Barfection Limited

Barfection Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector:

Anita Pyrkotsch-Jones, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection dates: 10 and 11 July 2024

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Name of lead inspector:

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Slater Studios 9 Slater Street Liverpool L1 4BW Monitoring visit: Barfection Limited, 10 and 11 July 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

Barfection Limited (Barfection) is an independent learning provider based in Liverpool. Barfection received its funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to provide Skills Bootcamps in June 2023. The provider received its funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority to provide free courses for jobs in October 2023. At the time of the monitoring visit, the provider had 31 learners in Liverpool and 42 in Manchester enrolled on a hospitality Skills Bootcamp. There were 74 learners were enrolled on free courses for jobs, 21 were studying on the level 3 award in hospitality supervision, 48 on the level 3 certificate in hospitality and five on the level 3 diploma in food and beverage supervision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers work closely with employers and partners to develop the free courses for jobs and Skills Bootcamp curriculums to meet the skills needs of learners and employers in the hospitality sector. They plan the curriculums with employers and partners, such as the Manchester Hospitality Network, bars, cafés and restaurants. Partners provide masterclasses in skills such as cocktail making and leaders organise guest speakers to talk about topics, which include the nighttime economy and licensing regulations. This helps learners to develop a broad range of hospitality and leadership skills that help them to move into employment, gain promotion or move into senior management roles.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders rightly recognised that too many learners on Skills Bootcamps were leaving their courses early. They have reviewed and adapted the recruitment process and the assessments to identify learners’ eligibility, prior knowledge and additional learning support needs. Significantly more learners now complete their Skills Bootcamp because they receive the support that they need to remain on the course. Monitoring visit: Barfection Limited, 10 and 11 July 2024 Leaders ensure that all unemployed learners have a guaranteed interview for jobs in the hospitality sector. Most learners move into, and remain in, job roles, such as barista, bartender or move into management positions.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed and implemented rigorous quality assurance processes. They monitor the progress of learners closely and meet frequently to monitor progress against a wide range of quality indicators, such as learner satisfaction evaluations. They use the results of these evaluations to make improvements to the Skills Bootcamp and adult learning curriculums.

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Reasonable progress

Governors have significant experience and expertise in further education and the hospitality sector that they use effectively to challenge leaders to continually improve the quality of training that learners receive. Governors have a thorough understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the provision.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have designed courses that prepare free courses for jobs and Skills Bootcamp learners for careers in hospitality. They carefully select the qualifications to ensure learners develop a comprehensive understanding of the hospitality sector. Tutors use teaching strategies effectively so that learners can then apply their knowledge to workplace activities. Learners learn about the different strands of the hospitality sector, such as food and beverage, before they learn about the different roles, including barista, server or team leader.

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Reasonable progress

The Skills Bootcamp and free courses for jobs learners aiming to gain management roles, build on their existing knowledge and skills. They develop further their skills when they learn about recruitment and employment practices, designing and developing training for team members and, the skills needed to manage teams in the hospitality sector.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors teach the curriculum for baristas in a logical order that enables learners to develop their understanding about key aspects of hospitality, good customer service and working effectively as part of a team. Learners learn about, and practise, the basic underpinning essentials of using and maintaining a coffee machine before learning how to prepare and serve a full range of beverages. Learners consolidate their knowledge and skills when preparing and serving drinks, such as milk preparation techniques and milk to coffee ratios. They further extend these skills as they learn how to maintain quality standards while working towards meeting commercial timescales.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors teach learners about the risks associated with alcohol and how this is linked to the hospitality sector. Learners use research from external agencies, such as Monitoring visit: Barfection Limited, 10 and 11 July 2024 Alcoholics Anonymous, to identify the scale of people dependent on alcohol. Tutors then use this information to teach learners about the ethics related to the sale of alcohol and why it is important to be mindful of customers’ individual circumstances.

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Reasonable progress

The safeguarding team are well qualified for their roles. They promote a positive culture of welfare and well-being across the provider.

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Reasonable progress

The safeguarding team deal with safeguarding concerns quickly and effectively. They monitor cases closely, and keep safeguarding records up to date.

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Reasonable progress

Staff and learners benefit from appropriate training on safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. Staff benefit from frequent refresher and update training to ensure that they understand their responsibilities in keeping themselves and learners safe, particularly when preparing beverages containing alcohol. Monitoring visit: Barfection Limited, 10 and 11 July 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

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

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