EAS Mechanical Limited

EAS Mechanical limited Report following a monitoring visit to a ‘requires improvement’ provider

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Name of lead inspector: Nikki Brady, His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection dates: 24 and 25 September 2025

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Address:

69 St James Mill Road Northampton Northamptonshire NN5 5JP Monitoring visit: EAS Mechanical limited, 24 and 25 September 2025

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Context and focus of visit

EAS Mechanical limited was inspected in September 2024. At that time, inspectors judged the overall effectiveness of the provision to require improvement.

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Context and focus of visit

The focus of this monitoring visit was to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in resolving the main areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection.

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Significant progress

Apprentices routinely access high-quality opportunities, at work, that allow them to practise and apply a broad range of skills. Where apprentices are unable to develop specialised skills frequently enough in their job role, such as mineral cable installation, leaders ensure they have purposeful opportunities to practise these in well-equipped workshops. This prevents gaps in learning and ensures that apprentices are fully prepared for the demands of their trade. Apprentices swiftly develop their practical skills.

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Significant progress

Leaders and managers work very effectively with employers to integrate on- and off- the-job training. Employers receive clear and detailed information about the knowledge and skills apprentices are expected to acquire at each stage of their course, together with guidance on how these can be reinforced in the workplace. This ensures employers provide purposeful and well-planned on-the-job tasks that align closely with apprentices’ training.

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Significant progress

Leaders work closely with employers to review apprentices’ progress. They quickly adjust work schedules, so that apprentices gain valuable exposure to tasks they do not encounter in their day-to-day roles. When apprentices cannot develop essential skills with their own employer, they benefit from alternative placements, which provide the full range of on-the-job training needed to achieve their qualification.

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Significant progress

Staff focus closely on apprentices’ safe working practices, which forms a key part of their on-the-job training. Apprentices provide photographic evidence and method statements to show that they follow correct procedures, including all health and Monitoring visit: EAS Mechanical limited, 24 and 25 September 2025 safety requirements. Staff observe apprentices in the workplace to check that they apply their knowledge and skills correctly and consistently. This assures leaders that training activities remain effective and that apprentices practise a full range of tasks safely.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have developed a clear personal development curriculum. Topics focus on safeguarding, fundamental British values, equality and diversity, antisocial behaviour, online safety, and healthy relationships. Apprentices understand the relevance and importance of these topics.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders review and update the personal development curriculum to ensure it remains relevant and meets apprentices’ needs. They make changes to ensure apprentices receive valuable information to support their next steps. For example, this year, leaders have included a range of external speakers covering topics, such as setting up a business, personal finances and progression to higher education.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers ensure apprentices receive relevant careers information, advice and guidance. Apprentices benefit from one-to-one careers sessions and discussions with tutors, who have a wide range of professional experience. In addition, apprentices enjoy talks by external speakers from the plumbing and electrical industries. Most apprentices are aware of the career options and progression routes available and feel confident about their future careers. They understand the steps necessary to work in commercial or industrial settings, or in specialised areas, such as oil boiler installations.

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Reasonable progress

While apprentices receive useful general careers information, the guidance does not always reflect their individual aspirations. Leaders and managers do not consistently provide personalised, targeted careers guidance to apprentices. Tutors rarely discuss career goals during progress reviews. Final exit reviews too often only briefly cover apprentices’ career plans.

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, leaders have strengthened their quality improvement and assurance processes. Leaders have introduced a range of effective initiatives to enhance the curriculum, support staff development and improve quality monitoring. Monitoring visit: EAS Mechanical limited, 24 and 25 September 2025 They self-assess accurately and develop a useful quality improvement plan to guide their actions. Leaders have improved oversight of data and monitoring through refined electronic reporting systems. Coded registers provide accurate attendance information, enabling swift follow up with apprentices and employers to support appropriate interventions, including early progress reviews. As a result, the number of apprentices falling behind with their studies has declined significantly. Leaders conduct frequent audits and curriculum area reviews to monitor the quality of education apprentices receive. Insights and data from these activities inform

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Reasonable progress

focused quality improvement meetings, which have strengthened overall oversight of the apprenticeship provision. Leaders take appropriate action when areas for improvement are identified. Leaders have introduced a well-developed lesson observation process that provides clear oversight of teaching quality. Observations focus on key strengths and areas for development and translate findings into targeted actions closely aligned with trainers’ personal development plans. Leaders ensure trainers have frequent opportunities to improve and update their teaching. Leaders have strengthened external governance. They appoint well-qualified, experienced governors, who understand the provider’s strengths and areas for development. Governors work closely with leaders to monitor actions. They set challenging targets, monitor progress closely and provide effective scrutiny and support. Leaders have improved their data and reporting systems. They now have clear

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Reasonable progress

oversight of areas for development. The improved systems ensure they make informed decisions that drive continuous improvement, identify trends quickly and measure the impact of their actions with greater precision.

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Significant progress

Leaders have taken swift and effective action to address issues caused by delays in the completion of practical assessments. They accurately identified the main causes, including incomplete logbooks, misaligned curriculum planning and apprentices’ lack of understanding about what evidence to record. Leaders recognised that plumbing apprentices were most affected and prioritised support for these apprentices. For plumbing apprentices, leaders introduced highly effective weekly review sessions to ensure logbooks were kept up to date. These sessions provided clear guidance on terminology and evidence requirements, helping apprentices understand expectations. Leaders also worked closely with employers to secure additional opportunities for apprentices to complete practical assessments on time. Monitoring visit: EAS Mechanical limited, 24 and 25 September 2025 For electrical apprentices, leaders provided frequent one-to-one reviews with clear

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Significant progress

and manageable action plans to support timely completion of work. Leaders strengthened preparation for practical assessments through mock assessments under exam conditions, enhanced teaching of underpinning skills and additional workshop opportunities to refine practical skills. Leaders have conducted a comprehensive review of curriculum planning to better align practical and theory assessments. They now schedule practical assessments well in advance and monitor this closely during reviews. Specialist assessors in electrical and plumbing review logbooks, identify gaps in evidence, and provide targeted support to prevent apprentices from falling behind. At the time of the monitoring visit, no apprentices were behind in their studies due to missed or delayed practical assessments. Monitoring visit: EAS Mechanical limited, 24 and 25 September 2025 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young

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Significant progress

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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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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Significant progress

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