet be seen across all provision. Monitoring visit: Leaders in Business Limited, 25—26 March 2021 Leaders work closely with employers to support the re-engagement and completion of apprenticeships transferring in from another provider. For example, working with an employer - The Staffing Group - they completed detailed reviews of the progress of apprentices, developing revised training plans and working closely to map activity to the workplace to improve engagement of both apprentices and workplace

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Reasonable Progress

Leaders have implemented a revised quality assurance process consisting of a range of activity, including monitoring targets, audits, and observations. Leaders meet regularly with trainers and skills coaches to discuss the progress of apprentices and agree actions to support apprentices’ achievement. Inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and learning across the apprenticeships offered indicate that the quality assurance activity is not yet having the full impact needed.

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Reasonable Progress

Leaders have established a board of governance with appropriately experienced members. In the short period since it first convened in May 2020, the board has met regularly, providing challenge and support to leaders on key issues. Board members use their professional networks to support leadership, including the identification of a new skills coach to support improvements in leadership and management and customer service apprenticeships.

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Reasonable Progress

Most apprentices are developing new knowledge, skills, and behaviours. They perform additional duties and have new responsibilities. Apprentices in IT solutions explain how they can install new operating systems, configure appropriate back-up measures, and apply different user permissions for employees across the business.

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Reasonable Progress

Trainers and skills coaches have made clear links between on- and off-the-job learning for apprentices, who have been able to continue with their normal day-to-day work during the pandemic. For example, customer services apprentices described using theory they had learned to develop new techniques for managing telephone conversations with challenging customers.

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Reasonable Progress

T rainers and skills coaches do not routinely support apprentices to develop their English skills. Many apprentices speak English as a second language and require a high level of support to improve. Trainers and skills coaches over-rely on the completion of mock- papers, rather than teaching new concepts, and they do not use assessment to check learning has taken place. As a result, many apprentices are not making the progress they need to in the development of these skills.

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Reasonable Progress

Skills coaches do not ensure all apprentices routinely receive timely feedback on their work. Where apprentices on the level 3 IT solutions technician course have achieved the required standard of work, they do not receive developmental feedback. When they do, Monitoring visit: Leaders in Business Limited, 25—26 March 2021 this is often at their next formal review, which may not take place for several weeks. As a result, these apprentices are not routinely challenged to improve the standard of their work beyond the minimum standard required.

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Reasonable Progress

Management and customer services apprentices have a clear understanding of the end- point assessment and develop challenging project ideas linked to their workplace. In preparation, skills coaches effectively support apprentices to improve their presentation skills and prepare detailed question responses, encouraging apprentices to achieve high grades.

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Reasonable Progress

Skills coaches discuss progression opportunities for apprentices within their workplace. However, they do not routinely provide careers advice and guidance beyond the apprentices’ workplace.

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Reasonable Progress

Leaders and trainers have made sure that that they have in place processes to ensure the safety of apprentices. The designated safeguarding officer is appropriately trained and regularly accesses updates on emerging issues from safeguarding boards in the areas in which they deliver apprenticeships - such as Kent, Oxfordshire, and Birmingham.

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Reasonable Progress

Apprentices complete a range of safeguarding modules at the beginning of their programme. For example, they complete a range of Education and Training Foundation modules on online safety. They share how this training has improved their knowledge about staying safe when working online. However, leaders and trainers do not ensure that safeguarding is routinely discussed throughout the apprenticeship journey. Skills coaches do not regularly discuss safeguarding during reviews. As a result, apprentices do not routinely recall and deepen safeguarding knowledge.

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Reasonable Progress

Apprentices feel well-supported and welcome well-being checks made by trainers and skills coaches being during online sessions. Monitoring visit: Leaders in Business Limited, 25—26 March 2021 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.

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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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