Finance Cover & Training Ltd (Trading as Calibre Group)

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Finance Cover & Training Ltd (Trading as Calibre Group)

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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Information about this provider

Finance Cover and Training Limited is an independent learning provider which provides apprenticeship training to motor dealerships across the country. At the time of the inspection, there were 22 apprentices in training. More than half of the apprentices study level 4 sales executive apprenticeship. The remaining apprentices are working towards level 2 customer service practitioner apprenticeships. Nearly a third of the apprentices are aged 16 to 18. Training is currently provided online. Finance Cover and Training Limited does not work with any subcontractors. At the time of the inspection, there were no apprentices in receipt of high-needs funding. 7 to 9 December 2022

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

Apprentices swiftly develop highly effective sales techniques and customer service skills. This helps them to become invaluable team members by quickly learning to work independently. Apprentices are commended by their employers for their good contribution to increasing the percentage of cars the dealership sells. Apprentices frequently receive recognition for dealing with complex customer queries and providing exceptional customer experience at the workplace.

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

Apprentices have a good understanding of how to keep themselves mentally and physically healthy. Leaders and mentors carefully plan a curriculum to enable apprentices to develop a positive mindset and healthy lifestyle. This enables apprentices to perform effectively in the highly pressurised environment of selling prestigious cars.

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

Apprentices learn to be highly resilient to the challenges of their changing job roles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, apprentices learned new strategies to achieve vehicle sales targets. While working from home, they learned to use new approaches to selling cars, such as meeting potential customers online. Some of these techniques have now been adopted by their workplaces as standard practice.

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

Apprentices are safe and know who they need to report any incidences to. They are highly alert and follow safe working practices at their workplace. Apprentices ensure that they plan their routes and vet customers appropriately before taking them on test drives.

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better?

Leaders have designed a highly effective curriculum to meet the needs of the motor dealership employers they work with. They work collaboratively with employers to improve the sales and service roles in the motor industry through high-quality apprenticeship training. Apprentices on the level 4 sales executive course benefit from additional topics, such as learning about employers’ dress codes, financial conduct laws and marketing strategies. As a result, apprentices receive training specific to the business needs of the employers they work for.

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better?

Leaders and mentors are highly effective in establishing the starting points of apprentices. Apprentices go through a rigorous selection process to secure their positions. They complete several assessments, including online video presentations, multiple interviews and assessments of prior skills and experience. This enables mentors to personalise the learning to meet the needs of the apprentices effectively. Apprentices are highly motivated to complete their course and progress in their roles.

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better?

Apprentices benefit from the significant experience and specialist knowledge of their mentors. Mentors update their industry knowledge through frequent and highly relevant industry training. They use a range of relevant teaching techniques to check 7 to 9 December 2022

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that apprentices understand complex concepts effectively. As a result, apprentices can recall key concepts in detail several months after they have studied them and can clearly apply what they learn to their workplace.

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Apprentices improve their English skills through the highly effective feedback they receive from their mentors. This helps apprentices to promptly develop their written and verbal communication skills when dealing with customers. Apprentices continue to develop their mathematics skills, using them effectively at work, for example helping customers make complex car financing decisions.

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Apprentices have an excellent understanding of their career choices within the motor sales industry and the steps they need to take to realise their aspirations. Apprentices have a detailed knowledge of the roles and careers they can pursue in the motor sales industry because throughout their apprenticeship they experience the different functions of the business, such as sales, car finance and insurance packages, after-sales service and repair, during their apprenticeship. However, apprentices do not receive independent ongoing careers advice and guidance, therefore they do not always have a good understanding of their transferable skills and how they may use these skills in other careers.

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Governors use their education and motor industry knowledge and experience effectively. They use this to support and challenge senior leaders about the quality of the training they provide. Governors have regular discussions with apprentices and employers to satisfy themselves of the quality of apprentices’ learning experiences. The information they glean helps leaders to take appropriate steps to improve the quality of education and training.

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Leaders do not have an effective strategy to support those apprentices who require more help to complete their studies. Mentors are not trained to identify those apprentices that require more help. As a result, a few apprentices do not receive the timely support from their mentors and employers that they require to progress through their qualifications.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and mentors place the highest priority on maintaining the welfare and well- being of apprentices. They ensure that employers provide the right support to apprentices in the workplace to help them manage a positive work-life balance. Apprentices have a good understanding of the risks of online media and how to keep themselves and their customers’ information safe online. They know and follow strict safe working protocols when they work in the repair and maintenance department of the business. 7 to 9 December 2022

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Leaders and staff take swift actions to provide appropriate help to apprentices. Staff liaise with external stakeholders, such as therapists, to ensure that apprentices receive the necessary help they need.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that mentors receive appropriate training to help those few apprentices who require extra help with their learning. Ensure that these apprentices achieve as well as their peers.  Ensure that apprentices receive independent ongoing careers advice and guidance, enabling them to have a good understanding of their transferable skills and how they may use these skills in other careers. 7 to 9 December 2022

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Provider details

Address Fir Tree Mount Perry Green Much Hadham SG10 6EH

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Sabina Hegarty

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 7 to 9 December 2022

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the managing 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 learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Sambit Sen, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Georgina Ager His Majesty’s Inspector Paul Breheny Ofsted Inspector 7 to 9 December 2022

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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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