Finance Cover & Training Ltd (Trading as Calibre Group)

Finance Cover & Training Ltd (Trading as Calibre Group) Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Gerard McGrath, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Fir Tree Mount Perry Green Much Hadham SG10 6EH Monitoring visit: Finance Cover & Training limited (trading as Calibre Group), 16-17 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

Calibre Group is an independent learning provider based in Hertfordshire. It is part of a larger limited company, Finance Cover & Training Ltd. They provide apprenticeship programmes to levy paying employers. At the time of the monitoring visit, they had 57 apprentices in learning, ten of whom are aged 16-18. Ten are working towards Level 3 qualifications in motor finance specialist, and 47 towards Level 4 qualifications in sales executive apprenticeships. Since the start of current government restrictions, all motor finance apprentices work from home. Those on sales executive programmes work from home, for at least part of their working week. All training is currently provided online.

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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

Senior leaders ensure that the curriculum matches closely to the business needs of the employers, and the development needs of apprentices. Mentors involve employers effectively in monitoring and planning apprentices’ training. As a result, employers know what skills and knowledge they can help apprentices gain through their job roles and activities. However, leaders do not yet have sufficient oversight to ensure that teaching and learning is of a consistently high standard, and existing governance arrangements are insufficient to provide appropriate help and advice to leaders.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders and managers monitor apprentices’ off-the-job training very effectively. They review the off-the-job activities that apprentices record to ensure that they are relevant to their apprenticeship. Mentors record in detail the contact they have with apprentices. As a result, managers have a close understanding of the Monitoring visit: Finance Cover & Training limited (trading as Calibre Group), 16-17 March 2021 training and support that each apprentice receives and ensure that they make good progress with their learning.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders and managers ensure that apprentices understand what they need to do to pass their final assessments. Mentors have outline plans indicating relevant activities to help apprentices prepare appropriately for exams. These are shared with apprentices so that they understand clearly how, and when, they will be assessed.

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Reasonable progress

Quality improvement arrangements are not strong enough to ensure consistently high-quality teaching and learning. Managers often sit in on training and support sessions. However, they do not use the cumulative results of these activities to inform staff appraisals, or to plan further development of mentors’ knowledge and skills in teaching. Mentors who provide training and support are suitably experienced in motor vehicle sales or finance services and are qualified assessors.

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Reasonable progress

Governance arrangements are insufficient. Senior leaders used the services of external consultants to help them to plan the initial apprenticeship programmes. They have yet to establish arrangements for ongoing external advice and scrutiny of the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.

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Significant progress

Apprentices develop a wide range of new knowledge and skills that extend beyond the requirements of the apprenticeship qualification. For example, apprentices are trained to manage conflict appropriately and successfully. They understand how best to deal with highly demanding customers who expect expert customer service.

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Significant progress

Apprentices demonstrate high levels of self- confidence, and expert digital and communication skills. At the time of the national lockdown, leaders introduced digital master classes. Executive sales apprentices learned how to present and sell luxury cars to clients who were unable to physically view and experience the car in person.

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Significant progress

Mentors plan effective individual support that apprentices need. They link skilfully the knowledge that apprentices gain through the completion of independently researched projects to their job roles. As a result, most achieve high grade passes in their final exams.

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Significant progress

Mentors work closely with workplace supervisors to help apprentices develop the skills and behaviours needed for their work role. For example, arranging for apprentices to work in different sales departments, so they develop good product knowledge and wider customer service skills. Consequently, apprentices relate these experiences to the knowledge they gain throughout their programmes. Monitoring visit: Finance Cover & Training limited (trading as Calibre Group), 16-17 March 2021 Employers value highly the improved work-related skills and behaviours developed by apprentices. For example, motor finance specialist apprentices become more confident in speaking to customers on the phone and use their digital skills to produce sales ideas for customers. Over time, they increase their skills in using computerised customer relations management systems and in their understanding of legislation on customer rights and credit control.

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Significant progress

Mentors provide apprentices with appropriate careers advice and guidance to help them achieve their short- and medium-term career plans. Workplace supervisors discuss potential job opportunities and internal career progression pathways with apprentices. Consequently, apprentices understand what promotion opportunities and new job roles are available to them within the motor trade.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders and managers have established a positive culture with the safety and well-being of apprentices at its core. They are well informed of all safeguarding issues through detailed reports at their frequent meetings. The designated safeguarding lead and managing director have a detailed overview of the small proportion of safeguarding cases. They ensure that vulnerable apprentices are supported appropriately and go on to succeed.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and follow safe working practices. Managers and mentors ensure that apprentices understand, in general, threats posed by extremism, radicalisation and terrorism. However, apprentices are insufficiently aware of local risks and how these might affect them in their daily lives. Monitoring visit: Finance Cover & Training limited (trading as Calibre Group), 16-17 March 2021 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for apprentices 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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