Equals Training Limited

Equals Training Limited Monitoring visit report

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

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Inspection dates: 27 and 28 September 2023

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

3 Bessemer Suite Ironworks House Warton Road Carnforth Lancaster LA5 9EX Monitoring visit: Equals Training Limited, 27 and 28 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

Equals Training Limited is a national training provider that is based in Carnforth, Lancaster. Equals Training received its own directly funded contract in January 2022 to provide apprenticeship training. At the time of the visit, there were 79 apprentices on apprenticeships between levels 3 and 5. All apprentices are aged 19 and over. There were 53 apprentices enrolled on the level 3 security first line manager apprenticeship. Most of these apprentices are based in London. There were four apprentices enrolled on the level 3 customer service specialist, 15 on the team leader supervisor apprenticeship, three on the level 5 operations or departmental manager and fewer than five apprentices studying the level 4 early intervention practitioner apprenticeship and quality practitioner apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for the apprenticeships that they offer. They work with employers, mainly in the security sector, to support them to develop and retain staff at management levels. Leaders work with these employers to design training that meets their needs. For example, they include the core values of the employers when developing the curriculums. Team leader supervisor apprentices learn about leadership styles and link these to the service leadership values of their company.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours. They explain enthusiastically about what they are learning and how they apply this in their job roles. Security first line manager apprentices learn how to develop relationships and communicate effectively with stakeholders, who are also team members. Apprentices now conduct morning information briefings with the team to share information. This has improved communication and the team’s morale. Monitoring visit: Equals Training Limited, 27 and 28 September 2023 Trainers do not sufficiently use the information gathered about what apprentices already know and can do to inform their teaching. As a result, a few apprentices with prior experience in the security industry are taught skills that they already know.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit trainers who are highly experienced and qualified in their roles. Trainers have significant industry experience, which apprentices and employers value highly. Leaders support trainers to continually update their skills through research, guest speakers and visits to employers. Leaders have recently arranged for trainers to shadow security staff at events. For example, they attended boxing matches to update their skills in providing security at live events.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders know the strengths and weaknesses of their apprenticeships. However, they recognise that the self-assessment process and quality improvement plans are not rigorous enough. Leaders do not focus enough on the quality of training that apprentices receive. As a result, they do not identify actions to bring about improvements swiftly.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are not held to account for the effectiveness of training they provide. They are in the process of recruiting external members to form a board to provide scrutiny and challenge to leaders.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers teach topics in a logical order to incrementally build apprentices’ knowledge, skills and behaviours. Security first line manager apprentices learn about assessing and controlling risks before moving on to the security needs of customers. They develop a secure understanding of legislative requirements before learning how to provide appropriate security solutions to customers.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers provide detailed feedback to apprentices on their written work. Apprentices know what they have done well and what they need to do to improve. As a result of this feedback, apprentices improve the quality of their work.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers use assessments effectively to check and consolidate learning. Trainers on operations or departmental manager apprenticeships use questioning and group discussions when teaching leadership models such as transactional analysis. Apprentices apply this learning successfully in the workplace when managing their teams.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders monitor apprentices’ progress closely. They hold bi-monthly reviews with trainers and put actions in place to support those apprentices who are not making the expected progress. Trainers use the outcomes of these reviews to inform their Monitoring visit: Equals Training Limited, 27 and 28 September 2023 training and put support in place. They provide individual sessions online or in the workplace for apprentices who fall behind to help them to catch up.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders use a range of information to identify and support apprentices with additional learning needs. Trainers use this information to provide personalised support to apprentices and adapt their teaching. For example, they encourage apprentices to change their screen colours and provide them with resources before the sessions so that apprentices can familiarise themselves with new language. Consequently, apprentices make the expected progress.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers do not coordinate on- and off-the-job training well enough. They do not routinely discuss and agree with apprentices’ line managers the opportunities needed at work to practise and develop their skills. In too many instances, trainers rely on apprentices to hold these discussions. As a result, a few apprentices do not develop their skills swiftly enough.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have put in place appropriate policies and procedures to keep apprentices safe. They have recently strengthened the safeguarding team by recruiting a highly experienced staff member as the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). The DSL and assistant DSL have received appropriate training to carry out their roles effectively. All staff benefit from bi-monthly training and regular updates on topics such as online safety and identifying mental health and well-being concerns.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe and know who to contact if they have safeguarding concerns. They receive training on the potential risks of radicalisation and extremism at induction and in training sessions. Most apprentices have a secure understanding of these risks and know the importance of recognising and reporting changes in behaviour of colleagues and peers. Monitoring visit: Equals Training Limited, 27 and 28 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 and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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Reasonable progress

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

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