Skills for Security, the UK’s Fire and Security Apprenticeship provider, has maintained its OFSTED Good Provider status after a 500% growth in just three years.
Under the new leadership team introduced in August 2019, the organisation has increased its apprenticeship provision from 100 live apprentices in one location to over 500 enrolled across the UK, from Scotland to Cornwall.
High-quality accessible training
As part of its strategy to be a national provider that delivers high-quality accessible training, they have opened six sites across the UK in Warrington, Watford, Glasgow, Mansfield, Birmingham, and Oxford, while supporting regional and local objectives by increasing its staff base from nine to 46.
In January 2022, they secured a direct ESFA contract to deliver 16-18 traineeship provisions, which is seeing strong outcomes of unemployed learners progressing into full-time employment within the Fire and Security sector.
Quality training provision
The intent for what we do is clear to see for all and this vision is shared across the organisation"
Maintaining OFSTED Good Provider status showcases the senior management team’s desire to deliver a quality training provision while supporting the sector, ensuring a strong infrastructure of training centres exists.
Richard Cooper, Director of Education, at Skills for Security, said, “The passion for the sector from our learners came through during the inspection. The intent for what we do is clear to see for all and this vision is shared across the organisation. We will continue to strive for improvements and look forward to seeing the inspectors again (but not for a few years) and push to be an OFSTED Outstanding Provider.”
Good Provider status
David Scott, Managing Director, of Skills for Security, said, “After what has been a roller coaster three years of growth, new centres, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am over the moon to have maintained our Good Provider status with OFSTED."
He adds, "With seven inspectors across three of our delivery sites, the dedication, time, and effort from the SfS team are to be commended. It is great to read in our report just how close we were to grade 1 (Outstanding) in several areas of the inspection. For context, only 3% of training providers achieve Outstanding but this is our aspiration.”