Wessex Water Services Limited

Wessex Water Services Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Clifford Shaw, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 31 August and 1 September 2023

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Address: Wessex Water Operations Centre Claverton Down Road Claverton Down Bath BA2 7WW Monitoring visit: Wessex Water Services Limited, 31 August and 1 September 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

Wessex Water Services Limited (WWS Ltd) is an employer provider that offers apprenticeships in the water processing industry. It received a contract to provide standards-based apprenticeships in March 2022 and commenced delivery in August 2022. At the time of the inspection, 19 apprentices were studying the level 3 water processing technician apprenticeship. Most apprentices are new to the industry and nearly all are aged 19 and over. In July 2023, Wessex Water Limited began providing Skills Bootcamps for adult employees. At the time of the inspection, 10 learners were studying the principles of change management programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have an ambitious strategy to provide apprenticeships in the water processing industry . They have identified the role that apprenticeships will play in addressing the company’s ageing workforce, and in ensuring that new water processing technicians have the skills and knowledge they need to use new technologies. Leaders use the apprenticeship to ensure that all newly appointed water processing technicians develop a consistent and high standard of new knowledge and skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have equipped a training academy for apprentices, which includes high- specification classrooms and industry-standard practical resources. Leaders have ensured that apprentices access training facilities that simulate workplace environments so that they can practise their skills and apply their knowledge in realistic situations. For example, apprentices train in replica sewers, service tunnels and learn how to work safely in confined spaces.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers understand their roles and responsibilities well. They have established an advisory panel of governors that meets regularly to monitor the performance and progress made by apprentices. An experienced and independent Monitoring visit: Wessex Water Services Limited, 31 August and 1 September 2023 chairperson provides leaders with effective support and challenge. Governors listen carefully to what leaders need to do to improve the quality of education. For example, governors approved a well-considered proposal from leaders to increase staffing so that they can achieve the ambitious plan to grow the number of apprentices.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and governors make effective use of performance indicators to monitor the progress that apprentices are making in their learning. They ensure that the principles and requirements of apprenticeship programmes are met. However, leaders rightly recognise that they have been too slow to appoint teachers to teach those apprentices who need to gain qualifications in English and mathematics. As a result, these apprentices have not made the expected progress in developing their skills and learning new knowledge in these subjects.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches ensure that apprentices develop good levels of practical skills and technical knowledge. They teach apprentices the key regulatory requirements so that they understand their environmental, safety and security duties well. Skills coaches prioritise the teaching and assessment of health and safety at the outset and throughout the apprenticeship. Consequently, apprentices know how to work safely as part of a team and when working independently.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches work closely with apprentices’ line managers to identify additional responsibilities at work to help apprentices develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. For example, apprentices learn how to maintain water treatment equipment and control systems on site independently. Consequently, they quickly become valued and productive members of their teams. Skills coaches provide a few apprentices with tasks that develop their leadership skills. For example, apprentices are given responsibility for a small team of colleagues, a budget to manage and the responsibility for a project.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches assess apprentices’ English and mathematics skills at the start of their programme effectively. They use this information well to plan training so that apprentices can practise and improve their English and mathematics skills at work. For example, when performing tasks at work, apprentices write maintenance reports and complete calculations, such as waterflow rates in pipes.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches ensure that most apprentices know how well they are progressing on their programme. They set appropriate action plans for the minority of apprentices who are at risk of falling behind in their studies. However, skills coaches set apprentices targets that are often too general and focus heavily on completing tasks Monitoring visit: Wessex Water Services Limited, 31 August and 1 September 2023 rather than identifying how to improve specific knowledge, skills and behaviours. As a result, these apprentices are not making the expected progress.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders plan the Skills Bootcamp training for adult learners effectively, which provides learners with the skills they need to become effective leaders of change. Leaders plan the training in a logical order so that learners are introduced to, and gain knowledge about, working outside of their comfort zones, empathetic leadership and coaching skills. Leaders ensure that the curriculum is focused appropriately on British values and the importance of tolerance and kindness when implementing changes to the business.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers teach learners useful techniques and strategies to help them to improve their leadership and management skills. For example, learners improve the effectiveness of their team briefings to colleagues and learn how to increase participation in workplace initiatives. Trainers teach learners how to manage difficult conversations at work. As a result, learners are more confident in their job roles and make positive contributions to how the business works.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers and line managers take part in useful discussions with learners about the progress they are making in learning the content of the curriculum. However, trainers do not ensure that the improvement targets they set for learners are measurable or appropriately timebound. As a result, learning is not accelerated and is too slow for those learners who have more skills and prior knowledge at the start of the programme.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders rightly recognise the need to improve the quality of careers advice and guidance that learners receive following the completion of the Skills Bootcamp programme. They do not plan the training well enough to ensure that learners apply what they are learning to their job role. Trainers do not ensure that information about learners’ prior knowledge and experience is used well enough to adapt the curriculum and personalise training. As a result, trainers and learners are unable to identify the progress that learners are making towards developing their knowledge and skills at the expected pace.

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Reasonable progress

Monitoring visit: Wessex Water Services Limited, 31 August and 1 September 2023 Leaders have ensured that the culture for apprentices and learners is supportive and that they feel safe and are safe. Leaders have developed appropriate policies and procedures to safeguard apprentices and learners.

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Reasonable progress

Staff responsible for safeguarding are experienced and well qualified. They use their knowledge effectively to provide face-to-face training for staff, apprentices and learners on topics such as drug and alcohol misuse, the risk of gang crime and mental health awareness. They respond swiftly to support apprentices and learners where there are concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Skills coaches ensure that health and safety knowledge and practices are taught throughout the apprentices’ training. For example, apprentices have a good understanding of the protocols for working remotely on site. They use technology and mobile applications that allow them to raise the alarm and to be easily located by managers. Skills coaches train apprentices well in how to conduct themselves and stay safe if they are subject to verbal abuse or harassment. Monitoring visit: Wessex Water Services 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 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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