Claudius Consulting Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Claudius Consulting Limited

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

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

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Information about this provider

Claudius Consulting Limited is an independent learning provider based in York. It started providing apprenticeships in March 2023. The provider delivers training online across England. At the time of the inspection, there were 10 apprentices on the level 5 improvement specialist apprenticeship, 14 on the level 4 improvement practitioner apprenticeship and fewer than five on the level 3 improvement technician apprenticeship. Apprentices are aged 19 or above. 1 to 3 July 2025

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

Apprentices demonstrate professional behaviours in the workplace and in training away from the workplace. They are respectful, take responsibility for their work and enjoy their training. Apprentices produce work of a good standard and are motivated to achieve distinction grades.

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

Tutors provide apprentices with helpful information about the risks that they may face in the areas where they live and work. Apprentices understand fundamental British values and know the importance of demonstrating respect and tolerance in situations where they encounter views different to their own. For example, apprentices who work in the NHS are aware that they may meet and treat patients who may be vulnerable to being influenced by extremist views.

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

Tutors inform apprentices of the future career pathways available to them on completion of their apprenticeship. Apprentices have a clear understanding of how they can achieve the British Quality Foundation Lean Six Sigma Belt certification, which confirms they demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to deliver projects that drive organisational change.

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

Apprentices feel safe and know who to report concerns to. Tutors teach them useful topics that help them to maintain their own and others’ safety, positive mental health and well-being.

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

Too many apprentices do not receive sufficient initial advice and guidance at the start of their apprenticeships. Too many have left before completing due to a lack of awareness about workload expectations. A few apprentices continue to struggle with the demands of the apprenticeship.

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better?

Leaders’ arrangements for moving apprentices to the final assessment are not effective. Staff do not assess apprentices’ work quickly enough, and too many apprentices experience significant delays in achieving their apprenticeship. Leaders recognise this as an area that they need to improve rapidly. They have appointed new tutors to mark final assessments and speed up the assessment process. However, it is too early to see the impact of these actions.

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better?

Leaders deliver improvement specialist apprenticeships effectively that meet the needs of employers in the service and manufacturing industries. The curriculum helps apprentices develop their knowledge of Lean Six Sigma principles so they can contribute effectively to their workplaces by improving performance and quality and reducing costs and waste.

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better?

Tutors teach the curriculum in a logical order. They introduce simple measurement and analytical tools at the start of training before moving on to more sophisticated data analysis, which helps apprentices prepare for project work. 1 to 3 July 2025

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Tutors are well qualified and provide effective training to apprentices. They use a range of teaching methods well to help apprentices understand new learning. These include modelling answers using case studies based on their own experiences, which helps apprentices to understand different approaches to use when solving problems.

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Tutors use a wide range of effective assessment methods during training sessions to check apprentices’ understanding. They ask apprentices useful questions. They also observe group discussions and set quiz questions to test apprentices’ ability to recall what they have learned. Tutors then give clear and helpful feedback on apprentices’ project work about how they can improve it.

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Tutors provide effective support for apprentices with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Tutors make sure that apprentices who have dyslexia attend additional one-to-one sessions where they present information in different ways to help these apprentices understand the concepts they struggle with. As a result of the support that they receive, apprentices with SEND make similar progress to their peers.

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Tutors help apprentices prepare well for their assessments. They help apprentices practise for presentations and professional discussions by setting mock examinations. Apprentices who complete their apprenticeship achieve very well and receive promotions and higher-paid roles.

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Leaders make sure that employers understand their responsibilities in relation to supporting apprentices. Employers attend progress reviews where they discuss with tutors how to support apprentices in their workplaces. As a result, the projects that apprentices undertake to improve business practices link closely to their off-the-job training. For example, apprentices apply Lean Six Sigma principles that improve fabrication manufacturing processes and reduce wastage and cost.

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Leaders and managers undertake a range of quality assurance activities to understand how effectively training is delivered. They visit tutors’ lessons to evaluate the quality of their teaching and coaching and provide tutors with feedback about what they can do to improve. Leaders have accurately identified issues with assessment marking. However, they have been too slow to take action to tackle this weakness.

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Governors have a clear understanding of the quality of education and training. They use their knowledge and experience of apprenticeship provision well to challenge leaders to rectify weaknesses such as previous retention and achievement issues. Governors recognise that leaders’ actions continue to be too slow and are carefully monitoring and supporting them with making improvements.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 1 to 3 July 2025

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Make sure that apprentices proceed to their final assessments in a timely manner.  Ensure that actions identified to improve weaknesses are implemented swiftly.  Fully implement effective initial advice and guidance so that apprentices understand the demands and expectations of taking an apprenticeship. 1 to 3 July 2025

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Provider details

Address Blake House 18 Blake Street York YO1 8QG

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Claudius Cole

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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 1 to 3 July 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the apprentice manager, 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

Chloe Rendall, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Jacquie Brown His Majesty’s Inspector 1 to 3 July 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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