Barfection Limited

Barfection Limited

Address: 154-156 Slater Studios, L1 4BW Unique reference number (URN): 2761342

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, learners are made safer and feel safe.

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How we evaluate safeguarding

When we inspect providers for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:

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How we evaluate safeguarding

Met: The provider has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The provider has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders’ inclusion strategy is informed by their deep understanding of the needs of their learners and their unwavering mission to make a profound difference to learners’ life chances. They have created a positive, inclusive culture in which learners, many of whom face complex barriers to learning, can thrive. Leaders provide learners with flexible training, reasonable adjustments and access to financial and welfare support. Learners value this greatly.

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Inclusion Strong standard

At the start of the course, leaders identify swiftly and accurately learners’ individual needs. Learners with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder use fidget resources to help them concentrate. Tutors produce training materials on coloured backgrounds with clear fonts to help learners, including those with dyslexia, find reading accessible.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders work with multiple agencies to provide cohesive wraparound support for learners. Learners at risk of becoming homeless receive housing support and access to food and clothing banks. Leaders ensure that employers accommodate learners’ needs during their work placements. Employers provide learners with free meals and pay their travel costs.

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Inclusion Strong standard

Leaders ensure that staff benefit from relevant training to help them fully understand learners’ individual needs and how to adapt their teaching in consideration of this. They monitor closely learners’ progress and the impact of support.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders have extensive experience in the hospitality sector. They are supported well by a wide range of employers who appreciate how responsive they are to meeting their skills needs.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders have an accurate oversight of their strengths and areas for improvement. They have in place a concise improvement plan which demonstrates that the actions that they take to improve aspects of their provision are swift and effective. Leaders have increased significantly the proportion of learners who complete their courses by making adaptations to their onboarding process and to the curriculum.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Governors have an accurate understanding of the quality of training. They receive clear and helpful information about this from leaders. Governors hold leaders to account to make the necessary improvements to the provision.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders recruit qualified and experienced tutors. Tutors mostly benefit from training that supports the development of their teaching skills. This includes topics such as developing online teaching skills and effective planning of learning. Tutors update their subject knowledge through training on gin distilling, mixology and essentials in brewing. They regularly attend network meetings to listen to speakers from the industry talk about retention, recruitment and economic pressures in the sector.

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Leadership and governance Expected standard

Leaders are considerate of staff workload and wellbeing. They ensure that tutors have sufficient time to prepare fully for teaching. Staff thoroughly enjoy their work, feel very well supported by leaders and are proud to work at the provider.

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Achievement Expected standard

Most learners make expected progress from their starting points and the vast majority pass their examinations at their first attempt. While a fifth of learners left their course during the previous year before completing, those who did complete gained employment or additional responsibilities if they were already employed.

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Achievement Expected standard

Learners swiftly acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to be successful at work. Learners on barista courses demonstrate skills in latte art and those on bartender courses skilfully carry out free pouring. Employers are positive about the industry- standard practical skills that learners develop. They are complimentary about the efficient and effective service that learners provide to customers at work.

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Achievement Expected standard

Learners broadly develop their English, mathematical and digital skills. They use appropriate sector-specific terms and communicate with increased confidence. They accurately measure alcohol and weigh coffee. Learners use digital resources competently in lessons and when working online.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Leaders have developed high-quality curriculums to meet the barista, bartender and supervisory skills needs that local employers in the hospitality sector have. They have an accurate understanding of the quality of their training which is designed to develop the key personal, social and work skills that learners need to secure employment or promotion.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Tutors are well-qualified professionals with relevant teaching experience. They generally use effective teaching strategies. Tutors explain topics clearly so that learners can complete practical tasks to an appropriate standard. Learners on barista courses quickly learn how to maintain coffee machines. They learn on high-quality resources such as industry-standard coffee machines and a fully equipped bar.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Tutors teach topics in a logical order. Learners on the bartender course firstly learn about the importance of safe, hygienic and secure working environments. As the course progresses, they study more complex topics, such as how to manage and resolve customers’ problems. Learners complete substantial practical training before they start their work placements so they can competently carry out their duties.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Tutors carefully adapt curriculums to meet learners’ needs. Learners whose first language is not English use a translation app to help them. Tutors regularly break down practice examination questions to help learners better understand and answer questions correctly.

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Curriculum and teaching Expected standard

Tutors typically use assessment effectively and provide learners with constructive feedback. They set learners quizzes and consolidation tasks to help them retain their learning. When teaching online, tutors do not consistently involve learners fully in discussion or check their understanding.

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Participation and development Expected standard

Learners are committed to their studies. Their attendance at training is consistently high. Learners work cooperatively in class and wholeheartedly enjoy their training.

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Participation and development Expected standard

Learners understand the importance of maintaining their mental and physical health to help them keep safe from risks in the sector. Tutors discuss topics with learners such as ‘dry January’ and ‘vegan January’, including the health benefits of these and the challenges that people may face.

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Participation and development Expected standard

Learners demonstrate professional behaviours at all times. They are respectful and considerate to each other, colleagues and customers. For example, learners use preferred pronouns to help people feel accepted.

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Participation and development Expected standard

Leaders generally support learners’ wider development needs. For instance, learners on the level 3 hospitality horizons course complete an additional module in equality, diversity and inclusion. This helps them to develop a deeper understanding of topics such as neurodivergence, stereotypes and gender pay gaps, which supports them to create positive and inclusive environments for staff and customers. Leaders provide learners with clear information about the range of careers available to them so they can make clear choices about their next steps. Learners who are unemployed attend additional training to help them build a CV, write cover letters and complete practice job interviews.

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What it's like to be a learner and/or an apprentice at this provider

Learners, many of whom experience significant barriers to their learning, enjoy their studies and find leaders and staff to be welcoming, inclusive and nurturing. They appreciate the ‘zero tolerance’ approach taken by leaders to any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination.

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What it's like to be a learner and/or an apprentice at this provider

Learners value the practical and emotional support that they receive from staff. Leaders arrange bursaries through local charities for learners experiencing financial hardship that supports them to stay on their course and complete their studies.

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What it's like to be a learner and/or an apprentice at this provider

Learners appreciate that they are taught by dedicated and experienced staff, who motivate them to succeed. They acquire a range of sector-relevant knowledge and skills and evolve into confident and skilled baristas, bartenders and supervisors. Learners on the barista course know about different dairy milk alternatives, such as oat, almond and soya milk, that enables them to meet customers’ needs. After completing their course, learners gain employment or move on to further training.

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What it's like to be a learner and/or an apprentice at this provider

Learners improve their confidence because of their learning. Those with barriers to learning become more confident in their abilities because tutors provide clear communication and structured routines. Tutors help employers plan work activities progressively, starting with light duties before moving to customer-facing tasks.

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What it's like to be a learner and/or an apprentice at this provider

Tutors make sure that learners understand about life in modern Britain. Learners study the current legislation relating to weights and measures of alcoholic drinks and cocktails. They swiftly identify non-alcoholic alternatives and know how to make a cocktail without dairy products for a customer with allergies.

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What it's like to be a learner and/or an apprentice at this provider

Learners feel safe in their classes and online. They know about the risks that are relevant to their industry, such as drink spiking and the misuse of alcohol and drugs.

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Team inspectors:

Helen Whelan, His Majesty's Inspector Liz Greenhalgh, Ofsted Inspector

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Facts and figures used on inspection

The data was used by the inspector(s) during the inspection. More recent data may have been published since the inspection took place.

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Next steps

• Leaders should further strengthen the professional development that staff receive in order to deepen their expertise in providing consistently high-quality curriculums. • Leaders should ensure that they take appropriate action to maintain the high proportion of learners who complete their course. • Leaders should further extend the wider opportunities available to learners to enable them to develop a strong sense of personal and social responsibility.

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About this inspection

Following our renewed inspection framework, all inspections are now led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) or by Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) who have previously served as HMIs.

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About this inspection

Inspectors spoke with the provider staff, learners, and employers during the inspection.

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About this inspection

The inspectors confirmed the following information about the provider:

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About this inspection

Barfection Limited is an independent learning provider in Liverpool. It receives funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide hospitality Skills Bootcamps for employed and unemployed adults.

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About this inspection

At the time of inspection, there were 34 learners. Most were on a level 2 rise and grind barista or shake start bartender Skills Bootcamp, with the rest on a level 3 hospitality horizons supervisor Skills Bootcamp.

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About this inspection

Managing Director: Thomas Nolan This data is from 13 January 2026

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Exceptional

Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other providers can learn from it.

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Strong standard

The provider reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.

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Expected standard

The provider is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.

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Needs attention

The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.

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Urgent improvement

The provider needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.

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Urgent improvement

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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Urgent improvement

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Urgent improvement

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Urgent improvement

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

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