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
Business Administration
Clinical Health (hospitals)
Construction
Customer Service
Digital Marketing
Early Years Education
Engineering
Health & Social Care
Hospitality and Catering
Information Technology
Leadership & Management
Retail
Hairdressing and Barbering
Fashion and Textiles
Counselling Skills
Support Work in Schools
Preparation for Work
ESOL English and Maths

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.

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. Support provided to apprentices

Swatpro has an enviable reputation when it comes to supporting apprentices through their apprenticeship programme. Reviews from apprentices, and available on the Government's show that our training is relevant, we help develop apprentice's existing skills and learn new ones, and we have excellent communication with our apprentices.

5. Employer reputation

Swatpro has an excellent reputation amongst employers. This is evidenced by the 129 employer reviews that can be found on the Government's website.