Employer Story

Industry-relevant qualifications with EAL

The partnership with qualifications awarding organisation, EAL, helps Skills Training UK ensure that its approach is always industry-relevant.

EAL designs, develops and awards qualifications, and is responsible for ensuring the quality of delivery and assessment of the industry-relevant qualifications within Skills Training UK’s bespoke Apprenticeship programmes. It also provides the learner certificates.

Skills Training UK has worked with EAL to make its bespoke Apprenticeships relevant for STEM sectors (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing) with clients now including Southern Water and manufacturing company Filon Products.

Business Improvement Techniques and Performing Manufacturing Operations are the two bespoke Apprenticeship programmes which are particularly relevant to the STEM sectors.

Stephen Crawley, Director of Skills, Skills Training UK, said: “We began the relationship with EAL in 2011 when we identified the products we were delivering and the methodology which would be involved in becoming an accredited EAL centre.

“We received excellent, professional advice from the start, right through to our first registrations and delivery. We have been delighted with the ongoing service from EAL and we have direct claim status, which means we are able to award certification ourselves. This is supported with regular sampling, feedback and verification by EAL.

“EAL provide the services of a verifier with whom both I and our internal verification team have an excellent relationship. We also receive a very good service from the EAL support staff.

“We deliver our bespoke Apprenticeships, Traineeships and other Workforce Development Qualifications with continued support from EAL.”

EAL External Verifier, Terry Coles, said: “Skills Training UK ensures all Trainer Assessors have a high level of expertise and competence within the required skill areas. Rigorous Quality Assurance is applied, and is appropriate to the qualifications being delivered.”

He added: “Skills Training UK’s Trainer Assessors deliver a very well structured induction programme, which covers all aspects of delivery, and learners receive a high standard of additional support and guidance throughout their programme to ensure they succeed.”

Skills Training UK ensures all Trainer Assessors have a high level of expertise and competence within the required skill areas. Rigorous Quality Assurance is applied, and is appropriate to the qualifications being delivered.

Terry Coles, EAL External Verifier

Casestudy overlay

The relationship with EAL was helpful to Skills Training UK’s good Ofsted report in April 2014, which showed it exceeds national standards in many areas. The outcome for learners, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and the effectiveness of leadership and management were all graded ‘Good’.

The attainment of Business Improvement Techniques apprentices was said by inspectors to be significantly above the national average, with those aged over 25 “substantially exceeding” national success rates.

The apprentices were found to be “highly motivated, demonstrate strong skills development and much improved employability. The impact of their learning on business efficiency and profitability is high and frequently financially quantifiable.”

In one apprentices’ session, which was observed by Ofsted inspectors, learners on the business improvement techniques apprenticeship programme were challenged to look at the profitability and efficiency in their employer’s manufacturing process. The exercise is described as “very effective” and Ofsted reports “Employers value this level and type of training.”

Leadership and management, Ofsted reports, are “strong and focused” and “senior managers have prioritised the development and application of an effective quality improvement process.”

For further information about EAL see www.eal.org.uk

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