Exertis (UK) Ltd

Exertis (UK) Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Alison Humphreys, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 31 August and 1 September 2023

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Address: Technology House Magnesium Way Hapton Burnley BB12 7BF Monitoring visit: Exertis (UK) Limited, 31 August and 1 September 2023

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Context and focus of visit

Exertis (UK) Limited was inspected in September 2022. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Context and focus of visit

Exertis (UK) Limited (Exertis) is a national employer provider with sites across the United Kingdom. At the time of the monitoring visit there were 42 apprentices in learning. The vast majority of apprentices study the level 2 supply chain warehouse operative apprenticeship. There were fewer than five apprentices studying the level 3 business administrator and the level 4 sales executive apprenticeships. All apprentices were aged 19 and above and based in the North West. Exertis has stopped providing the level 3 business administrator and level 4 sales executive apprenticeships.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have introduced a range of changes to improve the planning and development of apprentices’ learning with the employer. Leaders provide training for line managers at the start of the apprenticeship to ensure they are aware of their role in supporting apprentices to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours. Line managers have a clear understanding of the training that apprentices receive. They use this knowledge to plan apprentices’ on-the-job learning effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Programme coaches effectively coordinate on- and off-the-job learning. For example, apprentices learn about warehousing systems and manual handling procedures early in their apprenticeship in preparation for busy periods in the warehouse. Following this training, apprentices practise their skills and use warehousing systems correctly. Apprentices become effective members of the team.

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Reasonable progress

Programme coaches collaborate with apprentices’ line managers to ensure that they attend reviews of progress with their apprentices. Line managers have a clear understanding of the progress that their apprentices make. They use this information to manage apprentices’ workload effectively and to plan effective on-the-job training. Monitoring visit: Exertis (UK) Limited, 31 August and 1 September 2023 As a result, apprentices develop their skills swiftly. Most apprentices gain promotion or additional responsibilities as ‘key colleagues’ or on-the-job trainers because of the training that they receive.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have supported programme coaches to complete training and gain assessing qualifications to improve the feedback that they provide for apprentices. Programme coaches provide useful feedback that helps apprentices to know what they have done well and what they need to do to improve. This has resulted in apprentices producing higher-quality written work. The work that they complete is now more detailed and structured correctly. Apprentices develop their communication skills so that they can speak confidently to both colleagues and customers.

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Reasonable progress

Programme coaches have recently completed their functional skills qualifications to better support apprentices to develop their communication and writing skills. Most apprentices speak English as an additional language. These apprentices benefit from individual support from their programme coaches. They develop their confidence and self-belief in their English skills because of the feedback that they receive. Apprentices now lead daily team briefings and are highly valued by their line managers.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have improved the systems they use to collect and assess information about apprentices’ levels and application of English and mathematics. Before apprentices begin the warehousing apprenticeship, they complete these assessments to identify their strengths and weaknesses in English and mathematics. Apprentices who require further support in these skills complete additional learning before commencing their apprenticeship. However, as this system is new, apprentices who began their apprenticeship before these assessments were in place have not achieved their examinations as swiftly as they could.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders provide support for programme coaches to improve their teaching practice. Programme coaches benefit from attending courses on topics such as preparing learners for examinations and embedding English and mathematics in the work that that they complete at work. For example, apprentices use their learning about dimensions and height to load pallets correctly. Monitoring visit: Exertis (UK) Limited, 31 August and 1 September 2023 Leaders have altered the teaching for functional skills to improve the support that apprentices receive. Apprentices attend workshops and access individual support to develop their English and mathematical skills. Most apprentices apply this knowledge when conducting tasks in the workplace. As a result, most apprentices develop their skills and pass their examinations. However, programme coaches do not routinely set targets for apprentices to develop specific English or mathematical skills that they

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Reasonable progress

need to learn. This means that a few apprentices do not make swift enough progress in their functional skills.

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Reasonable progress

Programme coaches do not fully prepare a few apprentices for their mathematics examinations. This is due to apprentices not being adequately trained on how to use the online test platform. As a result, these apprentices do not pass first time.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have made reasonable progress in rectifying the areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection. They have changed the staffing structure and the apprenticeships they offer. Since the previous inspection, leaders identified that the level 4 sales executive apprenticeship did not meet the needs of the business or the apprentices and stopped this apprenticeship. They have refocused their strategy to provide apprenticeships that build career paths for apprentices within the business. Leaders have designed the level 2 supply chain warehouse operative apprenticeship to meet a skills gap in the business and provide a career path for apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place appropriate processes and systems that they use effectively to improve the quality of education that apprentices receive. Managers observe training and provide targeted actions for development. For example, programme coaches have improved their training to develop the foundational knowledge of apprentices before moving on to more complex topics. Leaders use a range of measures to identify the progress that apprentices make on their apprenticeship. Leaders use this information to review progress with line managers regularly, and to put support in place for apprentices who fall behind. As a result, most apprentices are making the expected progress.

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Reasonable progress

Most governors have a clear understanding of the quality of training that apprentices receive. The link governor holds weekly reviews with managers and attends all milestone reviews with apprentices. They know the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship and hold managers to account. However, leaders rightly identify that Monitoring visit: Exertis (UK) Limited, 31 August and 1 September 2023 management reports and quality improvement plans require further development. Governors’ reports remain focused on financial information and do not fully consider the progress that apprentices make. Monitoring visit: Exertis (UK) Limited, 31 August and 1 September 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

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Reasonable progress

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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