Training company is doing a 'good' job

Mechanic training . . . (from left) instructor Matt Cumming, Aaron Ormsby (19) and Aidan Lees (17)

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A PRIVATE training provider has maintained its "good" rating in a positive Ofsted inspection report.

In June, the education watchdog visited Chadderton-based Mantra Learning, which specialises in the logistics, automotive and contact centre sectors.

It was rated "good" in March 2015 and the latest report tells managing director Mark Currie: "You and your staff have ensured that most adult learners and the large majority of apprentices continue to achieve well.

"Your managers have been successful in maintaining the strengths identified at your previous inspection and have made good progress in improving most of the weaknesses.

"You and your team have good capacity to make further improvements and are resolute to do so."

Mantra offers courses and apprenticeships to improve the skills and career progression of those who are unemployed through to new and existing employees.

Its Job Gym programme helps unemployed people to get work in the logistics and contact centre sectors.

Ofsted said: "Adult learners, most of whom are unemployed, continue to receive good-quality education and training and improve their likelihood of finding employment or moving to other courses."

Most Mantra apprentices get a job or gain more responsibility at work, said Ofsted, which also praised its "well-structured" Pathway to Apprenticeship programme to help young people to get an apprenticeship.

"Trainees now benefit from effective lessons in improving their readiness for jobs, such as lessons in oral and written communications and the use of mathematics at work. They attend lessons to learn about their chosen career options, such as working in warehouses, garages and offices.

"They learn about managing their finances and the risks of using illegal drugs," added the report.

"Staff regularly review trainees' progress, including when they are ready to move to work placements.

"They support and motivate well the trainees who require additional support to develop the skills that employers seek, for example by discussing with them the importance of wearing suitable clothes for work."

Mantra's training facilities were also praised. The report said: "Apprentices and learners benefit significantly from good resources. These include a fully equipped warehouse and a number of large goods vehicles used to train them to obtain their driving licences to work in the haulage industry."

Mr Currie said: "I am particularly pleased Ofsted has recognised the hard work and commitment that my team has put into further improving the quality of our training over the past three years. We have clearly demonstrated that we not only make a positive impact on our employers' businesses but we also dramatically change people's lives."