Pathway Group is an independent apprenticeship training organization that has worked with over 500 employers and has over 1000 apprentices. It delivers a range of apprenticeship programs across various sectors and levels. Pathway provides full support to apprentices and host employers, including recruitment, pastoral care, training management, and HR assistance. This unique employment model offers flexibility for employers. Pathway has a strong focus on engaging diverse communities and was rated highly by Ofsted for its collaboration with employers and communities.

1. Think Apprenticeships - Think Pathway!
An Independent Apprenticeship Recruitment and Training
organisation
www.pathwaygroup.co.uk

2. • Started delivering Apprenticeships in 2010 as a consortia partner to BCTG, New College Nottingham,
Solihull College, North Hertfordshire College and The Derbyshire Network
• In 2012 we were awarded a direct contract with the SFA with a value of £500,000. This was in
addition to our partnership activity.
• Our focus has been working with micro and small and medium sized organisations and we have
worked with over 500 employers.
• As of June 2017, we have over 1000 apprentices on programme across a range of sectors as below:

3. We deliver across the following Pathways:
Apprenticeship Level
Business Administration 2 and 3
Customer Service 2 and 3
Children and Young People's Workforce 2
Certificate in Cleaning and Support Service Skills (QCF) 2
Cleaning 2
Warehousing and Storage (QCF) 2
Children and Young People's Workforce 3
Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator) 3
Health and Social Care (Adults) for England 2 3, and 5
ICT 2
Team Leading 3

4. The make up of our Learners is as below:
• 55% of Pathway clients are from
BME Background
Ethnicity %
31 - English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish / British 45.0%
40 - Pakistani 25.6%
41 - Bangladeshi 3.0%
44 - African 6.5%
39 - Indian 5.1%
45 - Caribbean 4.4%
37 - White and Asian 0.9%
35 - White and Black Caribbean 1.6%
34 - Any Other White background 1.4%
98 - Any other ethnic group 0.7%
99 - Not provided 3.3%
43 - Any other Asian background 0.7%
46 - Any other Black / African / Caribbean background 0.5%
38 - Any Other Mixed / multiple ethnic background 0.9%
36 - White and Black African 0.2%
45%
26%
3%
7%
5%
4%
1%
2% 1%
1%
3%
1%
0% 1%
0%
Pathway Learner Ethnicity % of Population
31 - English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish /
British
40 - Pakistani
41 - Bangladeshi
44 - African
39 - Indian
45 - Caribbean
37 - White and Asian
35 - White and Black Caribbean
34 - Any Other White background
98 - Any other ethnic group
99 - Not provided
43 - Any other Asian background
46 - Any other Black / African / Caribbean
background
38 - Any Other Mixed / multiple ethnic background
36 - White and Black African

5. Quality is at heart of what we do:
• We obtained an Ofsted Grade 2 in October 2016 and this is direct from Ofsted:
• “Collaboration with communities and employers is exceptional. Pathway is highly proactive
with the Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities of Birmingham. Senior managers
are successful in bringing together local communities and employers through a range of
networking events that they run throughout the country aimed at exploring future
developments and training opportunities. “ (Ofsted Inspector Oct 2016)
• For more information on our Ofsted, please see the actual report:
• https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/59176

6. What Learners think:
“Learner satisfaction is high”
The Learner Satisfaction Survey shows that satisfaction levels are at or
above 9.1, with 96% of learners likely to recommend Pathway
(A direct quote from our ISO 9001 Report in April 2016)

7. Other notable point from Audits that we have been part of:
• The management system documentation demonstrated conformity with the requirements of the audit
standard and provided sufficient structure to support implementation and maintenance of the
management system.
• Pathway has demonstrated effective implementation and maintenance/improvement of its
management system.
• demonstrated the establishment and tracking of appropriate key performance objectives and targets
and monitored progress towards their achievement.
• Its internal audit program has been fully implemented and demonstrates effectiveness as a tool for
maintaining and improving the management system.
• Its management review process demonstrated capability to ensure the continuing suitability, adequacy,
effectiveness of the management system.
• Certification claims are accurate and in accordance with guidance.

8. Our Matrix Accreditation and direct quotes:
• The organisation has undergone significant re-structuring since the last assessment in response to
the changing external environment, particularly in relation to public funding. As a result, there has
been a clear business direction established to develop a range of different activities that provides
diversification and spreads business risk. These activities are aimed at attracting different funding
streams, but will each provide a connected function that will support the growth of each area.
• Partnership and networking has been recognised as an important area to support the business and
its growth ambitions. Significant work has been undertaken to positively engage with a range of
different organisations that can both be supported and be of support to the organisation.
• In the Tyseley Centre, there was a strong emphasis on engaging with social media for a variety of
activities; to keep in touch with learners, as a communication tool between staff and a networking
activity between businesses and potential clients.
• There were a number of examples provided of staff being supported to develop within the
organisation, having access to a range of learning and also developing through different job roles.

9. Conclusion
• Pathway Group demonstrated that it continues to meet all aspects of the matrix Standard, across the
range of delivery in the organisation.
• There is an opportunity for different areas of the organisation to learn from each other through
some common themes.
• There was a strong sense of supporting people to develop, whether internally through staff
development or with externally through learners and clients accessing programmes

10. Pathway offers an ATA model of employment for Apprentices

11. What does that mean:
• Acting as an enabler
for all parties involved
in the apprenticeship
journey offering
pastoral support to the
apprentice, business
support and HR to the
host employer in
addition to logistical
support to the chosen
training provider.
LTS
(ATA)
Training
Provider
Host
Employer
Learner
Recruitment

12. How does that benefit employers
• Remove issues around headcount for public sector organisations such as
councils
• Support with recruitment – finding the right apprentice to meet employers’
needs
• Removing the need for a 12 month commitment to employ an apprentice
for the host employer
• If required we can place an apprentice with a new employer.
• Support HR, payroll, legal support, H&S and risk assessment before taking
on any apprentice.

13. How does that benefit employers
• Offer flexibility in terms of length of contract
• this can be from 3 months up to the full duration of and apprenticeship
based on employer circumstances.
• Provide pastoral care and support provided to apprentice throughout
placement working with the host employer to improve retention.
• Offer external management of training delivery and performance with
regular updates provided to host employer including line manager.

14. Sourcing Suitable Candidates
• We source the right candidates through a range of methods from
advertising with providers, to direct marketing in the local press
and social media.
• Apprenticeship opportunities are matched to the most suitable
candidate following a pre-screening exercise and an interview
process for the specific job role.

15. Sourcing Suitable Candidates
• Our highly experienced engagement team will work with host employers to:
• Identify the business need, offer an all-round analysis of the business to help and grow
the workforce
• Draft up a job advert and work with the employer to pull together a job description
• We will pre sift and shortlist applications forms/CVs ensuring only qualifying candidates
are put forward
• We will then employ the selected candidate and hire them out to the host employer and
• Work with the training providers to identify the most appropriate standards/framework

16. Employer Engagement with a difference
• In 2012, Pathway Group launched Pathway2Grow business networking to engage with businesses
with a unique blend of free networking both online and offline with regular events.
• Since then we have arranged over 100 events across 10 cities and have engaged with over 4000
attendees representing more than 1000 businesses
• Our findings are that our members have exchanged over 3000 business opportunities which is well
over £1.5 million worth of business
• The Pathway2Grow team has expanded with 10 Regional/National Directors with plans for continual
growth.

17. • The Asian Apprenticeship Awards: Pathway Group launched this initiave last year in May 2016 and
the event was held in Birmingham on the 10 November 2016 with over 462 attendees.
• See the facts and figures presented in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=885kpLxaP1A&feature=youtu.be
• And the report here: http://asianapprenticeshipawards.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/AAA-
Report-2016.pdf

18. For more information and to discuss any aspects of this, please contact:
Hira Malik
Projects Manager and Senior Information Officer
Email: Hira@PathwayGroup.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiramaliktabasum/
Tel: 0121 707 0550