How to go about choosing an apprenticeship training provider

You may be wondering how to choose an apprenticeship training provider. Training providers deliver the teaching side of the apprenticeship programme, offering apprentice support and mentoring. The money reserved in your levy pot is intended to cover the cost of the training and assessment of each apprentice, so it is with the training provider that these funds will be used.

Here are 5 things to look out for when choosing an apprenticeship training provider:

1. Do your research

Firstly, it is important to research each training provider thoroughly. You want to ensure that they offer the programmes that you intend to hire into. Swatpro deliver:

  • Accountancy
  • Animal Care & Welfare
  • Business Administration
  • Clinical Health (hospitals)
  • Construction
  • Customer Service
  • Digital (Cyber Security & Network Infrastructure)
  • Digital Marketing
  • Early Years Education
  • Engineering
  • Forklift Engineering
  • Health & Social Care
  • Hospitality and Catering
  • Information Technology
  • Leadership & Management
  • Outdoors, Leisure and Events
  • Retail

It' s important to decide the roles you want to create and whether you want one training provider to deliver them all or to split it into specialisms. Across the Swatpro partnership we can support most apprenticeships.

2. Check their Ofsted rating Click here for the latest Swatpro Ofsted report

As part of your research, you also want to ensure that the training they provide is of high quality. A good indicator of quality is a training provider’s Ofsted rating. Swatpro is rated Ofsted Good, with outcomes for learners, and personal development, behavior and welfare rated as outstanding. This means that our learners have a fantastic experience with us.

3. What qualifications are on offer?

You also want to ensure that the training provider is offering the top qualifications recognised by businesses nationally and even worldwide. If you are investing in the training of an apprentice, you want them to receive the best qualification not only for your own benefit but to aid their future career progression. A list of these qualifications and the company providing them should be readily available on a provider’s website or on request.

Swatpro offer qualifications in the following areas.

  • This table was last updated 27/06/2019

Sector

Apprenticeship

Level

Intermediate Apprenticeships

Adult Care

Community Activator Coach

2

Adult Care

Adult Care Worker

2

Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care

Animal Care and Welfare

2

Business and Administration

Business and Administration

2

Construction

Bricklayer

2

Construction

Plumbing and Heating - Plumbing

2

Customer Service

Customer Service

2

Early Years

Children and Young People's Workforce

2

Education

Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

2

Engineering and Manufacturing

Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer

2

Food and Drink

Production Chef

2

Healthcare

Healthcare Support Worker

2

Hospitality and Catering

Commis Chef

2

Hospitality and Catering

Hospitality Team Member

2

IT Application Specialist

IT Application Specialist

2

Leadership and Management

Management - Team Leading

2

Outdoor, Leisure and Learning

Activity Leadership - Outdoors

2

Plumbing and Heating

Plumbing

2

Property Services

Property Maintenance Operative

2

Retail

Retailer

2

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair

Lift Truck

2

Advanced Apprenticeships

Accountancy

Assistant Accountant

3

Accountancy

Accounting

3

Business and Administration

Business and Administration

3

Construction

Trowel Occupations

3

Customer Service

Customer Service

3

Digital Industries Digital Marketer 3

Digital Industries

Infrastructure Technician

3

Early Years

Children and Young People's Social Care

3

Early Years

Early Years Educator

3

Early Years

Residential Childcare

3

Education

Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

3

Engineering and Manufacturing Mechanical Manufacturing Engineer 3

Engineering

Engineering Technician

3

Event Management

Event Assistant

3

Health & Social Care

Senior Healthcare Support Worker

3

Health & Social Care

Adult Social Care

3

Health & Social Care

Lead Adult Care Worker

3

Health and Science

Outdoor Activity Instructor

3

Hospitality and Catering

Chef De Partie

3

Hospitality and Catering

Hospitality Supervisor

3

Hospitality and Catering

Senior Chef Production Cooking

3

IT Application Specialist

IT Application Specialist

3

Leadership and Management

Management

3

Leadership and Management

Team Leader/Supervisor

3

Outdoor, Leisure and Learning

Leisure Duty Manager

3

Outdoor Programmes

Outdoor Programmes

3

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair

Lift Truck

3

Higher Level Apprenticeships

Accountancy

Professional Accounting Taxation Technician

4

Accountancy

Accounting

4

Business Administration

Business and Professional Administration

4

Care Leadership and Management

General Adult Social Care

5

Digital Industries

Cyber Intrusion Analyst

4

Digital Industries

Network Engineer

4

Hospitality and Catering

Hospitality Management

4

Healthcare

Healthcare Assistant Practitioner

5

Leadership and Management

Operations/Departmental Manager

5

Leadership and Management

Leadership and Management

5

Leadership and Management

Management

4


4. What is their success rate? Swatpro Overall 71.5%

The success rate is a key indicator of a training providers commitment to delivering excellence and ensuring that apprentices and employers are supported throughout the programme. The success rate shows the number of apprentices achieving their apprenticeship during 2018/19. Swatpro have an overall industry-leading success rate of 71.5%.

5. What is their reputation? Employer 92% and Learner satisfaction rate 89%

It is important to understand how others have found their experience with a training provider, whether this is from an employer or apprentice point of view. If a provider receives glowing reviews and a high satisfaction rate, you can be assured that they will deliver a high-quality apprenticeship and appropriately address any complaint or concern. Swatpro have a satisfaction rate of 92% for employers and 89% for apprentices.