TWI Limited

Name of lead inspector: Karen Anderson, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 22 and 23 January 2024

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider Address: Unit 1 Ferrous Road Middlesbrough TS2 1DJ Monitoring visit: TWI Limited, 22 to 23 January 2024

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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

TWI Limited is an international organisation specialising in welding and welding inspection. Through their training and examination services group, they train welding inspectors in a wide range of industries including oil and gas, power, aerospace and automotive. Since 2023, TWI Limited has offered skills bootcamps in a range of welding inspection techniques at their Middlesbrough and Cambridge centres, funded by their local combined authorities. At the time of the monitoring visit, there were 130 learners in Middlesbrough and five in Cambridge. All learners are over the age of 19.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have a clear rationale for their provision, based on a thorough understanding of their industry. They provide specialist training for welding inspectors which meets local skills priorities and helps to address the shortage of trained inspectors. Their bootcamps welcome learners who may not otherwise have access to this type of training, and these learners are integrated seamlessly into the organisation, working alongside learners on commercial provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders ensure that their provision fulfils the principles of skills bootcamps. On completion of their courses, learners are able to take on new responsibilities and further their careers in this sector. Those who are unemployed have a guaranteed job interview, arranged through the positive relationships that leaders have with employers in the industry.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders provide excellent training facilities and specialist equipment. These include a deep underwater tank with large pipework for fault-finding, areas for working at height and laboratories for using specialist equipment. Learners train in realistic environments which simulate the workplace and prepare them well for the realities of their work. Monitoring visit: TWI Limited, 22 to 23 January 2024 Leaders have suitable procedures for monitoring the quality of teaching. These include observations of peers, feedback from learners and frequent one-to-one meetings with lecturers. When lecturers begin working at the provider, they complete useful training and gain qualifications in the craft of teaching. However, leaders do not encourage lecturers to revisit and further enhance their teaching skills so that learners can benefit from current teaching strategies.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recruit highly experienced specialist lecturers who keep their subject knowledge up to date to maintain their credibility. Learners value the expertise that their lecturers use in their teaching.

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Reasonable progress

Lecturers design the curriculum carefully to maximise learning for each bootcamp, which are typically between five and 15 days in length. They ensure that learners build their knowledge steadily and have sufficient time to apply their knowledge and practise new skills.

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Reasonable progress

Lecturers provide lessons which are well planned, interesting and sufficiently challenging. They use a range of teaching methods and resources well to explain difficult topics. Learners take an active part in lessons, reflect on their learning as it develops, and ask relevant questions.

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Reasonable progress

Lecturers track learners’ progress rigorously. Learners complete several assessments each day, which are evaluated and used to inform teaching. Where the need for additional support is identified, learners have one-to-one discussions with their lecturers to agree a plan to ensure that they get the support they need.

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Reasonable progress

Learners gain new knowledge and skills from their bootcamps, which they use to progress in their careers. Lecturers help learners to understand the range of opportunities in the sector, including working internationally and in complex working environments such as deep-sea diving to inspect welds. Learners know how to access further training when they are ready.

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Reasonable progress

Learners feel safe in the training environment, and there is a respectful culture among staff and learners. Learners say that they would speak to their lecturers if they had any concerns. However, leaders do not ensure that learners are aware of how to protect themselves from risks such as radicalisation. Leaders recognise this and have begun making improvements, although this has yet to have an impact on learners. Monitoring visit: TWI Limited, 22 to 23 January 2024

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are successfully developing a culture of safeguarding. They implement suitable policies and take appropriate steps to meet the requirements of the ‘Prevent’ duty. Recently, they have enhanced their arrangements for safeguarding, including locating designated safeguarding officers (DSO) at each of their training centres, starting with those that offer skills bootcamps.

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Reasonable progress

All staff complete suitable training in safeguarding, which is evaluated by the DSOs to check understanding and give staff opportunities to ask questions. This training includes enabling staff to know how to report concerns about learners. Leaders have processes in place to record and follow up safeguarding concerns and to contact external services when necessary. Monitoring visit: TWI Limited, 22 to 23 January 2024 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

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