An apprenticeship provider that delivers training to high-street retailers such as Peacocks and Dunelm has been hit with an ‘inadequate’ rating following its first full Ofsted inspection.
Northern Training Academy (NTA), based in Bolton, was given a grade four after inspectors found “poor” quality of training being delivered to most apprentices and learners.
The company was inspected in mid-May and had 375 apprentices and 14 adult trainees. It delivers 25 different apprenticeship standards from levels 2 to 6, mostly in retail but also in travel and warehousing.
While leaders and managers were praised for having a “clear rationale” to provide training that meets the post-pandemic skills shortages of local and national employers, inspectors found big concerns with oversight of the training.
