Skills for Security has hailed the keeping of its OFSTED Good Provider status from the education watchdog.
SfS has increased its apprenticeship provision since 2019 from 100 live apprentices in one location to over 500 enrolled up across the UK, from Scotland to Cornwall. As part of its strategy to be a national provider that delivers accessible training, they have opened six sites across the UK: in Warrington, Watford (pictured), Glasgow, Mansfield, Birmingham, and Oxford, while also increasing its staff from nine to 46. In January 2022, they secured a direct ESFA contract for the delivery of traineeships for school leavers aged 16 to 18. SfS reports that it’s seeing strong outcomes of unemployed learners progressing into full-time employment within the fire and security sector.
SfS adds that OFSTED Good Provider status shows senior management’s desire to deliver a quality training provision while supporting the sector, ensuring an infrastructure of training centres.
Richard Cooper, Director of Education at Skills for Security, said: “The passion for the sector from our learners really 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.”
And 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. With seven inspectors across three of our delivery sites, the dedication, time and effort from the SfS team is to be commended. It is great to read in our report just how close we were to grade 1 (Outstanding) in a number of areas of the inspection. For context, only 3pc of training providers achieve Outstanding but this is our aspiration.”
