Hyper Island Limited

Hyper Island Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Helen Whelan, Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection dates: 27 to 28 April 2022

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider Address: Lever Street Manchester M1 1DW Monitoring visit: Hyper Island Limited, 27 to 28 April 2022

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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 the Education and Skills Funding Agency 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

Hyper Island Limited has provided apprenticeships in leadership and management since May 2020. At the time of the monitoring visit, 38 apprentices were on the level 3 team leader apprenticeship standard and 17 were on the level 7 senior leader apprenticeship standard. Apprentices are based in businesses in Manchester, London, Gloucestershire and Surrey. All apprentices are aged over 18.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have selected and developed the curriculum effectively. They use their leadership and technical expertise to plan high-quality training that meets the needs of large global communication businesses.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices enjoy coherent, well-structured training. They develop substantial new and occupationally specific knowledge, skills and behaviours. Programme leads place particular emphasis on learning through practical, engaging tasks. For example, after learning different coaching techniques, apprentices use these methods to help other employees evaluate their own performance. This supports them to determine goals and identify solutions to obstacles. As a result, apprentices quickly apply their new learning in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Programme leads and coaches set high standards for what apprentices can achieve. They ensure apprentices apply and extend their learning. Apprentices are keen to learn and undertake extensive wider reading and research.

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Reasonable progress

Most apprentices benefit from high-quality, professional resources, including a variety of digital tools. Programme leads and coaches are suitably qualified and have relevant industrial knowledge. This ensures that most training is relevant and of an appropriate standard. However, level 7 apprentices are unable to access appropriate journals. As a result, their work lacks academic analysis. Monitoring visit: Hyper Island Limited, 27 to 28 April 2022 Programme leads ensure that the curriculum is current and driven by employers’ needs. They include guest lectures from industry experts in their training programme. Programme leads assess apprentices through realistic assignment briefs developed with employers. This helps apprentices to understand the different approaches to leadership.

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Reasonable progress

Managers understand what they do well and what they need to do to improve. However, they are approaching capacity with their workload. They have yet to implement the quality assurance processes they have planned. At present, there are no governance arrangements to hold managers to account.

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Reasonable progress

Employers swiftly benefit from apprentices’ new knowledge, skills and behaviours. Level 3 apprentices are keen to take on more responsibilities at work. They lead meetings and support senior leaders with important tasks. Level 7 apprentices critically review business practices to bring about improvements.

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Reasonable progress

Programme leaders identify apprentices’ prior skills and experiences at the start of the course. They use coaching skills well to find out if there are any gaps in apprentices’ learning. Apprentices are on the correct level of apprenticeship. Although many team leader apprentices have degrees or equivalent qualifications, they have limited experience as line managers. The level 3 team leader apprenticeship supports them well to develop the skills they need in entry-level management roles.

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Reasonable progress

Programme leaders use well-devised formative assessment tasks to check apprentices’ understanding. Apprentices’ work is of a high standard. At the start of the course, programme leads introduce apprentices to the requirements of their final assessment. However, apprentices and employers are not fully aware of what this will entail and as a result are not yet fully prepared.

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Reasonable progress

The vast majority of apprentices have already achieved English and mathematics at level 2 and above. Those who have not receive support to achieve the qualifications through drop-in sessions and online resources. They make at least reasonable progress in developing these skills. Apprentices learn to use a range of unfamiliar digital platforms for communication. They quickly transfer this learning to the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Coaches undertake well-planned coaching sessions with apprentices and employers. Apprentices produce extensive reflections on their learning. Coaches review apprentices’ progress accurately. They provide helpful feedback about what apprentices are doing well and how they can improve. Apprentices receive support to Monitoring visit: Hyper Island Limited, 27 to 28 April 2022 catch up if they fall behind in their studies. Programme leads provide resources that apprentices have missed. They offer them a peer support system and targeted coaching meetings .

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed a positive culture around safeguarding. They know their apprentices well and care about their welfare. They have appointed a designated safeguarding lead who is suitably qualified and trained. They have in place appropriate procedures to manage safeguarding referrals. Managers ensure they recruit staff safely.

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Reasonable progress

Managers take reasonable steps to meet the requirements of the ‘Prevent’ duty. They introduce apprentices to key safeguarding topics at the start of their course and revisit these at appropriate intervals. As a result, apprentices feel safe and know how to report any concerns they have. They have a reasonable grasp of the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism.

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Reasonable progress

Coaches reinforce the importance of safeguarding when they review apprentices’ progress. They also ensure apprentices reflect on their safeguarding responsibilities as managers. For example, the signs to look out for in employees who may experience mental health problems. Monitoring visit: Hyper Island Limited, 27 to 28 April 2022 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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