As a longstanding and well-respected professional training provider, Cambridge Professional Academy has a history of successful results and positive external audits from awarding bodies. Following the addition of apprenticeship programmes to the training portfolio in 2017 and the full launch of in-company apprenticeship programmes in 2018, the first Ofsted monitoring visit took place in late 2019 — with cohorts running at study centres in Manchester and London. The outcome was a finding of 'reasonable progress' across all areas.
What the Ofsted Report Assessed
The Ofsted monitoring visit evaluated three key areas of apprenticeship provision:
- How much progress leaders have made in ensuring the provider is meeting all the requirements of successful apprenticeship provision
- What progress leaders and managers have made in ensuring that apprentices benefit from high-quality training that leads to positive outcomes
- How much progress leaders and managers have made in ensuring that effective safeguarding arrangements are in place
Key Findings from the Report
These areas had been a primary focus of Cambridge Professional Academy since obtaining apprenticeship provider status. The key findings from the report included:
- Leaders have a clear rationale for the delivery of apprenticeship programmes and use feedback from employers to design a well-planned curriculum
- Leaders provide expert specialist staff and resources and deliver high-quality training
- Apprentices benefit from a tailored programme with mentors who have suitable expert industry skills and knowledge relevant to their employers' businesses
- Apprentices confidently describe the different elements of their end-point assessment and are on target to complete their programme in the time planned
- Apprentices receive high-quality off-the-job training
- Experienced tutors use real-world examples very successfully to link new learning to the workplace
- Apprentices develop a broad range of useful and relevant skills closely matched to the individual businesses in which they work
- Apprentices benefit from good support while learning, value this highly, and this motivates them to perform well
- Apprentices are more confident and resilient as a result of the programme
- Leaders have developed a good culture of safeguarding within the organisation
The report reflects the extent to which Cambridge Professional Academy has focused on the development of its programmes — not simply teaching to the standard, but delivering practical insights informed by real-life, relevant experience from industry experts.
Reflections from the Leadership Team
Martin Hutchins, Managing Director of Cambridge Professional Academy, reflected on the significance of the inspection findings. He described how the positive assessment from Ofsted provided a valuable perspective on how far the organisation had come in implementing its apprenticeship strategy — confirming that the hard work of the team was paying off and that apprentices were receiving high-quality training. He extended his thanks to the whole team for their efforts in building a strong apprenticeship delivery proposition.
Neil Donoghue, Head of Apprenticeships at Cambridge Professional Academy, noted that the monitoring visit had identified both commendable strengths and constructive areas for improvement. He indicated that the constructive feedback would be implemented to the benefit of the business and all apprenticeship partners, and expressed confidence that the improvements would enable an even stronger programme going forward.
Sarah Jones, Head of Operations at Cambridge Professional Academy, highlighted what she saw as the defining characteristic of the apprenticeship programmes: the quality of the people delivering them. She described the high standard of off-the-job training and the quality of the tutors and mentors as a reflection of the organisation's training philosophy — that helping people gain access to expertise is the core purpose, and that this report confirmed the continued success of that approach.
How Professional Academy Supports Your Journey
Professional Academy continues to grow its apprenticeship offering, with public cohorts available at study centres in London, Manchester, Cambridge, and Jersey. Programmes are available across marketing, sales, and business administration at multiple levels.
- Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketer Apprenticeship
- Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship
- Level 6 Marketing Manager Apprenticeship
- Sales Apprenticeships
- Business Administration Apprenticeship
For employers looking to develop their teams through apprenticeship programmes, or individuals looking to start an apprenticeship, contact the Professional Academy apprenticeships team or book a call to discuss the options.
