Manufacturing Excellence Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Manufacturing Excellence Limited

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Overall effectiveness Inadequate

The quality of education Inadequate Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Inadequate Apprenticeships Inadequate Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Manufacturing Excellence Limited is an independent learning provider based in Catterick, North Yorkshire. The company provides apprenticeships in lean manufacturing operations and business improvement techniques to a small number of manufacturing and engineering companies nationally. At the time of the inspection, there were 444 apprentices in training. Of these, 246 were on the standard for lean manufacturing operative at level 2, and 27 were on the standard for process leader at level 4. A further 159 apprentices were completing apprenticeship frameworks in business improvement techniques at level 2, and 12 were completing the framework in business improvement techniques at level 3. Most apprentices are over 25 years of age. 17–20 August 2021

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices do not benefit from a sufficiently ambitious curriculum. Too often, tutors teach subject matter that apprentices already know, and which does not challenge them. As a result, too many apprentices only reinforce their existing knowledge and do not develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Tutors do not ensure that apprentices have a thorough enough understanding of what is required to complete an apprenticeship successfully. This means that apprentices are not able to identify what they need to do to complete their apprenticeship, fulfil their potential and attain high grades in their final assessment.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices demonstrate professional behaviour in classroom training sessions and in the workplace. Their attendance and punctuality are good. Apprentices are considerate when communicating with others in their groups and are confident to challenge others’ views and contribute to discussion. Most apprentices develop a good understanding of how the principles of equality are applied in the workplace. As a result, they display positive and respectful attitudes to their tutors and their peers in the training activities that they undertake.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices feel safe and know how to stay safe in the workplace. They know what to do and who to contact if they have any concerns.

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better?

Leaders and managers do not identify apprentices’ existing skills and starting points well enough. Consequently, apprentices do not build on what they already know. For too many apprentices, the standard that they are working towards is not the most appropriate one for their training needs. A significant number of apprentices starting the level 2 standard for lean manufacturing operative have previously studied the level 2 framework in business improvement techniques, many with the same employer. These apprentices started their current apprenticeship standard having already attained an apprenticeship framework at the same level and with similar content. This means that they do not acquire significant new knowledge or develop substantial new skills and behaviours through their apprenticeship standard.

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better?

Tutors do not review progress or set next steps for individual apprentices well enough. They provide feedback to groups of apprentices on their performance as a team during collaborative projects. As the feedback is collective, it does not support individual apprentices to identify and improve their knowledge, skills and behaviours. Employers have too little involvement in individual progress reviews of apprentices. As a result, apprentices do not receive adequate feedback on the progress that they are making and do not know what they need to do to improve.

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better?

Leaders and managers do not ensure that apprentices receive adequate tuition in English and mathematics. Tutors reinforce use of English and mathematics skills during workplace activities. However, they lack the specialist knowledge and skills required to teach and 17–20 August 2021

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support apprentices who struggle with their literacy or numeracy skills. As a result, too many apprentices make slow progress in developing or improving their English and mathematics skills, and too few pass their English functional skills examinations.

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Staff do not provide impartial careers information and guidance to help apprentices decide on their next steps. Towards the end of their programmes, apprentices review the benefits of their studies and consider how they will apply these in their roles. However, too many apprentices do not know about career progression opportunities within their companies and beyond.

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Leaders and managers recruit tutors who have appropriate industry-relevant vocational knowledge and expertise, although few have teaching or training qualifications. They have produced a high-quality workbook for the lean manufacturing operative standard with resources and suggested approaches for tutors to use. Managers ensure that new tutors receive support to develop their training skills through, for example, shadowing more experienced colleagues, and they evaluate tutors’ training through observations. However, they do not provide constructive feedback following observations in order to enable tutors to improve their practice, and they do not identify weaknesses in tutors’ approach to assessment.

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Tutors embed British values into programmes well. Most apprentices understand their rights as citizens and how democracy, respecting others and valuing diversity can be applied in the workplace. They demonstrate British values at work and in their everyday lives.

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The level 4 process leader standard offers an appropriate progression route for those apprentices who have completed the level 2 framework in business improvement techniques and are new to management. The small number of apprentices on this programme value how the apprenticeship helps them to develop the confidence and skills to carry out aspects of their roles such managing other people at work, staff appraisals and project management.

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Leaders and managers have recently appointed a board of governors, but it is too soon to measure the impact of these new arrangements in terms of external oversight, support and challenge.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers place an appropriate emphasis on safeguarding apprentices, including carrying out relevant checks on staff. Designated safeguarding staff have completed appropriate training for their roles. All staff complete annual training in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff deal with any safeguarding concerns appropriately.

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Safeguarding

Apprentices know how to stay safe in their workplaces in manufacturing environments. They follow correct health and safety procedures when using 17–20 August 2021

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machinery, ensuring their own safety and that of their work colleagues. Apprentices discuss safeguarding in their group sessions, and most have an appropriate understanding of the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Assess the prior knowledge and skills of all apprentices against the requirements of the standards. Ensure that apprentices are enrolled on an appropriate apprenticeship for their job role that will allow them to develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours.  Ensure that tutors provide high-quality feedback to individual apprentices so that they make rapid progress in the development of new knowledge, skills and behaviours.  Ensure that apprentices receive the tuition they need to improve their English and mathematics skills and prepare them for their functional skills examinations.  Ensure that apprentices benefit from high-quality careers information, advice and guidance to support them to make informed choices about their careers or further learning.  Ensure that apprentices fully understand what they need to do to complete their apprenticeship successfully and achieve their full potential.

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Provider details

Address Innovate Chartermark Way Colburn Business Park Catterick Garrison Colburn Catterick North Yorkshire DL9 4QJ

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Provider details

Website www.manufacturingexcellence.co.uk

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected 17–20 August 2021

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the technical director, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising apprentices’ work, seeking the views of apprentices, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Cath Jackson, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Pat Hornsby Ofsted Inspector Andrew Scanlan Ofsted Inspector Debra Forsythe-Conroy Ofsted Inspector Marina Gaze Ofsted Inspector Alison Gray Ofsted Inspector 17–20 August 2021

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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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