Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Limited

Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Paul James, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 30 November 2023 and 1 December 2023

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Address:

Unit 31a Second Avenue Westfield Industrial Estate Midsomer Norton BA3 4BH Monitoring visit: Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Limited, 30 November 2023 and 1 December 2023

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of adult learning provision where the provision offered is in scope for inspection. 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

At the time of the monitoring visit, Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Limited had 39 employees completing adult bootcamps. Of these, 23 adults were studying authentic leadership and 13 electrical dual skilling. A further 26 adults had recently completed bootcamps in hazardous areas training, dual skilling and project management. In the previous phase of adult bootcamps, the provider had also worked with 14 unemployed adults who were new entrants to the engineering sector, training them on electrical engineering and dual skills.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed training that is well aligned to meet the needs of staff and the unemployed people with whom they work. Leaders have successfully trained existing employees to take on additional responsibilities, better equipping them to support the important national infrastructure clients with whom they work. For example, employees on the hazardous areas bootcamp developed the skills and knowledge required to successfully achieve the CompEx qualification, allowing them to work safely in potentially dangerous environments. As a result, they were able to complete surveying and rectification work linked to waste treatment, supporting a regional water supply and sewerage utility company.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have also provided valuable training designed to recruit unemployed adults into the engineering industry. All of these adults successfully completed an electrical or dual Skills Bootcamp, and the majority were successful in securing employment.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders oversee the quality assurance of their provision through largely effective processes. They use helpful reflection points in meetings to identify areas to improve, which inform sensible action plans. However, leaders do not place sufficient emphasis on the development of trainers’ teaching skills. As a result, not all trainers have the necessary knowledge of different teaching methods to meet the needs of all learners. Monitoring visit: Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Limited, 30 November 2023 and 1 December 2023 Leaders have established an informal model of governance which supports the oversight and continued improvement of the training they provide. Leaders recognise the need to formalise this model and increase the level of educational understanding of those undertaking the role of governance. At the time of the monitoring visit, leaders outlined plans to increase the focus on the quality of education by recruiting

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Reasonable progress

additional educational specialists into the governance team.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that bootcamps are well planned and the curriculum builds on learners’ knowledge over time. Because of this, most learners acquire useful new skills and knowledge and are better prepared to pass industry qualifications or become more effective employees. For example, the authentic leadership bootcamp focuses well on ensuring that senior staff understand the relevance of leadership and management that reflects the company’s culture and values. As a result, learners value their training and use what they have learned to make improvements in business practices, such as how best to harness the strengths of individuals.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have ensured that trainers are highly experienced industry specialists. Mostly, they use their knowledge well to contextualise teaching and ensure learners understand how theory works in practice. Sometimes, however, trainers do not use a broad enough range of teaching or assessment techniques to ensure that all learners develop new skills and knowledge at the pace of which they are capable.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are not always clear on the progress learners make. This is because they do not identify precisely what learners already know at the start of their training. As a result, some learners do not have the opportunity to maximise the benefits of the training.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have established a culture in which safeguarding and well- being are considered a high priority. An appropriately qualified designated safeguarding lead oversees effective referral processes that trainers know well.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recognise the importance of mental health and have trained eight senior leaders as mental health first aiders. This, along with the promotion of important themes, such as the prevention of male suicide, helps to provide learners with a safe environment in which they feel supported. Monitoring visit: Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Limited, 30 November 2023 and 1 December 2023 At the time of the monitoring visit, leaders were in the process of updating their ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment and exploring opportunities to further embed checks on learners’ understanding of the signs and dangers of radicalisation. Leaders teach learners valuable information about the risks associated with working in essential national infrastructure environments, but this is not always retained. Monitoring visit: Bridges (Electrical Engineers) Limited, 30 November 2023 and 1 December 2023 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young

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Reasonable progress

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

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