The Working Knowledge Group Limited

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of The Working Knowledge Group Limited

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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Information about this provider

The Working Knowledge Group, known as Working Knowledge, is an independent training provider based in Bristol. They teach apprentices from all over England.

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Information about this provider

At the time of the inspection, there were 28 apprentices studying the multichannel marketer standard. All training sessions are taught online, and all apprentices are aged 18 or over. 5 to 7 August 2025

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

Apprentices enjoy their training and take pride in the contributions they make to their companies. They consistently demonstrate professional behaviours and show high levels of respect for their peers and staff while at work and when training. This is created because trainers, coaches and employers prioritise building positive relationships and maintaining a purposeful atmosphere during training sessions and at work.

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

Apprentices develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to be successful. For example, apprentices utilise marketing methods to analyse and improve customer relationship management. They learn to create typical customer profiles, enabling their companies to better target and evaluate the impact of marketing activities.

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

Apprentices engage in projects that boost their confidence. Staff and employers encourage apprentices to try new ideas and work on real work projects. For instance, apprentices redesign their company’s website by applying the skills and knowledge they gain from their apprenticeship, and then confidently present their ideas to senior leaders in their organisation.

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

Apprentices feel safe during training and in the workplace. They know who to talk to with any concerns, which are taken seriously and addressed swiftly. Leaders and staff have created an environment where bullying, harassment and discrimination are never tolerated.

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better?

Leaders have established an ambitious curriculum for apprentices, including those with special educational needs. They are committed to assisting small and start-up companies in acquiring the expertise necessary to develop and maintain effective marketing functions. Apprentices gain the practical application of skills that positively impacts the companies they work for by enhancing their online presence and profile.

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better?

Leaders and trainers have developed a curriculum that is logically sequenced. First apprentices are taught about who their customers are, how to communicate effectively with them and how organisations use data. Apprentices then move to website design, using search engine optimisation tools and social media, including artificial intelligence. Following this, apprentices build on collaborating with clients, using email and automation to maximise their relationship. This ensures that apprentices make good progress and build their knowledge and skills over time.

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better?

The majority of the training is effective. Trainers set challenging tasks, which apprentices tackle positively, consistently producing high-quality work. Trainers make sure that employers know what apprentices are taught, and on- and off-the job training aligns well. When teaching new content, trainers use examples that 5 to 7 August 2025

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apprentices can relate to, based on the jobs they have. However, a few trainers present large amounts of information without sufficiently checking if the apprentices understand the content before moving on to the next topic.

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Leaders have implemented a personal development programme that improves apprentices understanding of a wide range of topics. Staff teach apprentices about various themes, such as fundamental British values and mental health awareness. This programme is well sequenced, starting with discussions on safeguarding, how to protect themselves from the risks associated with radicalisation and how to stay safe online. However, not all topics are taught well enough to ensure that apprentices remember what they have been taught and can apply these topics in their work.

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Staff promote equality and diversity well. They encourage apprentices to consider their client groups and the messages they convey. Apprentices understand concepts of sensitive material and ensure that the message they communicate is accessible and understood by different communities. Apprentices are encouraged to join professional associations to widen their experiences, such as ‘Women in Marketing’.

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Coaches provide apprentices with good information about career options and next steps. Coaches work well with apprentices to enhance CVs based on the experience gained during the programme. Coaches discuss promotions and advancing apprentices roles within their organisations. Consequently, apprentices have successfully redefined their job roles and achieved promotions, along with salary increases.

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Training staff new to the business undertake a broad induction programme and more experienced staff complete peer-on- peer observations. However, leaders and managers do not ensure that training staff get enough ongoing professional development to enhance their knowledge of teaching practice over time.

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The role of governance is effectively undertaken by the managing director of Working Knowledge. He ensures that the provider meets the statutory requirements with respect to education and training. He understands the responsibility he has for oversight of the provider’s performance and offers appropriate challenge and support to the leaders and managers. Leaders have rightly recognised that external strategic scrutiny would help to further enhance their practices.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 5 to 7 August 2025

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Ensure that training staff receive effective professional development focused on developing their knowledge of teaching practice, so that all trainers and coaches assess apprentices understanding of curriculum content before moving on.  Ensure that all apprentices’ personal development topics are effectively taught and assessed so that apprentices remember what they have been taught. 5 to 7 August 2025

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Provider details

Address 86 Shirehampton Road, Bristol BS9 2DR

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Website

Provider type Independent training provider

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Website

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Main subcontractors

Working Knowledge do not work with any subcontractors 5 to 7 August 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the operations 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

Steve Battersby, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Cliff Shaw His Majesty’s Inspector Steve Kelly His Majesty’s Inspector 5 to 7 August 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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