QA Apprenticeships announced as the only UK apprenticeships business rated Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ in all areas.*

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Almost all apprentices gain permanent employment with their employers and many get promotions.

(PRWEB UK) 2 December 2013

The team of inspectors judged all three measures of success; outcomes for learners, leadership and management, and quality of teaching learning and assessment; as Outstanding in their report published today. QA are the first private training provider to receive the highest grade across the board since Ofsted introduced new assessment procedures in 2012.

The Ofsted report endorses QA Apprenticeships’ work in providing employer-focused apprenticeships that deliver excellent talent into the UK workforce.

“QA treats apprentices on a par with its professional fee-paying customers and offers them highly professional training in world-class apprentice programmes.”

“Inspirational teaching, learning and assessment engage apprentices exceptionally well and lead to excellent attainment.”

QA’s heritage in business training and strong industry partnerships were also recognised as significant factors in accomplishing their outstanding programmes.

“QA has used its 30 years of experience of providing commercial training exceptionally well to develop new qualifications that fill skills gaps in the labour market.”

“Apprentices gain highly desirable qualifications in a challenging timescale and develop and apply new high level skills in national and multi-national companies.”

With youth unemployment still pushing one million, Ofsted also acknowledged the role QA Apprenticeships has taken in securing employment for their learners and encouraging their ambitions.

“Apprentices make rapid progress… while demonstrating very high levels of professional performance in work.”

“Almost all apprentices gain permanent employment with their employers and many get promotions.”

To view the full report, please click here.

Director of QA Apprenticeships, Ben Pike, commented: “We are thrilled to have achieved the highest grade possible from our first Ofsted inspection. This is a glowing endorsement of all the hard work of our dedicated staff and recognises the vital partnerships we have with fantastic employers and highly motivated apprentices.”

The detailed report outlines that “through their pioneering work, QA has created exceptional opportunities in employment for their apprentices” and that QA “delivers a model of excellence in apprenticeship training that has brought significant benefits to the United Kingdom economy by creating over 3000 new jobs” in areas such as IT, software development, sales, project management and business.

Ben Pike adds: “We are delighted at this hugely positive report which inspires us to continue to improve and enhance our programmes and service. Crucially we hope this outstanding commendation encourages more employers and young people to consider apprenticeships as a credible and exciting route to develop talent and build long term careers.”

Media contact:
Please contact Ed Cuffe-Adams on 01753 898 712 or ed.cuffe-adams(at)qa.com with questions regarding this release.

Notes to editors:

About QA Apprenticeships

QA Apprenticeships is a multi-award winning provider of IT and business services apprenticeships. Since 2009 QA has created, filled and trained over 3000 apprenticeship jobs for the UK’s young people. Our apprenticeships include IT systems and networking, software and web development, business and administration, professional sales and project management. Among the QA Apprenticeships employer partners are British Gas, BSkyB, Capgemini , Cisco and Capita.

QA’s programme won Apprenticeship Programme of the Year 2012 & 2013, and Microsoft UK Partner of the Year 2013 Special Commendation. 94% of QA Apprentices secure permanent employment after finishing their IT apprenticeship.

Readers interested in a QA Apprenticeship can contact the recruitment team on 0845 074 7825, or visit http://www.qa.com/apprenticeships

About apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine work and training to give young people a real job, qualifications and experience that employers want, with a salary instead of paying tuition fees. They are a cost-effective and low-risk alternative to graduate employment, allowing employers to bring young, high-calibre staff into their business, whilst providing them with an excellent platform to build a successful career without committing to large debts.

*Since the new common inspection framework and standards were introduced in Sept 2012. Since then over 120 independent training providers have been inspected and QA Apprenticeships is the first to be awarded Grade 1 across all areas.

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