Equals Training Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Equals Training Limited is a national training provider that is based in Carnforth, Lancashire. It provides apprenticeships to employers in the security sector. At the time of inspection, there were 93 apprentices: 55 on level 3 security first line manager, nine on level 3 team leader or supervisor (team leader), nine on level 5 operations or departmental manager, nine on level 3 community health and well- being worker and seven on level 3 custody and detention professional. The remaining apprentices were on level 3 business administrator and level 2 professional security operative. 3 to 6 June 2025

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

Apprentices find their learning enjoyable. They build trusting relationships with tutors. Apprentices consider themselves to be part of a community. Tutors make sure apprentices feel valued, respected and well supported. Apprentices attend well.

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

Apprentices develop their confidence and self-esteem because of what they learn on their apprenticeship. Level 3 security first line manager apprentices are confident and assertive when managing security incidents.

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

Apprentices quickly develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. Level 3 team leader apprentices manage conflict effectively within their teams at work. Level 3 community health and well-being worker apprentices work compassionately with individuals to identify and address health and well-being needs. They make helpful referrals to the appropriate agencies. Employers value the contribution that their apprentices make at work as a result of their training.

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

Apprentices routinely apply at work what they learn about fundamental British values. When completing work rotas, level 3 security first line manager apprentices consider carefully their staff’s religious backgrounds to enable staff to participate in religious events.

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

Most apprentices studying level 3 team leader and level 3 community health and well-being worker know how to keep themselves safe from the risks associated with radicalisation and extremism. However, most level 3 security first line manager apprentices have a limited recall of this topic.

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better?

Leaders have a clear purpose for their apprenticeship offer. They provide a range of apprenticeships for employers in the security sector to support staff to develop their skills and improve their career opportunities. After completing their apprenticeship, most apprentices gain promotion, receive additional duties, or move on to further learning.

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better?

Tutors teach a logically sequenced curriculum. For instance, level 3 security first line manager apprentices learn how to communicate effectively to a range of stakeholders inside and outside the business. They then learn about the responsibilities and traits of successful leaders, which helps them to develop their own leadership style. In the final stages of their apprenticeship, tutors teach apprentices about more-complex topics such as contract management and how to effectively manage staff whose performance does not meet expected standards. Apprentices quickly become trusted members of their teams at work.

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better?

Leaders ensure that tutors are appropriately qualified and experienced to teach apprentices. They provide a range training for staff, such as how to improve online teaching skills using breakout rooms, and managing apprentices’ engagement 3 to 6 June 2025

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through active questioning and regular check-ins throughout an online session. Tutors learn about pedagogical theory. They benefit from training on instructional strategies and cognitive load. This enables tutors to improve further their teaching knowledge and skills. Most apprentices make at least their expected progress.

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Most tutors make effective use of the information they have about apprentices’ starting points. They use this information to make sure that teaching meets apprentices’ individual needs, including for the few apprentices who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Tutors provide additional one-to-one coaching sessions and arrange for extended examination time. They make sure that apprentices who have SEND receive the support they need to make the same progress as other apprentices.

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Teaching and assessment are effective. Level 3 security first line manager tutors give clear explanations to help apprentices understand about the stages of team formation. Tutors use appropriate questioning techniques to identify what apprentices remember. As a result, apprentices readily recall what they learn. For example, level 3 security first line manager apprentices explain clearly the difference between human and physical resources as first line managers in an organisation. Just over half of apprentices achieve distinction grades in their final assessments.

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Most line managers of apprentices studying level 3 team leader and level 3 community health and well-being worker attend their apprentices’ progress reviews. Tutors and apprentices’ line managers plan activities at work for apprentices to practise their skills. However, line managers of level 3 security first line manager apprentices do not routinely attend their apprentices’ progress reviews. Despite this, these apprentices make sure they are not disadvantaged. They plan opportunities with their line managers to apply at work what they learn in their training.

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Leaders have not ensured that all apprentices benefit from high-quality careers information, advice and guidance. While most team leader and community health and well-being worker apprentices benefit from information to help them plan their next steps, too few level 3 security first line manager apprentices have received sufficient information from tutors to help them make well-informed choices about the next steps in their career. Leaders have immediate plans in place to strengthen the consistency and quality of careers information, advice and guidance to all apprentices. They plan to implement imminently a well thought out and useful private security profession map which includes aspects such as a career compass with a self-assessment, a pledge for professional development, a career development plan and an action plan with self-reflection.

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Leaders are honest in their evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of their provision. Their quality assurance of the curriculum is effective. Leaders’ actions are steadily improving the quality of education for apprentices. For example, leaders have improved the number of apprentices who remain on, and achieve, their apprenticeship. 3 to 6 June 2025

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Board members receive a range of appropriate information from leaders. This helps them to understand the strengths and areas that they need to improve. Board members closely monitor the areas that need improving. They hold leaders to account to make the necessary changes to improve the quality of apprentices’ training.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Provide all apprentices with high-quality careers information, advice and guidance so that they can make well-informed choices about their next career steps.  Ensure that line managers of apprentices studying level 3 security first line manager routinely attend their apprentice’s progress review to plan and agree with tutors what apprentices need to practise at work. 3 to 6 June 2025

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Provider details

Address 3 Bessemer Suite Ironworks House Warton Road Carnforth LA5 9EX

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 3 to 6 June 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the director, 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

Kim Bleasdale, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Liz Greenhalgh Ofsted Inspector Alison Humphreys 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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