The Progress Group

Nurturing personal purpose at a time of change
Adult Education  ·  CareersInc  ·  Complete Training Solutions  ·  Innovative Alliance  ·  Prepare to Achieve  ·  Progress Schools  ·  Skills agenda  ·  The Progress Group
Nurturing personal purpose at a time of change

Changing lives through education and training is something that resonates with me personally and is a purpose that naturally runs throughout The Progress Group.

The world pressed pause for a while and we took the time to reflect, regroup and restructure. As a business, it’s given us the opportunity to focus on our shared values across our three distinct divisions, as we start a new chapter with our new brand and ambitions.

Having a clear purpose as an organisation is of course important – but at a time when many people are looking for new direction, reassurance and support, the significance of helping to nurture an individual’s sense of purpose is crucial too.

With rapidly rising unemployment, a skills gap threatening to widen and ‘new normal’ ways of living and working to navigate, our sector needs to be there to help people develop the skills and confidence to succeed and thrive.

Today is the UN’s World Youth Skills Day, which makes it more poignant that under 25s are being hit particularly hard in the current jobs market.  The government’s latest employment statistics shows the 16 to 24 age group were the only age group to show an annual decrease in employment – down by 25,000.

It’s a similar story when we look at those not in education, employment or training (NEETS), with official figures for early 2020 showing an increase to 771,000 young people across the UK.

This is before we see the full impact of Covid-19 on the jobs market as a whole, but what’s already clear is the need to keep levelling the skills playing field in our society.

The government’s announcement last week to support young people, particularly those on universal credit, is a step in the right direction.

A personal journey

I remember the moment aged 12 when I started on my own journey to finding my personal purpose and the self-belief I needed to achieve it. Growing up on a council estate in Birmingham – on the 17th floor of a tower block for the first seven years – I desperately wanted to achieve my dream of working in the media, but my teachers at the time dismissed the idea.

It wasn’t until a local arts worker called Harry took the time teach me to how to take photographs that I really started to value myself. Learning this new skill taught me how to think about the world around me, how people are shaped and the breadth of choice and opportunity out there. It gave me the confidence to go to college and polytechnic, and secure an internship at the BBC. Although I moved away from a media career, it gave me skills, as well as a passion for education and training, which has set me on the path to the role I’m in today.

I was lucky to have had support developing my direction and resolve at a young age. Every young person deserves this, so we need to be there for those who don’t – to help people build resilience and strength and provide empathy and understanding to nurture purpose at an individual level.

Where next?

Everyone has their own personal story, whether that’s a child who’s falling behind at school, someone who has lost their job, struggling to get into work or coming out of the justice system. Sometimes they need that extra helping hand of support.

Our teams have been busy keeping education and training services running throughout the pandemic, critically supporting both youth and adult learning. For many the future can often feel uncertain, even more so now than ever before.

But this challenging time brings with it the opportunity to do things differently and harness the changes and opportunities to support the next generation to find their own successful path for the future.

This is something me and the fantastic Progress Group team are committed to delivering on a daily basis – using the power of education and training to change lives.

Achieving the first steps in to a career in construction
Adult Education  ·  Innovative Alliance  ·  The Progress Group
Achieving the first steps in to a career in construction

With the annual growth set to increase by a further 3.3% in the next five years, according to IBISWorld, a career in the construction industry holds a promising future.

Adrian Robinson has recently taken his first steps towards achieving his career goals in the sector. He completed the Level 1 Introduction to Construction course with Innovative Alliance. Whilst on the course, Adrian successfully gained his CSCS card. This opportunity allows most principal contractors and major house builders to work on site.

Completing the course in February 2020, Adrian wanted to continue to gain qualifications that would help him to stand out from the crowd. Updating his CV and seeking assistance with his interview skills helped him achieve this. After being unemployed for some time, he knew that the qualifications and experience he would gain on the course would be valuable to both himself and his future employer. Eagar to progress further, Adrian has already signed up to a future course in Traffic Management. Ray became Adrians tutor to assist him in his progression.

“We get learners from various types of backgrounds and their mixed personalities really shine through.” -Ray

Ray, who has a vast amount of experience in the sector and dealing with people from all walks of life, said:

“I love working in adult education, we get learners from various types of backgrounds and their mixed personalities really shine through during the course.

Adrian stood out within his group as someone who was determined to succeed. I was thrilled that he’d enjoyed the course so much so that he wanted to do another one with us. The aim now is to help him complete the next course and support him on his way in to employment.”

When speaking about his experience on the course, Adrian said:

“Ray was a great tutor. When explaining to us, he was clear and always positive. Because of my positive experience, I would recommend the course to anyone. I’m looking forward to starting the next course after enjoying every minute on this one.”

Once he has successfully completed the Traffic Management course, Adrian will continue to be supported by the team at Innovative Alliance. Their extensive network in the sector will assist Adrian with his progression into employment.

Innovative Alliance offer construction courses that are ideal for those who have little or no experience within the sector. For more information about this course, contact info@innovativealliance.co.uk or call 0151 433 7171.

NHS Hero Amongst the Team at Complete Training Solutions
Charitable Giving  ·  Complete Training Solutions  ·  Corporate Social Responsibility  ·  Giving back  ·  The Progress Group
NHS Hero Amongst the Team at Complete Training Solutions

Complete Training Solutions (CTS) are singing the praises of team member, Ken Reed, who returned to the NHS to volunteer as a paramedic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ken, who has been a medical professional since 1984, spent over a decade working in the oil and gas industry as a medic stationed on seismic vessels, drilling rigs and ships. Ken then went on to continue his work as a medic in the Cayman Islands for five years.

Shortly after returning to the UK, he started sharing his knowledge, skills and experience with individuals who wanted to follow in his footsteps, by becoming an instructor in the medical field. More recently, he has been working for CTS to deliver the likes of First Aid training to individuals looking to work in the renewable energy sector.

Talking of his experiences, Ken said;

“Working in the medical field got right under my skin and I loved it. It’s the best job ever. I even met my wife through my job. I learnt a lot through living abroad because I dealt with a lot of things that you would never normally deal with in England, like treating people with stingray bites! But this knowledge really helped me when I did return to the UK.”

Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ken decided it was time to once again step up and use his knowledge where it was needed the most, and volunteered in the Liverpool City Region as a Paramedic. Since starting his volunteering in April, he’s been working 2 shifts per week with an old partner from his early years in the profession.

Tom Powell, CEO at Complete Training Solutions said, “Everyone at CTS are incredibly proud of Ken’s volunteering efforts. His desire to step-up and give something back is so humbling and inspirational, I have been so impressed by his dedication to his local community.

“Ken has a wealth of experience in the sector, and he really brings the courses to life for our delegates, so I am really pleased to see him use this knowledge and expertise to help our nation during such tough times.”

Ken now plans to return to his day job at Complete Training Solutions to continue delivering high levels of training to their thousands of delegates.

Improving End-Point Assessment through bespoke digital technology
End-Point Assessment  ·  Prepare to Achieve  ·  The Progress Group
Improving End-Point Assessment through bespoke digital technology

Gone are the days of pen and paper, numerous emails and confusing filing systems. The final stage of the apprenticeship journey is now even more accessible for employers, training providers and apprentices.

Prepare to Achieve are taking advantage of new digital technologies to continue to provide a fuss-free service for the delivery of End-Point Assessment (EPA). The bespoke EPA platform has been specially designed for EPA to guide apprentices, employers and training providers through the entire EPA process.

Investing in the platform allows the necessary Gateway requirements to be documented in one place for easy access, in addition to assessment progress charts which allow employers, apprentices and training providers to stay on top of data.

Prepare to Achieve have been pleased to receive positive feedback from our partners about the use of technology, especially the generation of reports to track the progress of apprentices.

Lee Evans, CEO at Prepare to Achieve, said:

“The past few months have proven to us how important it is for employers, providers and apprentices to have easy access to resources and information online. The EPA platform has the features that assist us in providing the best service, and in turn, helping apprentices to complete their apprenticeship journey.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic begun, Prepare to Achieve have used their technology-led approach to EPA to support 39 employers and over 150 apprentices in the adult care sector through EPA.

Careers, Advice and Guidance  ·  CareersInc  ·  The Progress Group
CareersInc to sponsor the Careers & Enterprise Award at this year’s Educate Awards

CareersInc, an impartial information, education, advice and guidance (CEIAG) provider have signed-up to sponsor the newly created Careers & Enterprise Award at the Educate Awards. The new category recognises those schools, academies and colleges who are preparing young people the best they can for their future careers.

The Educate Awards, now in their 8th year, were founded by Kim O’Brien to celebrate the excellent education and support being delivered by schools in the Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester areas. Nominations are judged by a panel of judges, before the shortlist being announced prior to the event taking place.

This year sees five new award categories launched, with the Careers & Enterprise Award being one. At a time of such uncertainty for young people, quality and impartial careers advice and guidance has never been more important. A report published by NCFE warns of increased levels of unemployment in Q3 of 2020 compared to the end of 2019, with figures being around 2.88m. This spike is likely to have a knock-on effect on young people seeking Post 16 pathways, as companies contract to survive. This situation may result in fewer apprenticeship training opportunities, and more competition for each job advertised. Therefore, impartial Careers Advice and Guidance (CIAG) will be crucial for helping to advise and guide young people as to their various Post 16 pathways, ensuring that they are aware of all routes open to them, their advantages and disadvantages. This commitment to providing quality careers guidance aligns with the Government’s aspirations and guidance.

Talking of their involvement in the awards, James Madine, CEO of CareersInc said;

 “We knew we wanted to get involved and give something back to our industry again this year. CareersInc sponsoring the new Careers & Enterprise Award category seemed such a great fit, as we wanted to celebrate the schools and Careers Advisers who have gone above and beyond to prepare their pupils for their best possible future. This year has been particularly challenging for Year 11s, so quality and impartial careers advice and guidance is of paramount importance. We must do everything we can to ensure that the current situation doesn’t adversely impact young people from progressing into HE/FE/vocational pathways.

“As an industry, we have a duty to support our pupils to understand that their Post 16 options are still available to them, even though traditional Open Days or exams aren’t taking place; and that their hopes and dreams are still alive, even if things look and feel different to them right now.”

This commitment and spirit is just what the judges will be looking for when judging this category, as they’ll be looking to see excellent examples of career-related learning about the range of career pathways and opportunities available to them. The judges will also look for examples of schools and Careers Leaders who have helped to develop an exceptional enterprise and entrepreneurship mind-set in their pupils.

James went on to say;

“Now more than ever is it vitally important that we come together to recognise and reward those working in the education sector. Over the past few months, we have seen our industry go through such challenges times, as schools were told to close their doors in order to protect lives. But my fellow educational colleagues stepped up to this challenge, finding innovative and engaging ways to still support their students. From teaching to support staff, it was incredible to see how we have all come together as an industry. It is this strength and commitment why I feel this year’s Educate Awards are so important – as now more than ever do we need to stand-up and applaud our colleagues.”

Kim O’Brian, Founder of the Educate Awards commented;

“We are thrilled to have CareersInc on board and supporting the new Careers & Enterprise Award. Preparation for future employment in the ever-changing world of work is so important and it is only right to shine the spotlight on those schools and colleges that are going above and beyond for pupils and students.”

The Educate Awards are scheduled to take place in November 2020 in Liverpool. Visit their website to find out more or to get involved.

high-demand-for-end-point-assessment-in-the-health-and-social-care-sector
End-Point Assessment  ·  Prepare to Achieve  ·  The Progress Group
High demand for End-Point Assessment in the Health and Social Care sector

After an unprecedented few months for the apprenticeship training sector, Prepare to Achieve have taken some time to reflect on what has been a successful few months for the specialist End-Point Assessment Organisation.

Between March-May, Prepare to Achieve have worked with 39 different health and social care employers, supporting over 100 of their apprentices through the End-Point Assessment (EPA) element of their apprenticeship standard. A number of factors have led them to achieving this success, including the development of their online EPA Platform, which provides a flexible and simple approach to the final stage of the apprenticeship programme.

As with many industries, the apprenticeship sector as a whole has taken a hit during the pandemic. Leading education charity, The Sutton Trust, reported that out of 156 employers surveyed, 61% were forced to suspend on-the-job learning, furlough recruits or make them redundant during lockdown. However, Prepare to Achieve’s speediness to embrace the changes and adjustments set out by the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) ensured that their support of employers, apprentices and training providers was not compromised. These adjustments saw the Adult Care Worker Level 2 and Lead Adult Care Worker Level 3 being adapted to allow for 100% online assessment.

This new way of assessing apprentices has benefited many businesses during the pandemic with providers able to support apprentices remotely to prepare for EPA.

An employer who recently chose Prepare to Achieve as their End-Point Assessment Organisation said:

“The process was so much easier from start to finish. We were able to work the assessments around our employees’ busy schedules, which worked better for us. Booking the assessments was all done online and was quick and easy, too.

“Our apprentice also said she felt more comfortable taking the assessment in a familiar setting, rather than having an Assessor physically in the same room as her. It was the first time we’d completed the whole EPA process online, and we’ll definitely continue to do it this way moving forwards.”

Lee Evans, CEO at Prepare to Achieve said,

“It’s been great that we’ve had such a good response to the online delivery of our EPA services. Over the past 3 months, we’ve had over 200 assessments completed online and we’ve had really positive feedback from both employers and apprentices about their experiences.”

Prepare to Achieve offer online EPA services for the Adult Care Worker Level 2 and Lead Adult Care Worker Level 3 apprenticeship standards. They hope to continue with this remote way of assessment moving forwards, to fully support employers through the End-Point Assessment journey.

Independent Education  ·  Progress Schools  ·  The Progress Group
Progress Schools bridges divide for young person during time of crisis

Progress School has recently come to the aid of one of their students (who for confidentially will be referred to as AD) and wider family unit, after a physical altercation led to AD becoming temporally homeless.

Not sure who to turn to, AD’s mum contacted the Head of School to notify them of the situation. The team at Progress Schools were quick to react to put steps in place for the family to access the support needed during this time of crisis. They contacted Social Care to report the situation and seek support for the family. Social Care were able to offer support to the family and agree a more suitable and safer living arrangement for AD in the short term.

During this time, Progress Schools worked collaboratively with Social Care whilst continuing to support AD and his wider family. In addition to delivering his educational provision, Progress Schools also provided financial relief by issuing the family with Free School Meal (FSM) vouchers to help with the additional costs incurred due to AD being at home all day. This struggle has been witnessed across many families during the lockdown, with families needing this extra lifeline to help support them.

This quick reaction by the team at Progress Schools not only demonstrates their strong pastoral support, which helps students facing many personal difficulties, but it also meant that AD was able to remain living with his family. Without the support of Progress Schools and Social Care, AD may have entered into the care system, which, at a time of national crisis and uncertainty, everyone wanted to avoid.

Social Care is just one partner who Progress Schools work with. They also refer to and access support from the likes of CAHMs, mental health organisations and local youth development organisations who can support with specific challenges. This robust partnership network enables Progress Schools to offer a holistic educational and well-being provision, which during the last few months of national lockdown, have been vital for so many of their student.

This support has perhaps never been more evident than in the past few months. Students and families have been supported in a multitude of ways via a remote learning package and face-to-face (socially distanced) visits. This has included weekly tutor “keeping in touch” sessions and head of school welfare checks. The team have also carried out weekly welfare visits to their students to deliver and collect individual work packs and FSM vouchers. Due to the commitment and dedication of each staff member at Progress Schools, all students and families have been well supported, resulting in minimal causes for concern regarding student welfare.

The group of independent secondary schools, who collectively support over 215 secondary aged students throughout England, have also invested in online learning platforms since the lockdown started. They have issued students with the likes of laptops and delivered online session through remote learning platforms such as Google Classrooms and Microsoft Teams. These novel approaches have ensured that as many students as possible have been supported during this unprecedented time. This has enabled them to continue with their delivery, whilst also act as a lifeline for young people when they need additional pastoral support to aid in their social and emotional wellbeing, just like AD.

Innovative Alliance Adult Education Training Provider Liverpool
Adult Education  ·  Innovative Alliance  ·  The Progress Group
Series of free online videos to support home-schooling and skill development

At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent nation-wide lockdown, the team at Innovative Alliance knew that they had to do something to try and support others. Understanding the demands being placed on parents to support with home-schooling, the team set about developing a series of bite-sized English and maths videos.

The adult education training provider, who is based in Liverpool, utilised the skills of their none-furloughed tutors to develop the bite-sized videos. These free resources demonstrated how English and maths could be embedded in to everyday tasks, such as working out how much paint was needed to decorate a room, how to write persuasively and how to burn calories.

Talking of the initiative, CEO Ian Green said;

“It is part of our ethos to give back and support others, and that’s just what these resources help us to do. We wanted to create some simple, easily accessible bite-size tools that would appeal to people of all maths and English abilities, and that’s just what we did. Our team of tutors worked on the project, putting their vocational knowledge and skills to good use. They had a lot of fun deciding on which theme to do next, with the video about burning calories going down a storm!”

All videos have been published on the training provider’s website as a free resource, and shared across their social media channels. Colleagues who have been home-schooling their children have commented how handy it was to have access to such resources.

But the resources also had another purpose. The team also wanted to support individuals to improve their numeracy and literacy skills during this time, in lieu of being able to support them face-to-face. By making these resources free and open to all, IA have given individuals from all social-economic backgrounds the opportunity to develop themselves. It is hoped that these resources will help to provide new knowledge and skills relating to English and maths, which individuals can then apply within the workplace (or to support them in gaining employment) once the lockdown measures are lifted.

There have been eight video resources created to date, all of which are available here.

Adult Education  ·  Innovative Alliance  ·  The Progress Group
Opening new doors to women in construction

In an industry that creates a perception of a male dominated environment, Cheryl Ali is helping to rebalance the gender gap, after completing her training with Innovative Alliance.

Before starting her training with Innovative Alliance, Cheryl was unemployed, but knew she wanted to pursue a career in Industrial Cleaning. She enrolled on a Building and Construction course to obtain her CSCS card that would allow her to progress on her career journey.

However, whilst completing the course, she realised that there were various opportunities within the sector that she had never considered before. The course has opened new doors to a wide variety of career paths available to her.

She said, “I found the support from the Tutors excellent as well as the fun and engaging work atmosphere. I would highly recommend this course to people from all walks of life.”

Cheryl is now receiving the support she needs from Innovative Alliance and their extensive network of employers within the industry, to decide which career path is right for her.

Her tutor Ray said: “Cheryl has worked very hard to achieve her Level 1 Introduction to Construction and CSCS card. She has the motivation to go far and do well. I’m very proud of Cheryl.

“Sometimes it’s hard to open your eyes to other possibilities that are available to you when you’ve had your heart focused on something for so long. So, it’s great that the course has helped her to branch out and consider new opportunities.”

Innovative Alliance offer construction courses that are ideal for those who have little or no experience within the sector. For more information about this course, contact info@innovativealliance.co.uk or call 0151 433 7171.

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