KBM Training and Recruitment Ltd

KBM Training and Recruitment Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Rebecca Jennings, Her Majesty's Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Unit 1a Concorde Business Centre Concord Road London W3 0TJ Monitoring visit: KBM Training and Recruitment Limited, 5 and 6 July 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

KMB training and recruitment (KBM) is an independent training provider based in west London. KBM began delivering apprenticeships in 2021. In 2018, it gained a direct contract to provide apprenticeships and continues to act as a subcontractor teaching adult education programmes and traineeships. At the time of the visit, KBM offered apprenticeship training from level 2 to level 4 in accountancy standards. There were eleven apprentices studying the level 3 accounting assistant standard and one apprentice studying the level 4 professional accounting or taxation technician standard.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders offer an ambitious programme that prepares apprentices well to take on roles as assistant accountants. The apprenticeship is a clear pathway for learners to progress into full time employment. Apprentices quickly gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they need to perform accounting tasks at work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have access to sound apprenticeship expertise. Leaders monitor closely apprentices’ progress, their attendance, and their entitlement to training time. Managers complete commitment statements with employers and tailor training to meet their needs. As a result, they meet the requirements of an apprenticeship programme.

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Reasonable progress

Staff conduct suitably frequent reviews of apprentices’ progress. However, reviews do not accurately reflect the progress apprentices make towards their overall apprenticeship. As a result, apprentices do not recognise their overall skill development.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders provide access to professional equipment and include valuable training for apprentices on a wide range of accounting software and qualifications, which go Monitoring visit: KBM Training and Recruitment Limited, 5 and 6 July 2022 beyond the requirements of the apprenticeship standard. For example, tutors teach apprentices to use internal payroll software. Employers value that apprentices can conduct payroll activities confidently from early in their programme. As a result of their training, apprentices take on new responsibilities at work.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a reasonable overview of the quality of the apprenticeship training. For example, they can identify key areas of strength and for improvement. They review and improve the accountancy training. As a result, the curriculum content reflects the needs of industry closely.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders do not yet have strong enough governance arrangements. As a result, they have not considered some areas of weakness quickly enough. For example, they have not arranged suitable training for the small number of apprentices who need to complete English and mathematics qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

Teaching staff have high levels of expertise in accounting. However, leaders have not ensured that staff have suitable training to develop their teaching skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have designed a curriculum, through which apprentices rapidly gain new knowledge and skills in the accountancy profession. A high number of apprentices progress to level 3 after completing a level 2 programme. Staff teach a thorough curriculum that includes qualifications valued by apprentices and employers. All apprentices study the advanced diploma in accounting as part of their course. As a result, apprentices gain the professional recognition they need to work in the sector.

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Reasonable progress

Managers check the prior accountancy knowledge of each apprentice thoroughly to ensure they are placed on the right level of programme. However, tutors do not routinely receive this information to plan individualised training for apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors teach their curriculum in an appropriate order for apprentices to build on their knowledge and skills. Tutors monitor apprentices’ progress closely. Apprentices apply their off-the-job learning effectively at work. For example, apprentices use their knowledge of depreciation of assets to support qualified accountants to prepare client accounts.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors guide apprentices through example scenarios to complete new accountancy tasks, such as bank reconciliation and advanced spreadsheets. As a result, apprentices become more confident and competent at work. Monitoring visit: KBM Training and Recruitment Limited, 5 and 6 July 2022 Tutors frequently and skilfully question apprentices to check their understanding. Where necessary, tutors revisit topics to ensure apprentices gain an in-depth knowledge. Tutors respond quickly to any questions apprentices have outside of lessons. They provide appropriate feedback to apprentices with advice on how to improve. Staff ensure that apprentices understand the requirements of their final assessments. As a result, apprentices are clear about the grades available to them and aspire to achieve highly.

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Reasonable progress

Too often, staff do not ensure that employers are present in reviews of apprentices’ progress. As a result, employers do not have sufficient involvement in target setting or details of off-the-job training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place a clear set of policies and reporting procedures to help to keep learners safe. They follow safer recruitment practices. For example, they check staff are safe to work with vulnerable people.

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Reasonable progress

Staff, including the designated safeguarding lead, are appropriately trained, including in topics such as protecting against bribery and corruption in the workplace. As a result, apprentices are aware of who to talk to, and would talk to them, if they had any concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have conducted a 'Prevent' risk assessment, considering the key risks to apprentices. They train apprentices about ethics in accounting, which includes the issue of money laundering. However, this is too late in apprentices’ programmes. Leaders email newsletters to apprentices about relevant safeguarding topics, but do not follow these up. As a result, apprentices do not have an in-depth understanding of some of the risks that might affect them, such as extremism and radicalisation. Monitoring visit: KBM Training and Recruitment Limited, 5 and 6 July 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

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Reasonable progress

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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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