19 Apr 2011
Cumbria-based GEN II Engineering and Technology Training Ltd is officially ‘outstanding’, following its recent Ofsted inspection in which they were delighted to be judged a Grade 1 ‘outstanding’ provider.
Not only does that make GEN II the first work based learning provider in the North West to achieve this, but they are also the only work based learning provider that specialises in the nuclear industry to be awarded Grade 1 for teaching, support and assessment.
GEN II is the UK’s largest provider of training to the civil nuclear sector, drawing on over 50 years of experience in the industry. It has Quality Assured provider status for the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, and was the first training provider in the UK to achieve the Training Quality Standard for Nuclear and Engineering.
The impressive report, which is available on the Ofsted inspection website (www.ofsted.gov.uk), commended GEN II on many aspects of teaching and learning stating that GEN II “..provide an outstanding range of engineering and specialist supplementary awards that meets employers’ skills needs and provides excellent employability and progression opportunities for learners. GEN II designs many of its programmes to meet the specific and often complex training needs of specialist sectors like nuclear and manufacturing. Their business unit has developed a highly responsive relationship with key partners, working closely with schools, industry, employers and community groups.”
Work based learning providers across the UK are assessed on the success rates of their students and for three years running, the success rates for GEN II apprentice training provision has been 20% above the national average.
Since its inception in 2000, GEN II has gone from strength, having worked for over 200 businesses, from its centres in Workington, Carlisle and Furness. Over the last decade, GEN II has trained more than 1,450 apprentices, and it is particularly significant to note that 98% of learners who complete their apprenticeships go straight into full time employment.
Uniquely, GEN II offers full progression from apprenticeships right through to higher education, together with an extensive portfolio of commercial courses.
Chief Executive, Mike Smith, commented, “I would like to thank the entire staff of GEN II for their hard work, dedication and commitment. On behalf of GEN II I would also like to thank the learners and their families for their support and commitment to learning and education which has enabled us to be officially recognised as an outstanding work-based learning provider. We must also recognise the many organisations who provide the all important work placements for our learners with special thanks going to our founding GEN II partner organisations; Sellafield Ltd, Amec, TATA Steel, Innovia Films and Iggesund Paperboard. This achievement has been a team effort and as the county’s only Work Based Learning provider to have achieved an Ofsted Grade 1, I am very proud to be say that GEN II is Outstanding by Design!”
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