Fuel Learning Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Outstanding

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

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Information about this provider

Fuel Learning Limited is a privately owned national training provider located in Swadlincote. The provider works with levy-paying employers to provide leadership and management apprenticeships. Most apprentices work in logistics or the facilities management sector in supervisory team leader, operational manager or senior leader roles. During the inspection week, there were 1014 apprentices. Of these, 489 were studying towards the level 3 team leader apprenticeship, 343 were studying towards level 5 operations manager apprenticeship and 182 were studying the level 7 senior leader apprenticeship. All apprentices were over the age of 18. 3 to 6 June 2025

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

Apprentices are extremely satisfied with the education and training they receive. They are ambitious for their futures and so their attitudes towards their education are highly positive. They have very clearly defined long-term and intermediate career goals that are agreed with their employer and the provider staff.

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

Apprentices value highly their coaching and facilitation sessions and the professional relationships they build with provider staff. Staff create calm and supportive learning environments. They build trust by having frequent professional dialogue with apprentices and their line managers. The strong partnership allows swift action and support if apprentices require it. A very high proportion of apprentices achieve their apprenticeship.

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

Apprentices understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff ensure apprentices are alert to their own personal safety and the safety of their team at work. Apprentices are given access to a broad range of high-quality safeguarding resources that help them to be confident about getting help if they need it. They become increasingly confident in supporting their staff at work and they know who to contact if they have any concerns.

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

Apprentices develop their confidence and resilience exceptionally well throughout their studies. Level 3 team leader apprentices improve their communication skills, including how to give leadership messages professionally and succinctly. They learn how to use management tools to plan for difficult conversations and grow in confidence when using these. Apprentices become resilient to setbacks and challenges in their daily working roles.

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better?

Leaders have high expectations of staff and apprentices. They set ambitious targets to drive high achievement, distinction grades and attendance. Leaders closely monitor performance against these targets and take decisive action to ensure staff work towards achieving them. Governors use their extensive education and sector expertise very effectively to test leaders’ strategy to achieve high standards. A very high proportion of apprentices pass their apprenticeship and achieve distinction grades.

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better?

Leaders have a very clear rationale for the curriculums they provide. The curriculums’ focus on the development of leaders and managers who can make a positive impact at work. Leaders and staff combine coaching, facilitation and online learning skilfully so that apprentices experience a rich and extensive curriculum.

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better?

Leaders ensure curriculums are enhanced with an impressive variety of learning opportunities so that learning is tailored. Apprentices enrich their learning in topics, such as business finance and governance, mental health awareness for managers, 3 to 6 June 2025

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difficult conversations and conflict management. Apprentices value this additional learning and develop beneficial skills.

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Leaders and staff ensure apprentices are very well prepared for life in modern Britain. Level 5 operations manager apprentices gain a secure understanding of the dangers of radicalisation and the action they would need to take if they suspected someone was being radicalised. Apprentices can identify their local area risks and take sensible actions at work to lower these. For example, they monitor colleagues’ travel arrangements to ensure they travel safely. Level 3 team leader apprentices consider how they can promote and demonstrate fundamental British values at work. For example, they support staff who have been on long-term sick to reintegrate into the workplace and feel valued by their employer.

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Facilitators and coaches are experts in leadership and management. Leaders ensure staff receive frequent and extensive training to continuously develop their teaching and sector skills. The quality of education that apprentices receive is exceptional. Facilitators use a broad range of teaching and coaching methods to ensure apprentices securely understand key concepts. On level 3 team leader, facilitators make clear links between theory and real-life scenarios. They break learning into chunks so that apprentices can remember and apply what they have learned. Apprentices develop their understanding of emotional intelligence and how this can be used to improve their communication with team members. They apply learned techniques to provide feedback to staff and to prepare for challenging conversations.

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Managers and staff identify apprentices with additional learning needs or disabilities. Support staff meet frequently with these apprentices to closely monitor their progress. Facilitators and coaches appropriately adapt their teaching and ensure apprentices receive the support they need to complete their apprenticeship.

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Apprentices develop substantial new knowledge, skills and behaviours that have a positive impact at work. Level 7 senior leader apprentices learn how to write strategic business proposals and develop stakeholder management skills. They can expertly apply their new skills to tender for new business and oversee large projects for new business premises.

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Facilitators and coaches provide helpful and constructive feedback that enables apprentices to make strong progress. Level 5 operations manager apprentices act on feedback to improve their organisational behaviours and to respond and react to a wider range of workplace scenarios.

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Leaders and staff take clear and effective action to ensure that apprentices understand the options available to them when they complete their studies. Apprentices’ long-term aspirations are discussed during tripartite progress reviews and apprentices develop a personal development plan to assist with future career development. A high proportion move onto a higher-level of study or study additional qualifications to further enhance their skills for work. Level 3 team leader apprentices are given helpful guidance on how to secure promotions at work. 3 to 6 June 2025

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 3 to 6 June 2025

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Provider details

Address Unit 6 Measham Lodge Business Park Gallows Swadlincote DE12 7HA

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Ian Prentice

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection 24 to 27 September 2019

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Provider details

Main subcontractors Not applicable 3 to 6 June 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the head of apprenticeships, 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

Rachel Clark, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Martin Ward His Majesty’s Inspector Mark Parton His Majesty’s Inspector Simon Kent Ofsted Inspector Helen Kinghorn Ofsted Inspector Jonny Wright His Majesty’s Inspector Helen Morgan His Majesty’s Inspector 3 to 6 June 2025

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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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