A construction training provider has pulled the plug on apprenticeships ahead of a damning inspection report which said its apprentices were “at risk of harm”.

SB Skills Solutions, which offered level 2 construction apprenticeships, was hit with an ‘inadequate’ report published today, following an inspection back in June.

Training providers typically have their contracts terminated by the Education and Skills Funding Agency following an ‘inadequate’ inspection outcome. But leaders at SB Skills Solutions said it had already begun to exit the apprenticeships market before the inspection took place, citing significant staff shortages and rising costs.

Inspectors slammed the provider for its “disregard for the training, development and well-being of their apprentices” after it gave little notice before ending its apprenticeship provision.

SB Skills Solutions, which is based in Skelmersdale in Lancashire, had 69 apprentices spread across level two standards in groundwork, plant operations, highways maintenance and bricklaying.

It also had fewer than five learners on a plant skills bootcamp at the time of the inspection – which it will continue to offer after Ofsted gave its adult learning programmes a ‘good’ rating.

But it scored ‘inadequate’ in the quality of education, leadership and management, and apprenticeships, with ‘requires improvement’ grades for behaviour and attitudes, and personal development. That gave it an ‘inadequate’ rating overall. 

‘Backed into a corner’

Inspectors said the quality of the apprenticeship provision was “poor” and that “too many apprentices lack the motivation and enthusiasm to continue their learning due to a high turnover of staff”.

They also flagged that some tutors had “insufficient knowledge” of their subject areas, meaning “too many” apprentices leave their studies before completion.

Ofsted said the provider told apprentices and employers it was stopping apprenticeships on the day it was alerted to the Ofsted inspection, and that they had “received no prior notice”. 

“Apprentices and their employers told inspectors that they were disappointed and frustrated because leaders had taken the decision to cease apprenticeship training,” the report said.

But the provider’s operations director, Neil Beaumont, told FE Week it had no other option after most of its staff left without completing their notice periods just before the inspection.

“We were literally left with no delivery staff. What other option did we have when we had no staff left to deliver that provision? I was backed into a corner, it’s ridiculous.”

‘Ineffective’ safeguarding arrangements

Inspectors also flagged “ineffective” safeguarding arrangements at the provider, which they said failed to replace the safeguarding lead who left weeks before the inspection.

That left its apprentices, two-thirds of whom were under 18, “at risk of harm”.

But Beaumont said that was “far from” the truth.

“Learners weren’t at risk, there was a minimum number of days where we didn’t have the safeguarding lead,” he said. He added that the safeguarding lead for apprentices had had a mini-stroke and could not be replaced straight away.

‘Serious weaknesses’

Inspectors warned that “all learning materials” for apprenticeships were out of date, that the provider did not work with employers to sort out on and off-the-job training, and that most progress reviews were “significantly” overdue.

“Although managers recognise serious weaknesses in the quality of the apprenticeship provision, they do not implement sufficient and coordinated quality improvement actions to ensure that apprentices receive an acceptable quality of training,” the report adds. 

They also said the “lack of a stable workforce” meant apprentices would often repeat the same lessons, and that tutors do not give enough guidance on how to improve work, or correct mistakes.

Beaumont, the operations director, said the provider “does take [the criticisms] very seriously”, and said the criticism “didn’t come to any surprise”.

But he pointed to significant recruitment problems over the last year and a half, and rising costs in apprenticeship delivery as reasons for their decision to halt apprenticeship provision. For instance, in the groundworks provision, he said costs “have gone through the roof” while the funding has remained the same.

Beaumont also reiterated the provider was “still committed” to delivering its boot camps, and that they “intend to grow” those courses. The skills boot camps received strong praise from Ofsted, which said learners leave their courses “well prepared” to work in the sectors they trained for.

Derby-based training provider Althaus Digital has scooped an ‘outstanding’ rating in its first Ofsted report.

Inspectors lauded the provider for its “high-quality, structured and organised” training in an inspection back in June, which was published today.

The provider works with adult learners and apprentices in digital marketing, IT and cybersecurity, across the Midlands.

At the time of the inspection, it had 211 adult learners on skills bootcamps and 57 apprentices on level three courses in IT solutions and digital marketing. It does not work with any subcontractors.

The provider welcomed the rating and said its mission is “to unleash the digital leaders of tomorrow”.

“We only do that by quality of delivery that matches up to ever-evolving industry demands. This report not only showcases how we’re equipping learners with the skills that they need now, but also how we are providing employers with talented individuals to meet the needs of their businesses in the future, too,” it added.

The report also comes as Althaus Digital records 1000 learners across its programmes for the first time.

‘Well prepared for their next steps’

The report followed a positive monitoring visit in February 2022, and highlighted a “very high” standard of work among the learners and apprentices. 

Inspectors said the high standard of courses means learners are all “quickly equipped” with technical skills they can use in the workplace, and that many apprentices stay with their employer at the end of their studies or are promoted. Many of the apprentices also get distinction grades in their studies.

The provider also received praise for its “judicious” management of the “well planned and logically sequenced” curriculums, and its decision to focus on specialisms which its staff are experienced in. Inspectors also highlighted a push to check understanding and commit knowledge to long term memory in the report.

Trainers at the provider are meanwhile “highly experienced” and provide bespoke and specialist online training resources, Ofsted said.

Leaders at the provider were praised too for their “very high expectations and ambitions for staff, learners and apprentices”. Ofsted also pointed to “extensive links” between the provider and employers, which they used to tackle local and regional skills gap. That relationship led to Althaus Digital offering level three courses in cybersecurity after a gap was identified.

Confidence and resilience

Ofsted also highlighted Althaus Digital’s career guidance programme which meant adult learners say they feel well prepared for their next steps. But inspectors also said apprentices do not always receive enough information about their own career progression.

But guidance and support from staff at the provider means learners and apprentices all develop “confidence and resilience” while on their training.

Safeguarding at the provider is also “effective”, while learners know who to go to with any concerns.

On its website, the provider says its aim is to “to become the UK’s number one digitally focused talent solutions provider.”