Gain Training

Name of lead inspector: Alastair Mollon, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Type of provider: Independent learning provider

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Address:

6 Hollingworth Hall Farm Hobson Moor Road Mottram Hyde Cheshire SK14 6SQ Monitoring visit: Gain Training, 20 and 21 August 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

Gain Training is an independent learning provider, based in Hyde, Cheshire. Gain Training received its first funding for a Skills Bootcamp pilot from Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington in September 2024 and a contract for wave 6 Skills Bootcamps from April 2025. At the time of the monitoring visit, Gain Training had 64 learners enrolled on level 3 Skills Bootcamps. There were 33 learners studying retrofit external wall insulation (EWI) and 31 learners studying occupational work supervision (OWS). Learners complete their training on construction sites.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have developed ambitious curriculums. They provide learners with the knowledge and skills that they need to enhance and secure supervisory and retrofit external wall insulation and cladding jobs in the construction sector.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders plan the curriculum in close consultation with their key employers to make sure that learners develop the skills needed to fill shortages in the industry. Learners complete their Skills Bootcamps and most achieve a level 3 EWI or OWS qualification. This makes them eligible to apply for a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Gold card as a skilled worker. Leaders adapt and extend the curriculum, providing additional training in desirable and high-demand specialisms such as cold roof insulation.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders, who also teach, are experts in the construction and training sectors. They have extensive industry experience as well as teaching, training, assessing and verification qualifications. Leaders maintain their vocational currency through regular site visits, updates and conversations with employers.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders have an accurate oversight of the progress that learners make during their training. They monitor learners’ progress through onsite teaching sessions, regular Monitoring visit: Gain Training, 20 and 21 August 2025 reviews, and assessment of learners’ online portfolio work. When learners struggle to attend training because of late changes to their work schedules or because they are working away, leaders provide additional sessions to help them catch up.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders know the strengths and weaknesses of the provision. They use quality assurance and improvement measures including standardisation processes, and internal and external verification to improve the quality of training. Leaders also use information from learner and employer feedback to make improvements to the curriculum.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders recognise that governance requires development. They have plans in place to recruit external governors to provide leaders with the support and challenge that they need.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and trainers sequence the curriculums logically, helping learners to develop their knowledge and complexity of skills during the Skills Bootcamp. All learners complete training in health and safety, including how to keep themselves and others safe on construction sites. They then build on these skills when they learn about the planning of tasks, securing suitable resources and the importance of completing jobs on time. EWI learners learn about the different types of cladding systems and how to fit these safely and securely. OWS learners complete training in supporting staff and ensuring competency in the workplace. Learners become competent and confident construction workers.

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Reasonable progress

Learners quickly develop new knowledge, skills and behaviours. They demonstrate an in-depth understanding of health and safety, such as the use of fire extinguishers onsite. Learners clearly articulate how they apply their learning in the workplace. EWI learners explain safe working at height. They use scissor lifts and scaffolding to safely reach their workstations and tether their equipment to tool belts to prevent it from falling from height.

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Reasonable progress

Trainers mostly provide useful feedback to learners following assessment. This informs learners about what they have done well and what they need to do to improve their work. However, trainers do not always mark or provide feedback on written knowledge checks.

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Reasonable progress

Learners are well prepared for their next steps. They take on additional responsibilities, are promoted or receive pay rises because of their training. Learners talk to their employers and trainers about additional qualifications and courses Monitoring visit: Gain Training, 20 and 21 August 2025 including leadership training and, for those who complete the EWI training, progression to the occupational work supervisor pathway.

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Reasonable progress

The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and trainers have the appropriate training, skills and experience to keep learners safe. The DSL has appropriate processes and systems in place to report, record, action and monitor any safeguarding issues and incidents that may occur.

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Reasonable progress

Learners feel safe and demonstrate a secure understanding of, and adherence to, stringent health and safety regulations onsite. Training staff routinely remind learners of the importance of mental health awareness and legislation on drug and alcohol misuse linked to the construction industry. They make safeguarding and welfare relevant and relatable to the lives and work of their learners. Monitoring visit: Gain Training, 20 and 21 August 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

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Reasonable progress

children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Reasonable progress

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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