CVP Consult Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Requires improvement

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Information about this provider

CVP Consult Limited is an independent learning provider in Bolton, Greater Manchester. The company began to offer apprenticeships in May 2020. These included the level 2 supply chain warehouse operative, the level 3 team leader or supervisor, the level 2 recruitment resourcer, and the level 3 recruitment consultant apprenticeships. The provider now specialises in the level 5 coaching professional apprenticeship and no longer offers other apprenticeships. At the time of the inspection, there were 72 apprentices in learning. All apprentices were aged 19 or over. Most apprentices are employed in schools, restaurants and recruitment agencies across the UK. 5 to 7 November 2024

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices enjoy their apprenticeship. They appreciate the positive impact their learning has on their personal and professional lives. Apprentices are conscientious. They understand the importance of wider reading, research and frequently practising their coaching skills. They are committed to getting the most out of their apprenticeship and helping their organisations to develop.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices acquire valuable new knowledge, skills and behaviours that help them to progress their leadership careers. They learn about different coaching models, the importance of active listening and the value of providing colleagues with non- judgemental feedback. Using models of self-reflection, they learn to better understand themselves and their relationships with others.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices benefit from productive relationships with skills coaches. In progress reviews, skills coaches create calm, supportive environments and maintain high expectations for what apprentices can achieve. Apprentices receive effective support to help them to overcome barriers that get in the way of them making progress.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices benefit from productive relationships with their peers. They arrange to meet outside their planned lessons to practise further their coaching, network and share resources. This helps apprentices to develop their confidence when coaching others.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices feel safe when they attend lessons in person or online. They know how to report any concerns they have.

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better?

Following poor performance on previous apprenticeships, leaders made the strategic decision to focus on level 5 coaching, in which they have significant expertise. They have a clear vision to provide a curriculum which meets local and national needs for coaching in leadership. Leaders support businesses to establish a coaching culture in their organisation by training apprentices to support their colleagues’ professional development and well-being.

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better?

Leaders have significantly increased the number of apprentices who remain in learning. They have overhauled how they recruit to apprenticeships so that employers and apprentices are fully aware of the commitment that is required. Leaders monitor the progress that apprentices are making in developing their knowledge, skills and behaviours. If apprentices struggle, they rapidly put support in place to help them achieve.

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better?

Skills coaches sequence the curriculum in a logical order. They start with coaching foundations. This includes how to write a coaching contract and how to refer to other services. They then move to more challenging topics, such as impactful 5 to 7 November 2024

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coaching and ethics. This helps apprentices who are new to coaching to develop their skills incrementally and link their learning to their own organisations.

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Skills coaches are qualified teachers with professional qualifications and extensive coaching experience. They use their knowledge and experience to inform their teaching and present information effectively in monthly masterclasses. They recap apprentices’ prior learning to check their understanding before they move on to new topics. After each masterclass, skills coaches set a test to check apprentices have retained their new knowledge. This helps apprentices consolidate their learning. Skills coaches provide frequent opportunities for apprentices to practise and hone their coaching skills, so they become more proficient.

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Employers ensure apprentices have sufficient time to complete their apprenticeship. They support apprentices to swiftly use their coaching skills in the workplace. Employers appreciate that apprentices have a better sense of self-awareness and improved reflection skills because of their apprenticeship.

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Skills coaches use a range of appropriate assessment methods to check apprentices’ learning. This includes knowledge tests, professional discussions and observations of authentic coaching sessions. Apprentices make good use of video recordings to assess their own coaching skills. With the support of skills coaches, apprentices identify areas for improvement and build their confidence and ability. Most apprentices are well prepared for their final assessment.

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Apprentices achieve well on the level 5 coaching programme and over half gain distinctions. They gain a wealth of new knowledge about how to coach and support their colleagues. They use subject-specific terminology with confidence. They describe how their leadership and interpersonal skills have developed due to studying topics, such as neuroscience, emotional intelligence and transactional analysis. Apprentices who need to gain qualifications in English and mathematics receive effective support through individual tutorials with functional skills tutors. Almost all apprentices achieve these qualifications at their first attempt.

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Leaders provide apprentices with opportunities to develop their skills beyond the coaching curriculum. Apprentices attend sessions on overcoming impostor syndrome and the gender pay gap. However, only a few apprentices attend these sessions. Leaders have created a social platform for apprentices to use to access wider learning and to develop a community of practice. This includes useful information on webinars apprentices can attend, health and fitness advice, and competitions. Apprentices share their experiences and resources they have found helpful.

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Apprentices receive suitable information about their next steps in education, training or employment. Apprentices value discussing their career aspirations in progress review meetings. They benefit from informative guest speakers, who attend sessions to talk about the impact coaching has on different business. Apprentices have opportunities to attend sessions to develop their entrepreneurial skills. These are particularly valuable to those apprentices who intend to set up as independent coaches or consultants. 5 to 7 November 2024

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Leaders previously used external consultants to check the quality of their training. Leaders are now designing and implementing their own quality assurance processes. However, it is too soon to see the impact of these arrangements. Leaders ensure that skills coaches benefit from professional development that enhances their vocational knowledge. This includes training in functional skills assessment, attending coaching retreats and additional coaching qualifications.

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Governors are highly experienced sector leaders. They provide significant challenge to leaders to ensure that improvement strategies are implemented. Leaders provide appropriate information to governors so that they understand the strengths and weaknesses of the apprenticeship. Governors take their statutory responsibilities seriously and ensure that safeguarding remains a high priority throughout the organisation.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Sustain the high proportion of apprentices who remain in learning and develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to achieve their qualifications.  Continue to develop quality assurance processes to ensure apprentices receive a consistently high quality of training. 5 to 7 November 2024

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Provider details

Address The Old Mill House Deakins Business Park Blackburn Road Bolton BL7 9RP

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 3 to 5 August 2022

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 5 to 7 November 2024

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the director of education, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Helen Whelan, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Kate Wallace Ofsted Inspector Helen Morgan His Majesty’s Inspector 5 to 7 November 2024

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

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