Futures Training Group Ltd

Futures Training Group Ltd Monitoring visit report

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Name of lead inspector:

Anita Pyrkotsch-Jones, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection dates: 30 June and 1 July 2025

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Name of lead inspector:

Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Name of lead inspector:

Address: 192 Allerton Road Mossley Hill Liverpool Merseyside L18 5HU Monitoring visit: Futures Training Group Ltd, 30 June and 1 July 2025

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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

Futures Training Group Ltd is an independent learning provider based in Liverpool. The provider began offering Skills Bootcamps in April 2024. At the time of the monitoring visit, 27 learners were studying on the 16-week level 3 diploma in gym instructing and personal training across Warrington and Cheshire. Learners attend face-to-face training one day per week. This training is supplemented by online and distance learning. Cheshire East Council provide the funding for the Skills Bootcamp.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have worked closely with Cheshire East Council, and employers and stakeholders in the active leisure sector to plan and implement the level 3 diploma in gym instructing and personal training. Leaders have chosen the course to help reduce skills shortages in the active leisure sector, particularly in gyms in Cheshire and Warrington. Leaders meet frequently with Cheshire East Council to ensure that the Skills Bootcamp meets the needs of learners, employers and the community and to identify suitable job vacancies for Skills Bootcamp learners.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders work with employers and stakeholders to plan a suitable curriculum for learners to become qualified gym instructors and personal trainers. They discuss the sequencing of the curriculum with stakeholders and use employer premises to teach and assess the theoretical and practical components of the course.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers understand their business and are experts in the active leisure sector. They have high expectations of, and are ambitious for, their learners. Leaders monitor the courses very carefully and meet weekly to monitor the progress of learners. When learners fall behind with their work, tutors and leaders support them effectively to catch up.

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Reasonable progress

Almost all learners remain on their course and complete their qualification. Learners are offered and attend guaranteed interviews. Learners become self-employed or are Monitoring visit: Futures Training Group Ltd, 30 June and 1 July 2025 employed by local gyms. All learners in the current cohort remain on the Skills Bootcamp.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have recently started to put in place governance arrangements. They have recruited governors with financial expertise or experience in the education sector and in the active leisure industry. The governing body is yet to have its first meeting.

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Reasonable progress

The curriculum is ordered logically, which helps learners incrementally build their knowledge, skills and behaviours in gym instructing and personal training. Learners first learn about the importance of warming up and cooling down correctly before and after exercise. A range of mobility exercises are then integrated into weekly teaching to add complexity to exercise sessions. Learners then move on to more complex topics such as anatomy and physiology. As a result, learners are well prepared for their practical and written assessments.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors use a range of strategies to identify what learners already know and can do at the start of the course. They use this information to plan personalised programmes for learners. For example, learners who have more experience in using gym equipment lead group activities, explaining the purpose of the equipment and demonstrating its use to their peers.

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Reasonable progress

Tutors’ feedback to learners following assessment is too variable. Following practical assessments, tutors provide learners with detailed and helpful verbal feedback that accurately identifies what learners have done well and what they need to do to improve their gym instructing and personal training techniques. Tutors’ written feedback on learners’ assignments identifies what learners have done well but does not identify how learners can further improve their work.

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Reasonable progress

Learners attend regular meetings with their tutors to monitor progress and agree targets for improvement. Most learners are set the same generic targets, which are not specific enough to meet their individual needs.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have appropriate policies, processes and systems in place to keep Skills Bootcamp learners safe. No safeguarding incidents or concerns have been reported, which means that safeguarding processes and systems remain untested.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders receive training and updates in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. The Monitoring visit: Futures Training Group Ltd, 30 June and 1 July 2025 safeguarding lead is well qualified for their role.

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Reasonable progress

Learners report that they feel safe and know who to contact if they have any issues, worries or concerns. Monitoring visit: Futures Training Group Ltd, 30 June and 1 July 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 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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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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