Manchester Digital Limited

Manchester Digital Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Suzanne Horner, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Manchester Technology Centre 103 Oxford Road Manchester M1 7ED Monitoring visit: Manchester Digital Limited, 2 and 3 August 2023

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision funded 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

Manchester Digital Limited is an independent learning provider based in the city of Manchester. At the time of the monitoring visit there were 34 apprentices studying standards-based apprenticeships. There were 22 apprentices on the level 4 software developer, 10 on the level 4 business analyst and fewer than five on the level 4 data analyst standards. All apprentices are aged 18 years and above.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clear rationale for their curriculum. They work collaboratively with stakeholders within the digital sector. The apprenticeships they offer support the development of skilled staff to meet the local, regional and national skills gaps within the digital sector.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that the apprenticeships they provide are accessible by all. For example, they have developed a 'Digital Her' initiative to provide opportunities to inspire more young women into the technology industry. This has increased the number of female apprentices into the sector.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have appointed qualified and experienced trainers to teach apprentices. Skills coaches who do not have digital expertise are supported to develop the required knowledge and skills they need to provide high-quality support and training for apprentices. Leaders have plans to implement training for staff to maintain and develop their teaching skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers place a high priority on the well-being of staff. Staff have the opportunity for hybrid working, flexible childcare arrangements and access to a mental health first aider. Staff feel valued and are empowered to carry out their roles successfully. Monitoring visit: Manchester Digital Limited, 2 and 3 August 2023 Leaders and managers have appropriate quality assurance processes in place. They undertake observations of teaching and learning and hold curriculum and quality review meetings. Leaders and managers plan to implement a quality calendar to ensure that additional quality assurance procedures are planned effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Although leaders have implemented a board of governors who are qualified and experienced to undertake their roles, this board is in its infancy. Board members have a clear understanding of their statutory responsibilities, but it is too soon to see the impact of their work.

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Reasonable progress

The curriculum has been sequentially and logically designed for most apprentices. This enables apprentices to incrementally develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours. They learn new programming languages and frameworks such as React, JavaScript and C#. Apprentices use this knowledge to swiftly develop their skills at work. This results in apprentices having a positive impact on their employers’ business.

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Reasonable progress

Managers coordinate on- and off-the-job training for apprentices effectively. For example, apprentices learn about user interfaces and user experience during their training and are then able to put this into practice at work by successfully implementing them into their organisation’s website.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use assessments of apprentices’ knowledge after technical training blocks to identify any gaps in learning that they may have. Apprentices are provided with one- to-one support from trainers and skills coaches. This ensures that gaps in learning are rectified and knowledge is retained.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have recently implemented new processes to identify the starting points of apprentices. They have begun to use this information effectively to plan individualised learning for most apprentices. Leaders and managers rightly identify that these processes still require further development so that apprentices’ progress from their starting points can be tracked efficiently.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure that apprentices are prepared well for their final assessments. Apprentices complete mock interviews and presentations. At the time of the monitoring visit, all completed apprentices had passed their final assessments, and most had achieved merit and distinction grades.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers do not ensure that apprentices make swift progress towards completing their functional skills examinations. The few apprentices who are required to complete their functional skills have received no training or teaching. This has Monitoring visit: Manchester Digital Limited, 2 and 3 August 2023 delayed their progress. Leaders have plans in place to subcontract the functional skills provision to rectify this issue.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a high regard for the safeguarding of apprentices in the digital industry, where online dangers are prevalent. They have processes in place to deal with safeguarding incidents. There have been no safeguarding referrals from the current apprentices on programme. Leaders have effective processes to ensure the safe recruitment of staff.

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Reasonable progress

All staff, including at board level, complete training on safeguarding, radicalisation and extremism. There is a board member responsible for safeguarding. The designated safeguarding lead and their deputies are appropriately trained and experienced to carry out their roles.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and know how to keep themselves safe when working online. They know how and to whom they should report any concerns. Apprentices understand the importance of recognising and reporting changes in the behaviour of others. Leaders have plans in place to ensure that apprentices are aware of local risks that may affect them, but it is too early to see the impact of this. Monitoring visit: Manchester Digital Limited, 2 and 3 August 2023 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

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Reasonable progress

children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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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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