ABA Procurement Ltd

ABA Procurement Limited Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector: Philip Elliott, Ofsted Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

Henderson Business Centre 51 Ivy Road Norwich NR5 8BF Monitoring visit: ABA Procurement Limited, 26 and 27 March 2025

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Context and focus of visit

Ofsted undertakes to carry out monitoring visits to all newly directly funded providers of apprenticeship training provision funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and/or the apprenticeship levy. 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

ABA Procurement Limited (ABA) is an independent learning provider founded in 2012 (trading as Anglia Business Academy) to provide Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply qualifications as a subcontractor to a local college. In 2023, ABA began to offer their own apprenticeships as an approved provider.

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Context and focus of visit

At the time of the monitoring visit, ABA was providing training for 26 apprentices. 19 apprentices are on the level 4 procurement and supply chain practitioner apprenticeship and the remaining 7 apprentices study the level 3 procurement and supply assistant apprenticeship.

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Context and focus of visit

Apprentices study in a combination of face-to-face and online learning. They work in a range of business settings across East Anglia and beyond.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed a procurement curriculum that meets local and regional skills gaps. Leaders work effectively with employers to tailor the curriculum to better meet their needs. For example, by restructuring teaching to support seasonal priorities in the refrigerator industry. As a result, apprentices increase their contribution to the workplace.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders plan the apprenticeship with employers from the start of their training by identifying workplace opportunities to practise skills. For example, apprentices gain experience of contract management projects through work shadowing senior procurement leads. Apprentices make good progress in the development of workplace skills. Monitoring visit: ABA Procurement Limited, 26 and 27 March 2025 Leaders sequence the curriculum so that apprentices start their training with modules that increase their confidence. For example, starting their learning with a preparatory unit on meeting business needs. Apprentices are motivated to continue their studies.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders use a good range of quality assurance processes to continually improve the impact of the curriculum. They carry out apprentice surveys after every module of study, analyse the outcomes and act on areas for development. For example, when apprentices identified that they need more practice questions, leaders provided mock examination papers. Consequently, apprentices approach their examinations with increased confidence.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders carry out useful and regular lesson observations. These provide helpful feedback to tutors by identifying what they do well and what could be improved. However, although leaders identify it as a priority on their improvement plans, tutors do not yet benefit from ongoing development of their teaching practice.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders’ arrangements to hold each other to account for quality improvement, for example via target setting or performance management, are underdeveloped. Leaders recognise that due to their collaborative leadership approach, they would benefit from external support from a suitable professional. However, plans to introduce this role are yet to be implemented.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices make good progress appropriate to their level of study. For example, on the level 4 procurement and supply chain practitioner apprenticeship, they apply their learning about ethical procurement at work by influencing social value processes and policies. On the level 3 procurement and supply assistant apprenticeship, they develop their understanding of the different roles and employers in the sector. As a result, apprentices enhance their career opportunities.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors have good vocational knowledge gained from their extensive experience in the procurement sector. They use this knowledge effectively in lessons to ask targeted questions to check apprentices’ understanding. However, in a few cases apprentices’ basic responses are too readily accepted by tutors who do not probe apprentices’ understanding in detail.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors mark apprentices’ work carefully. They identify its strengths and where it could be improved. Apprentices act on this feedback promptly. As a result, apprentices all pass their examinations at the first attempt. Apprentices develop a good understanding of fundamental British values and their importance at work and in society. Apprentices show their understanding of mutual respect and tolerance by Monitoring visit: ABA Procurement Limited, 26 and 27 March 2025 explaining the importance of collaborative supplier relationships in a high-risk market. They show their understanding of the rule of law by referencing contractual agreements and procurement regulations.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices benefit from regular and frequent reviews of their progress. They discuss their current skills and knowledge with their employer and a skills coach. They agree targets for further development. These task-based targets enable apprentices to make good progress towards the achievement of their diploma. However, targets do not always focus sufficiently on the development of their wider skills and knowledge.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices continue to develop their English and mathematics skills throughout the apprenticeship. They develop their English skills through written tasks, in class presentations and discussions. They learn about economic order quantities while considering storage costs. Apprentices use ratios and consider economic values in relation to company values when evaluating supplier contracts.

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Reasonable progress

The ethos of safeguarding is firmly embedded at ABA. From the start of the apprentices’ programme, safeguarding is given a high priority. Staff are well trained to appropriate levels, and they work closely with external agencies. For example, leaders meet with the ‘Prevent’ coordinator to review their Prevent risk assessment.

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Reasonable progress

Apprentices feel safe at ABA and when working online. They know who to go to if they should have any concerns and are confident to do so. Apprentices learn in a safe space where mutual respect and tolerance are fundamental values.

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Reasonable progress

A few apprentices do not have a thorough understanding of the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. Most apprentices have some understanding that working in a large business can attract extremist attention or protests. They understand how procurement should consider the need for ethical considerations such as use of child labour. However, a few do not develop a secure understanding of this important aspect of life in modern Britain. Monitoring visit: ABA Procurement Limited, 26 and 27 March 2025 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

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Reasonable progress

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

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