House Builder XL Limited (HBXL)

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of House Builder XL Limited (HBXL)

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Overall effectiveness Good

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

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Information about this provider

HBXL is an independent learning provider offering Skills Bootcamps for the construction sector to adult learners. At the time of the inspection there were 16 adults on courses, eight of whom were studying computer-aided design (CAD) for construction. The remaining learners were studying business management or estimating skills for construction firms. The Skills Bootcamps are taught entirely online to learners across the country over at least 16 successive weeks. Careers advice and guidance is provided by a subcontractor, Paul Burns. 9 to 11 July 2025

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

Learners enjoy their learning very much. They feel safe in the welcoming online environment created by their tutors. Learners value highly the very useful new knowledge and skills they gain. For example, they learn how to use digital tools to support the planning, costing and invoicing of projects and become confident in using these skills. This helps learners to improve efficiency in their businesses or to gain employment in the construction sector.

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

Learners respond positively to leaders’ clear and high expectations for attendance and commitment to learning. Learners’ attendance at live online sessions is high. Learners have highly positive attitudes to their learning.

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

Learners enjoy a rich set of experiences tailored to meet the needs of adults working in construction. For example, tutors direct learners to additional e-learning modules that help learners to show their wider interest and knowledge to future employers.

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

Learners are supported extremely well with their next steps. Mentors at the subcontractor provide expert and highly personalised careers guidance to each learner. They provide valuable and practical support. For example, learners seeking employment are taught how to best present themselves in online and face-to-face interviews. Learners become resilient to setbacks and refine their preparation for further interviews.

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better?

Leaders have a clear and ambitious vision to support micro and small construction businesses to upskill their workforce through high-quality, industry-specific digital training. Leaders work well with industry bodies and employers to ensure they design up-to-date curriculum content that is relevant for the needs of construction businesses. For example, learners studying CAD first learn about planning regulations and how to apply for planning permission. They then apply this knowledge through designing a series of more complex projects.

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better?

Leaders and tutors skilfully plan and sequence their training. They ensure that learners practise what they learn in training sessions and through the completion of independent tasks between sessions. This supports learners to commit new knowledge and skills to their long-term memory.

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better?

Tutors are industry experts and keep their knowledge up to date on topics such as planning regulations through relevant industry training. Tutors use their experience well to enrich their teaching, such as using real-life scenarios to explain the importance of legislation.

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better?

Tutors present information clearly and demonstrate the use of software well online. Leaders and tutors ensure learners use high-quality resources to support their 9 to 11 July 2025

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learning. Learners have access to industry-specific software, digital templates and recordings of their training sessions. Learners find these very useful. For example, they watch the recordings to catch up on any missed sessions and to revisit previous learning. However, tutors do not consistently check learners’ understanding well enough to identify potential gaps or misconceptions during taught sessions.

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Leaders and managers support tutors well to complete relevant training to improve their teaching skills. Leaders provide guidance to tutors to improve their knowledge of useful methods to check learning online. However, tutors do not apply these skills consistently well.

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Tutors provide learners with comprehensive feedback on their assessments. They make it clear what the learner has done well and how to improve further. Learners respond very well to their feedback to make improvements. As a result, learners produce high-quality work to industry standards.

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Almost all learners who start their Skills Bootcamp complete their course. A high proportion of employed learners make significant new contributions to their businesses. Many learners who were unemployed at the start of the course are successful at gaining employment in construction.

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Tutors teach relevant topics to learners in the context of construction. For example, tutors teach fundamental British values using examples, such as the rule of law in relation to compliance with health and safety regulations. Tutors also help learners to understand the importance of mental health and staying safe online, both in their personal and business lives.

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Leaders and managers have a clear and accurate view of the quality of their Skills Bootcamps. They identify suitable actions for further development, including what training tutors need to develop further their skills in teaching online. However, leaders recognise rightly that they lack formal governance arrangements to provide them with additional scrutiny and challenge and support the future strategic direction of the organisation.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Improve the checking of learners’ understanding during online training sessions.  Establish arrangements for governance to provide additional support, scrutiny and challenge. 9 to 11 July 2025

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Provider details

Website https://skillsacademy.hbxl.co.uk

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Provider details

Principal, CEO or equivalent Joanna Mulgrew

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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 Paul Burns (sole trader) 9 to 11 July 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the managing director, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous monitoring visit 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

Lowenna Bradley, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector Steve Battersby His Majesty’s Inspector Matt Hann His Majesty’s Inspector 9 to 11 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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