The Specialists Hub Ltd

The Specialists Hub Ltd 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: 18 and 19 October 2023

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: Blue Media City UK Salford M50 2ST Monitoring visit: The Specialists Hub Ltd, 18 and 19 October 2023

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Context and focus of visit

The Specialists Hub Ltd was inspected in January 2023. 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

The Specialists Hub Ltd is a national training provider that is based in Media City, Salford. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 32 apprentices enrolled on level 4 apprenticeship standards. All apprentices are aged 19 and over. There were 30 apprentices enrolled on the level 4 data protection and governance practitioner and two on the level 4 cyber security technologist apprenticeships.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices complete assessments of their knowledge, skills and behaviours at the start of the apprenticeship to identify what they already know and can do and what they need to learn. Coaches use this information to carefully plan ambitious and individualised curriculums for apprentices. For example, apprentices learn about processing agreements earlier in the apprenticeship to enable them to develop the knowledge they need to perform their workplace tasks more effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers adjust the content and order of apprentices’ learning effectively to take account of their job role and the sector of their employer. Coaches have detailed discussions with apprentices and their line managers to adapt the curriculum to meet employers’ and apprentices’ needs. Level 4 data protection and information governance practitioner apprentices, who work in public sector organisations, spend more time studying freedom of information requests so that they understand the application of these in detail. This leads to apprentices applying relevant skills and knowledge in the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders and managers have taken appropriate steps to strengthen the ambition of their apprenticeships. Apprentices now benefit from the opportunity to undertake a relevant, additional professional qualification and attend workshops that trainers select for them to improve their wider skills. For example, most level 4 data protection and information governance practitioner apprentices Monitoring visit: The Specialists Hub Ltd, 18 and 19 October 2023 undertake the British Computer Society data protection certificate and participate in workshops on critical thinking, confidence or resilience. Apprentices who engage with skills workshops grow in confidence and resilience as they perform their roles.

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Insufficient progress

Coaches do not set most apprentices ambitious targets that enable them to swiftly improve their knowledge, skills and behaviours. Coaches set targets that are based on the completion of tasks. In the small minority of cases where tutors set targets that relate to knowledge, skills and behaviours, they do not monitor apprentices’ progress towards these effectively. For example, coaches monitor if apprentices have completed assignments and record the amount of time they have spent in training. Apprentices do not know how to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours swiftly.

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Insufficient progress

Coaches provide useful support for apprentices in preparation for their end-point assessment. Apprentices benefit from useful feedback and guidance on how to achieve a distinction grade. This means that apprentices are familiar with the skills and knowledge they need to demonstrate in their final assessments to achieve high grades.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from useful advice and guidance at the start of their apprenticeship. They complete a personal development plan to identify their career goals and set short-, medium- and long-term career targets. In a few instances, coaches work with apprentices to review goals that are set. This supports apprentices to complete additional professional qualifications. As a result, most apprentices are better informed about their choices for their next steps. However, coaches do not routinely review these goals in sufficient detail throughout the apprenticeship. In a small minority of cases, apprentices are unclear about how they progress from their apprenticeship to further education and training or to more senior roles.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have strengthened the ongoing careers advice and guidance that apprentices receive. Apprentices attend careers days and an ‘aspire’ programme. On the aspire programme, apprentices attend monthly career presentations from guest speakers to learn about wider career opportunities, such as progression into consultancy or completion of higher-level qualifications to progress to promoted roles Monitoring visit: The Specialists Hub Ltd, 18 and 19 October 2023 in the sector. Apprentices are aware of the wider opportunities available to them beyond their current employment and the sector where they work.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have stopped recruiting apprentices to the level 4 cyber security technologist apprenticeship. Leaders have refocused their strategy to provide apprenticeships in the business and administration sector.

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Reasonable progress

For the very few remaining apprentices, leaders ensure that coaches have weekly catch-up sessions with apprentices and their line managers to monitor apprentices’ progress. Coaches set weekly targets for apprentices which focus on the completion of work and link to skills development in the workplace. The remaining apprentices are making the expected progress on their apprenticeship.

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Reasonable progress

Coaches revisit assessments completed at the start of the apprenticeship to identify the progress that apprentices make against their knowledge, skills and behaviours. Apprentices benefit from individual support from coaches to rectify misconceptions in their knowledge. Coaches support apprentices to develop their skills in the workplace. For example, apprentices who have not yet developed skills in system administration shadow colleagues in a different department to develop their skill set.

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Reasonable progress

Coaches are preparing apprentices well for their final assessments. Apprentices complete weekly mock discussions and practice examinations. Where coaches identify gaps in knowledge, they provide additional support sessions on topics such as networking and cryptography.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have appropriate governance arrangements in place. Since the previous inspection, leaders have recruited a new chair and two new members to the board. Board members have the appropriate skills and expertise in the further education and skills sector to provide support and challenge on the quality of education that apprentices receive. Board members use their experience to challenge leaders on the robustness of quality improvement plans. Improvement action plans have challenging targets and leaders are refining the plan to identify more clearly the impact of the actions on the quality of education that apprentices receive. Monitoring visit: The Specialists Hub Ltd, 18 and 19 October 2023 Leaders have improved the information that the board receives. They now provide updates on key performance indicators and monitor these through monthly board meetings. Board members receive monthly updates on progress against actions on

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Reasonable progress

the quality improvement plan, but do not receive sufficiently detailed reports on the overall quality of education. Monitoring visit: The Specialists Hub Ltd, 18 and 19 October 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 and child protection.

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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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