The Skills Blueprint Ltd

The Skills Blueprint Ltd Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Sarah Houghton, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 25 and 26 November 2024

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address: 2 Parker Way Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2FS Monitoring visit: The Skills Blueprint Ltd, 25 and 26 November 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

The Skills Blueprint Limited is a national independent training provider, based in Lincolnshire. It is funded to teach Skills Bootcamps in building and growing a service- based business, with its first cohort starting in September 2024. At the time of inspection, there were nine adult learners studying a 15-week Skills Bootcamp comprised of online and face-to-face learning.

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Significant progress

Leaders have developed a unique course to meet the needs of local business owners. This course equips self-employed individuals, who work in service-based businesses, with the knowledge and skills to build, grow and maintain their enterprises successfully.

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Significant progress

Leaders have carefully considered their clients’ needs. They schedule training around family and care commitments and offer a highly effective support package, including one-on-one coaching. Learners benefit greatly from the opportunity to meet and work with others in face-to-face lessons and through the group social media page.

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Significant progress

Leaders have high aspirations for their learners. They have designed a challenging course that focuses on learner progress and continuous improvement. This ensures that learners are well prepared to develop their businesses.

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Significant progress

Tutors are highly qualified and have significant experience in the service business and coaching sectors. They use this experience to design course content that develops both personal skills and business acumen. Learners rapidly acquire new knowledge and skills that help them grow and sustain their businesses.

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Significant progress

Leaders use their established networks to test the relevance of their course. They adapt their training plan swiftly to meet the specific needs of their current learners. Tutors self-reflect after each lesson and adjust their training. Leaders switch the Monitoring visit: The Skills Blueprint Ltd, 25 and 26 November 2024 mode of delivery from online to face-to-face when they believe learners will benefit more from individual tutor support in topics such as content marketing.

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Significant progress

Leaders provide tailored support to learners. They keep cohorts small to offer highly personalised tuition. Leaders know their learners and their individual businesses well. Learners report that this personalised approach is one of the most beneficial aspects of the course.

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Significant progress

Learners quickly become more skilled and proficient, adapting their marketing strategies based on the skills they acquire. They report increased bookings and more website traffic.

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Significant progress

Leaders plan for ongoing support after course completion by maintaining access to peer learning groups and monthly coaching sessions. They aim to help learners maintain business improvements and have sustained success. However, it is too early to judge the impact of this.

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Significant progress

Learners benefit from high-quality training that equips them with the knowledge and skills to run successful and sustainable businesses. Leaders focus on topics such as pricing and digital marketing while also recognising the importance of mindfulness. They aspire for their learners to be happy and healthy business owners.

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Significant progress

Leaders have developed the course logically. Learners start with self-analysis before moving on to topics such as brand visuals and pricing. They then expand their knowledge in various tools to use within their businesses, such as copywriting, lead magnets and social media.

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Significant progress

Learners complete a thorough initial assessment, and tutors know their learners very well. Tutors use this information effectively to plan lessons and make learning relevant to everyone. They are skilled at facilitating conversations between learners to develop their answers. This allows learners to benefit from each other’s knowledge and experience.

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Significant progress

Learners’ written work is of a good standard. Tutors check and provide helpful feedback on learners’ work and correct errors in the use of the English language in online branding and written content. Learners practise creative writing in the copywriting module and make changes to their brand material based on tutor feedback and guidance.

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Significant progress

Tutors check learners’ progress effectively during and at the end of each lesson. Learners complete a post-lesson evaluation form to explain the impact of the new learning on them as individuals and how they apply it to their business. Leaders use Monitoring visit: The Skills Blueprint Ltd, 25 and 26 November 2024 this information well to inform their future training plans. Tutors quickly notice if a learner is struggling in the lesson and provide swift and effective support.

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Significant progress

Leaders and tutors support learners very well. They have high expectations for attendance and provide coaching sessions to address any learning gaps quickly. Tutors hold weekly ‘replay’ lessons that learners must attend if they miss a session. Leaders stay well informed about learners’ progress. Most learners report significant positive outcomes in their own businesses already.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders are aware of their duties to ensure the safety of their learners. They have implemented suitable policies and procedures appropriate for the adult learners they work with. Learners feel that the learning environment is a safe space where they can freely share their experiences.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead is suitably qualified. Staff undergo relevant training to ensure they can recognise and report incidents if they occur.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have an appropriate ‘Prevent’ duty risk assessment in place and understand localised risks. However, they acknowledge the need to do more to ensure learners are aware of, and kept up to date with, changes to risks that may affect them. Monitoring visit: The Skills Blueprint Ltd, 25 and 26 November 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 and child protection.

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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 .

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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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