SDN has provided consultancy support to over 1,000 apprenticeship providers in the last 5 years – through both government-funded programmes, like the Future Apprenticeship Programme, and through paid-for webinars, events and in-depth consultancy assignments.
So when is it right to pay for external expertise? And what impact can it support?
We caught up with Madeleine Hill, Operations Manager, at the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) to understand more about her organisation, what support they’ve had from SDN over the years and why they choose to pay for high-quality external advice.
Tell us a bit about TICA?
“TICA is the trade association for thermal insulation contractors. We have been in existence for more than 60 years and delivering apprenticeships for over 20 of those.
“We are the only training provider for the thermal insulation standards in the country and deliver a block release model, where apprentices from all over the UK visit our site in Darlington for a two-week block every three months to cement the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need in their roles.
“Thermal insulation is a niche trade, but growing. There are currently around 3,500 qualified thermal insulators in the country – but projects such as Hinkley Point is likely to require many more insulators over the next five years.
“This is why it’s so important for TICA to train apprentices to such a high standard, so they are ready to support the national infrastructure projects going forward.”
Why did you first decide to use external support?
“Before the apprenticeship reforms, we were a subcontractor to a number of large FE colleges. We used to deliver all the training, but the ‘prime’ provider supported us with advice and guidance on continuously developing our provision, as part of their management fee.
“However, once the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) opened, we took the decision to apply as a main provider. We knew this meant we’d no longer be getting advice and support from colleges, but the additional income we’d see from direct delivery allowed us to allocate budget to seek expert support externally, when needed.
“We initially approached SDN to help us to prepare our RoATP application. Anna Sutton from SDN was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and took time to understand our unique delivery model, whilst providing appropriate support and challenge to our plans.
“We were approved first time, and felt we had a good framework to build on as a main provider.”
What other support have you had from SDN?
“Since RoATP, we’ve really made the most of SDN’s support. We’ve attended webinar series in compliance, curriculum design and quality, as well as placing staff on safeguarding training. The support is always practical and definitely helps us do our jobs better.
“We have also used more bespoke consultancy support when we’ve really needed it. Alongside TICA, our arm’s length company the Insulation and Environmental Training Trust Limited (IETTL) is an end-point assessment organisation and Chris Cherry has been instrumental in helping us develop this service.
“He has helped us to setup end-point assessments, provided regular training for our assessors and he’s not afraid to challenge IfATE on our behalf either – which at times can be useful!
“In fact, Chris is now a trustee of IETTL and supports us on governance. He is knowledgeable and experienced, and we have built up a trusted relationship with him. Additionally, he helped us recruit for our Head of Learning – advising on the job description, advert and supporting the interview process.
“Working with SDN is like having an outsourced support arm.”
Where are you now as a training provider?
“Looking back on the transition to a main provider and delivering end-point assessment through IETTL, I feel we’re in a good place and are confident in our models of delivery.
“We’ve also modernised our training facilities and the workshop is now more than 40% larger than it was just over five years ago . We’re hoping to add a mezzanine floor in the near future to facilitate the additional apprentices we’re expecting and to provide further resources for our end-point assessments.
“Plus, we’ve finally had an Ofsted inspection! Even though we’ve been delivering apprenticeships for 20 years – because we were a subcontractor – we hadn’t had an Ofsted inspection since 2011. That wait ended in October and we were really pleased to receive ‘Good’ across the board.
“We are only a small team, so are very pleased with the progress we’ve made and the standard of training we’re delivering.”
What would you say to other small providers about using SDN for external support?
“Of course there is an upfront cost when paying for good quality external advice, but we wouldn’t have been able to develop the models we have on our own – we’re just too small a team – so bringing in external support is a cost effective way to upskill our team and support our development.
“We also used to pay far more in management fees as a subcontractor for the advice and support, so do feel it’s good value for money.
“I’d highly recommend SDN to other niche providers that want external guidance. The consultants are experienced and knowledgeable and take on board what’s unique about your provision. What’s more, they quickly get down to the nitty-gritty and ultimately help you achieve your ambitions.”
To find out more about SDN consultancy support, visit our contact page or take a look at our events page for CPD for your teams.