Northumberland Business Service Limited

Northumberland Business Service Limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

p.1

Name of lead inspector: Andrea Shepherd, His Majesty’s Inspector

p.1

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

p.1

Address:

6 Esther Court Ashington NE63 8AP Monitoring visit: Northumberland Business Service Limited, 27 October 2023

p.1

Context and focus of visit

Northumberland Business Service Limited was inspected in November 2022. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

p.2

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.

p.2

Context and focus of visit

Northumberland Business Service Limited is a not-for-profit social enterprise company. Since 2020, it has been delivering non-accredited business-related training programmes for micro, small and medium-sized business owner/managers, funded by the North of Tyne Combined Mayoral Authority. Delivery on the most recent funding contract began in October 2023. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were fewer than five learners on the ‘better business skills’ programme.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Since the last inspection, leaders have improved the way in which they enrol learners to the programme. Staff now speak to learners about their prior experiences and business interests to identify the workshops that will be most relevant to the needs of learners. As a result, leaders and staff know more about what learners want to achieve from the workshops. However, it is too early to evaluate the full impact of this new approach.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and staff make effective use of revised individual learning plans to identify the specific needs of each learner. Staff capture clear information about learners’ priorities and the workshops that each learner plans to attend. Tutors now use this information well to tailor the content of the workshops to the needs of individual learners. Learners value the relevance of the topics covered in the workshops, such as the functions of social media platforms and the effective use of small advertising budgets.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers select carefully the workshops that they offer. They plan a range of workshops, arranged into themes, that are designed specifically to support the needs of individual local business owner/managers and their staff. Leaders now provide helpful factsheets that make the purpose and content of each workshop Monitoring visit: Northumberland Business Service Limited, 27 October 2023 clear to learners. Learners are now confident to select workshops that are most relevant to their business, such as reducing carbon footprints and leading by example.

p.2

Reasonable progress

Staff now hold useful meetings with learners at key points in the course. Learners benefit from a helpful discussion before they enrol, as well as formal reviews at the mid-point and end of their programme. Staff support learners well to select an individual programme of workshops from the range offered and to add further workshops where relevant.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Since the last inspection, leaders have changed the way in which they deliver the programme so that learners are able to attend more of the training that they sign up for. Tutors now deliver a series of single workshops within each of the themes rather than two separate sessions for each workshop. While learners can now see the relevance of each session they need to attend, it is too early to assess the full impact on attendance of the new delivery model.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Staff work together well to monitor the attendance of learners. Tutors complete an attendance log for each workshop. The learning and development adviser uses this information effectively to monitor the attendance of individual learners and quickly contact any learner who does not attend a workshop that they have signed up for. Staff revise individual learner timetables, where necessary, so that learners can attend any workshop they miss on an alternative date.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Staff provide high levels of support for individual learners before, during and after the workshops. The learning and development adviser contacts learners to remind them of upcoming workshops, to collect feedback on the quality of the workshops and to identify any changes in learners’ needs. Learners value the support that they receive and know who to contact if they cannot attend a workshop.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Leaders now take a systematic approach to monitoring the attendance and progress of learners. They use a database tracking system to identify what learners sign up for, attend and complete. However, they cannot yet test the new systems on a larger scale, as there are currently only a small number of learners enrolled.

p.3

Reasonable progress

Monitoring visit: Northumberland Business Service Limited, 27 October 2023 Leaders now take purposeful steps to improve their understanding of the programme that they offer. They seek helpful and relevant guidance from others in the further education sector. This helps them to understand better what they do well and the action that they need to take to make improvements. For example, leaders now consider carefully how they can signpost learners to sources of additional support on topics such as modern slavery and domestic violence. They make better use of the learner handbook to ensure that learners know what help is available to them.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders now evaluate thoroughly the themes and workshops on offer to learners. They reflect on the usefulness, content and timing of the workshops to ensure that learners benefit highly from the training they receive. Leaders no longer offer specific workshops on well-being or mathematics in the workplace. Instead, they include some of this content in other workshops and provide helpful links to additional resources.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear plan to assure the quality of their provision. They now include observations of workshops and the systematic collection of learner feedback as routine activities. Leaders identify the requirement for two formal workshop observations each year in their revised associate agreement for tutors. However, this new approach is still in the early stages, and only a small number of observations have been carried out so far.

p.4

Reasonable progress

Since the last inspection, leaders have taken positive action to ensure that associate tutors benefit from targeted training opportunities. They plan specific training to provide tutors with the information that they need to meet leaders’ expectations for the programme. For example, tutors benefit from training on how to use the new individual learning plans and the information contained in them. Now that the new funding contract is in place, leaders plan to deliver additional training for tutors on assessment in the near future. Monitoring visit: Northumberland Business Service Limited, 27 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

p.4

Reasonable progress

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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

Reasonable progress

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Reasonable progress

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Reasonable progress

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

p.5