WHAT IS YOUR STORY ?
Established in 2004 as a private training provider, I gained valuable experience and in 2011 secured a subcontract with a large training provider. Due to the instability of subcontracting funding, we found ourselves working with four prime contractors, learning both what to do and what to avoid. We adopted the best practices from those experiences. By 2016, we secured our own funding and were inspected under the old framework in 2019, receiving a “Good” grade. Currently, we deliver 37 different programmes across three curriculums, ensuring a diverse and comprehensive educational offering.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE WE FACED?
Our biggest challenge was evidencing everything we were doing. We always knew we were meeting expectations, but we weren’t always sure how to evidence it correctly. Now, we use the platform ‘Padlet’ to collect evidence aligned with the EIF judgments, breaking down the criteria into specific segments. We also utilised Fins resource AFI, which flagged key areas
quarterly and highlighted new themes as they emerged in the next cycle. We named these segments within our programme “Training for Purpose,” diving deeper into our core values. This allowed us to create an overarching structure that naturally aligned with all areas of the judgments. As a result, delegating key roles and responsibilities became easier, enabling staff to take ownership of their areas.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK TWO OR THREE YEARS, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY, IF ANYTHING?
To avoid making drastic changes and instead focus on continuous improvement based on relevant feedback, we initially faced confusion from listening to too many external advisors, which often led us to revert to previous methods and processes. Eventually, we decided to concentrate on guidance from industry experts and found an Ofsted Outstanding mentor within the sector. We realised the need to restructure our staff earlier to ensure they were confident, competent, and knowledgeable in their areas of expertise. This became evident as we approached the 5-year inspection mark, with only 12 months remaining to prepare. Since introducing the BUD learner platform, we have recognised that we needed this tool much sooner to collect and analyse data more effectively.
To learn more, view the full article here