Leaders in education compliance & quality
About
Lockhart Hawkins provides expert improvement solutions in government funded post 16 education for Universities, Colleges, training providers and employers.
We provide advisory services specialising in Apprenticeships aligning compliance, quality and business efficiencies that have been gathered from over 20 years of guiding organisations in funded education. Our work has a lasting positive impact on success from both a quality and financial perspective, safeguarding funding, improving quality and supporting the learner and employer journey.
We work with organisations of all shapes and sizes including several of the largest providers in England and have delivered solutions to hundreds of organisations across the UK. We can be flexible on budget so this means we can support employer providers with billion pound turnover to the specialist niche provider delivering high quality to low numbers. For us its all about the development of a high quality offer that meets the rules and is delivered efficiently and effectively with the right blend of quality and compliance.
2024 has already been a very busy year for us as we continue to support many of the leading education providers in the UK with improvement activity including compliance development, implementation reviews and support sessions. We have delivered the first of a number of national webinar series through our ongoing partnership with the Strategic Development Network (SDN) and have many upcoming CPD programmes in the pipeline. We’re also delighted to have designed the two of the Department for Education’s Apprenticeship Workforce Development Programme modules on the topic of Apprenticeship Initial Assessment and late last year we delivered a workshop at the national apprenticeship conference for UVAC.
If you want a taster of some of the work we have done before, see some of the legacy CPD sessions available free below: ‘Thought Leadership’ sessions delivered by our MD David Lockhart-Hawkins for leading Apprenticeship MI supplier Aptem from 2022 and 2023.
Click here for our upcoming development programmes and other SDN events (this will open in a new window).
Free Webinars
We deliver many commercially available webinars however have also contributed several with no cost to the sector including several incredibly well received “Thought Leadership” sessions commissioned by Management Information System supplier Aptem. This was designed to widen understanding of core operational areas of apprenticeship and other education programmes and you can watch any of these videos for free below. Note the videos from previous years will have been designed around the funding rules in place at that time. You can always get in touch with us for support with current interpretations.
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What we do
Compliance
Compliance to many in our sector means funding rules but it actually means far more: how effective are you at meeting your internal processes and procedures, or to what extent do you meet your contractual terms with your students and employers? We can conduct sample or spot check based funding rule compliance reviews, preparing your for ESFA Financial Assurance, reviewing key systems and providing effective solutions. Its easy to say what's wrong so what we like to do is support you with detailed recommendations of how to get things right fluidly, blending quality expectations with compliance to be efficient but also of the highest quality. Work with us to spend less time worrying about funding clawback.
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Quality
Supporting with continuous improvement we offer advice and guidance on Ofsted preparation, workshops and development on a range of training provider subjects including curriculum development and design of product solutions. We can also support with bid writing and strategic planning.
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Product Solutions
We've developed many provider solutions including our outstanding initial assessment Skills Analysis tool, Evidence Packs including Enrolment Forms, initial assessment tools, Training Plans as well as delivering wider projects including Learning Support Funding development and business relationship management tools.
Compliance Implementation Support Services - Example Template Form & Support Packages:
1) Evidence Pack Design
Compliance and Contract Documents
2) Subject Based Initial Assessment and Skills Gap Analysis
For use as a part of Information, Advice and Guidance but fundamentally to ensure Apprenticeship suitability – we have over 100 of the most common Standards in our template portfolio.
The approach has worked very well in both Ofsted and ESFA assurance review, establishing an evidence base that alongside review of prior qualifications gives you an effective baseline and supporting identification of suitability as well as allow measurement of ongoing distance travelled
3) Initial Assessment and Policy Support
Where prior learning exists, either certificated or experiential, providers must take account of it when setting training prices and in funding claim. We can support you with a template policy and support you with a draft system design and training day to help your delivery teams implement an effective evidence system.
4) Learning Support
Forms and templates to develop a learning support claim in Apprenticeships / AEB. It’s an area of underclaim for most providers and really shouldn’t be. We can support you with the template basics and support you with a draft system design and training day to help your delivery teams implement an effective evidence system.
5) Advisory Services
We recommend our clients work with us either on retainer or block book a given number of days and then we provide guidance as and when you need it. We offer consultancy as one-off days or multi-day activities including mock ESFA audit and qualitative drill down. We can support in preparation for audit or inspection and have a fantastic track record of performance.
6) Subcontractor Due Diligence
Supporting subcontractor compliance our range of documents designed to ensure you offer a robust selection and approval process for subcontractors.
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Skills Analysis
Our most popular product, for use as a part of Information, Advice and Guidance but fundamentally to ensure Apprenticeship suitability we have developed a fantastic excel based platform designed to support the initial assessment process using an innovative approach to designing the questions used – we have over 100 of the most common Standards in our template portfolio.
Our system is designed around an initial applicant self- assessment based upon the knowledge, skills and behaviours required in a standard, grading their level of ability which is followed by moderation by one of your trainers or subject specialists that can revisit the grades given and identify through mapping any modules that may not be necessary (resulting in accurate calculations of funding and price reduction).
Per standard we will provide the question set which the provider can absorb into a suitable system of delivery such as Microsoft Forms, survey monkey, google forms but our excel spreadsheet test format is designed for multiple reassessment, compliance calculations and gateway readiness, with RPL calculation and funding adjustments identified so it supports quality as much as it does compliance.
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Workshops & Webinars
We offer a number of workshop days and bespoke training activities. Some of our most popular are below. However we also deliver a number of regular CPD and development events in partnership with the Strategic Development Network. Click here for their latest events or see below for just ten of the ad hoc events we can arrange at any time.
Workshop 1 – Fundamentals of Apprenticeship Compliance
A three part series that can be delivered remotely or in person designed for ALL provider staff (not just compliance personnel) to develop wider understanding of the core rules for apprenticeships, allowing individuals to see where their role works in the learner journey. Available bespoke to the Provider type, i.e. HEI, Employer or ITP focused (Delivered in Partnership with SDN)
Workshop 2 – Apprenticeship Compliance for Leaders
A three part series that can be delivered remotely or in person designed to develop strategic understanding of compliance and risk including understanding of the ESFA assurance regime, core rules, fraud prevention and awareness to develop a healthy approach to meeting the needs of the agency, employers and apprentices. Available bespoke to the Provider type, i.e. HEI, Employer or ITP focused. (Delivered in Partnership with SDN)
Workshop 3 – Building a compliant Apprenticeship programme
A full day workshop delivered remotely or in person for senior managers and delivery team on understanding ESFA compliance in Apprenticeships and the audit process designed to support new entrants to the Apprenticeship sector or those wishing to update and appraise their own position and understanding. (Delivered in Partnership with SDN)
Workshop 4 – Claiming Apprenticeship / AEB Learning Support funding with confidence
A half day or full day workshop that can be delivered remotely or in person for senior managers and operational teams on how to develop a compliant Learning Support Funding line. All providers are eligible for this additional funding for eligible learners and it’s a simple process if you get the evidence system design right. Updated to 22/23 funding year to include detail on needs assessment, support planning and review.
Workshop 5 – Compliant pricing and costing of Apprenticeship Programmes
A full day workshop designed for finance and operational management teams on developing an eligible ESFA fundable cost structure and commercial breakdown of training price including employer provider models and best practice for recognition of prior learning and pricing. Also available as a three part series. (Delivered in Partnership with SDN)
Workshop 6 – Understanding ILR and Data Management in Apprenticeships
A full day workshop or three part series on how to how to operate efficint and effective data collection, funding claims and review your compliance. This includes a detailed session on how to use the agency provided data self assessment toolkit “PDSAT”. Ideal for your senior administrators. (Delivered in Partnership with SDN)
Workshop 7 – Understanding Apprenticeship Initial assessment and recognition of prior learning
A half or full day workshop to develop understanding of the rules and policy on initial assessment, how to consider prior learning, establish price models process and avoid common errors and best practice to avoid them Available bespoke to the Provider type, i.e. HEI, Employer or ITP focused.
Workshop 8 – Subcontracting in Apprenticeships in 23/24
A half day workshop on the fundable models, their commercial benefits and how to ensure compliance. (Delivered in Partnership with SDN)
Workshop 9 - The fundamentals of AEB Compliance
A three part series that can be delivered remotely or in person designed for all provider staff, not just compliance personnel to develop understanding of the core rules for AEB programmes allowing individuals to see where their role works in the learner journey. Available bespoke to the Provider type, i.e. HEI, Employer or ITP focused.
Workshop 10 - The fundamentals of Traineeship Compliance
A half or full day workshop design for all provider staff, not just compliance personnel to develop understanding of the core rules for Traineeship programmes allowing individuals to see where their role works in the learner journey. Available bespoke to the Provider type, i.e. HEI, Employer or ITP focused. Half of the day will be on the 16-19 study programme funded traineeship model with the other half on the AEB funded 19+ model.
More available on request.