Ixion Holdings awarded Ofsted Grade 2 in first inspection

Press release issued: 17 March 2011



Ofsted Team

Ofsted Team: Karen Martin, Vanessa Manders, Janet Young, David Elliot, Bekki Mansell, Andrew Smith & Stuart Mansfield

Ixion Holdings Ltd, part of Anglia Ruskin University, has achieved Grade 2 (good) in its first Ofsted inspection and Grade 1 (outstanding) in its delivery to the engineering and manufacturing sector. This is a fantastic achievement and means they join only a small number of providers that have achieved this grade at first inspection.

Ofsted seek to promote improvement in the services they inspect and regulate, and ensure that training organisations focus on the interests of the learners and employers who use them, and therefore achieving an Ofsted Grade 2 is an important step for a company involved in the provision of Government funded learning and development.

Ixion has delivered Government funded training programmes in the East of England, London and South East since 2008. Ixion has delivered training to over 4,300 learners and has supported staff development for more than 180 employers across a number of different employment sectors, delivering learning in business administration, engineering, construction, care, hairdressing and Skills for Life.

Ofsted commented on a number of key areas where Ixion demonstrated strong performance:

"Ixion has established a strong base and reputation to develop and improve work-based training. Since the start of the contract, the company has provided a good standard of training and good outcomes to a substantial number of learners and employers in several employment sectors."

"Ixion has successfully improved the rates of achievement of qualifications through strong monitoring of the provision."

"Through strong relationships with its subcontractors, Ixion has developed good partnerships with employers in various employment sectors and sector skill councils to identify needs and influence the take-up and development of training for small and medium sized businesses"

Ofsted Inspection Report: March 2011
Gaining a Level 2 Ofsted grade was a key priority for Ixion and one of its 2011 Corporate objectives. As an organisation dedicated to providing support to learners, young people and those looking for employment through Government funded training and Welfare to Work programmes, the recognition of the quality of our provision through Ofsted is a testament to the high standards set.

With a small team pulled together in January to prepare for the inspection, Ixion rose to the challenge to ensure that the information, reports and case studies would be readily available for inspection and to ensure that the inspection process went as smoothly as possible.

John Govett, CEO, Ixion Holdings Ltd, said:

"This has been a real team effort and is not something achieved over a matter of weeks but through great work over many months and demonstrates the true commitment of the delivery team to our corporate values."

Delivering contracts for the Government and a range of public sector partners means that Ixion is continually seeking to monitor and improve its quality and compliance standards and so in addition to the Ofsted award, Ixion was successfully re-awarded 'Investors in People' in 2010 and was one the first brokerage companies in England to achieve the 'Matrix' accreditation, a standard awarded to organisations that deliver information, advice and guidance on learning and work.

To find out more about Ixion Holdings Limited visit: www.ixionholdings.com
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