Business Transfer Agent Ltd

Business Transfer Agent Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Sambit Sen, Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Cranfield University Innovation Centre University Way Cranfield Bedford MK43 0BT Monitoring visit: Business Transfer Agent Limited, 22–23 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

Business Transfer Agent Limited is an independent learning provider offering management apprenticeships across England. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 16 apprentices in learning. It provides apprenticeship qualifications in level 3 team leader or supervisor and level 5 operations or departmental manager.

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Context and focus of visit

Since the start of the national pandemic, Business Transfer Agent Limited has had to move all its face-to-face training and assessments online. Most apprentices are currently working on site. However, they continue to learn online as employers restricted the access of tutors on their premises.

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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 ensure that the programme meets all the principles and requirements of an apprenticeship. Employers and apprentices fully understand their responsibilities, including the requirements of on- and off-the-job training. However, apprentices are not clear about the requirements of the end-of-qualification assessment, and their line managers are not involved effectively in reviewing their ongoing learning.

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Reasonable progress

Senior leaders work effectively with employers to design the apprenticeship. Senior leaders ensure that employers and apprentices recognise the business and personal benefits of the course. For example, employers link job promotion opportunities to the completion of the qualification. As a result, apprentices learn relevant subject content and can apply it effectively to their new job roles when they are promoted. Monitoring visit: Business Transfer Agent Limited, 22–23 March 2021 Leaders recruit apprentices onto the appropriate qualification effectively. Apprentices value the new knowledge they learn and apply it in their workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders assess the quality of training effectively. They have appropriate oversight of the main elements of training. They use the regular feedback about the quality of teaching and learning they gain from apprentices and employers to refine and improve the training offer.

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Reasonable progress

Governors have good oversight of the quality of training. They provide appropriate support and challenge to senior leaders. As a result, leaders are confident that the steps they are taking to improve the quality of learning are suitable and proportionate.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors do not involve line managers effectively in reviewing the progress of apprentices. As a result, managers often do not prioritise the everyday work of apprentices to enable them to apply and practise their knowledge and learning in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors personalise the course content by including additional training that is specific to individual organisations. For example, in addition to apprentices learning about project management and finance principles, tutors give demonstrations of company- specific management tools. This helps apprentices to apply theoretical management concepts in their workplace and to become better managers.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors have transitioned from face-to-face to online training effectively. They have developed appropriate materials and make good use of technology to provide learning. As a result, apprentices remain motivated to learn and continue to attend their sessions regularly.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices receive effective support from their tutors. For example, tutors regularly discuss with their apprentices how to manage workload and coursework submissions. As a result, apprentices progress at an appropriate pace in their learning despite the challenges of the national pandemic.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors do not give good developmental feedback to apprentices. Their feedback does not help apprentices to know what they need to do to achieve higher grades in their end-of-course assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel and are safe at their work. They know what to do and whom to contact if they have any safeguarding concerns. However, their understanding of the Monitoring visit: Business Transfer Agent Limited, 22–23 March 2021 risks associated with radicalisation and extremism in relation to their personal and professional lives is underdeveloped. For example, apprentices do not understand the local risks they potentially face within the regions in which they work.

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Reasonable progress

Managers and tutors regularly check the welfare and well-being of apprentices. They are knowledgeable about how to identify any signs of potential concern, including those brought about by the recent pandemic. As a result, apprentices feel confident in discussing any issues and are well supported by their tutors. Monitoring visit: Business Transfer Agent Limited, 22–23 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

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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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