Whyy? Change gets the thumbs-up from recent OFSTED visit

Much has changed over the past 12 months and that’s no different for Whyy? Change, business transformation specialists based in Sheffield, but a recent OFSTED monitoring visit has demonstrated that the ‘‘Think. Plan. Crack On.’ ethos has proven to be successful.

Ray Byrne, Whyy? Change CEO, said: “This time last year we were preparing for the worst; it was one month after the announcement that England would be going into a national lockdown. We’d signed our first Skills Bank deal, secured status on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) and we were excited to deliver apprenticeship training, this all stopped.

Change by name, change by nature, we had to adapt. Having our guiding principles in place was key to our survival and success.  Our ‘Think. Plan. Crack on.’ mantra stems from elements of Lean & Six Sigma and Quality HSE training that looks at PDCA (Plan. Do. Check. Act.). The principals are embedded in everything we do, from decision making to recruiting team members. It’s brings together systems, curiosity, knowledge and an understanding of our legacy into everyday business.”

In March, Whyy? Change received a monitoring visit from OFSTED – the inspectors of services providing education and skills for learners in the UK.

Ray added: “That moment came when I received a call to say OFSTED would be coming in for a monitoring visit in two days’ time. The visit went well, with the inspectors meeting with both staff, learner and their employers. We were delighted to read their report which cited ‘Apprentices enjoy their learning and benefit from discussions with their expert tutors that help them to improve their workplace skills’, and this really means the world to us.”

When the final report was published, Whyy? Change were delighted to read that ‘Apprentices develop positive behaviours that make them more effective in their roles. Level 4 marketing executive Apprentices become more confident and assertive in their roles as they develop their underpinning knowledge. They feel they are better communicators and managers as a result.’

The inspectors also noted that Whyy? Change ‘have invested significantly in industry-standard resources and qualifications over and above the requirements of the apprenticeship standards’ and ‘Apprentices value the opportunity to take recognised professional qualifications alongside their apprenticeship, which help them develop in their chosen careers. For example, level 4 marketing executive apprentices work towards achieving the Chartered Institute of Marketing certificate.’

Emma Harrison, Director of Governance at Whyy? Change, said: “Our customer’s matter. It’s important that we share knowledge and value to a high standard to help not only our Apprentices but the businesses themselves. With OFSTED identifying that we ‘recruit tutors with the skills and expertise to provide high-quality training. All are industry specialists with higher-level qualifications in the subjects that they teach. Employer’s value the quality of training and the contribution that apprentices make to their workplaces as a result’, that really is the seal of approval that we needed.”

If you are interested in transforming your business through training and development, visit the Whyy? Change website to find out more.

Download the full OFSTED report for more information.