Embedding high expectations to support learner success
Quick links:
Information about the provider
The B-wbl Consortium is a long-established provider of apprenticeships and employability programmes in Wales. This partnership of ten providers, with a shared ethos of continual improvement, works in a culture of collaboration, transparency, openness and trust, with a vision of achieving excellence. The partnership delivers apprenticeships at foundation apprenticeship, apprenticeship and higher apprenticeship levels to approximately 4500 learners across a range of learning areas.
Context and background to the effective or innovative practice
The B-wbl Consortium’s shared strategic vision and culture aims to work towards creating a learning and teaching environment which places learner success, experience and aspirations at the heart of decision making. The strategic plan includes six aims, with a key focus not only on improving outcomes but working to develop apprentices who are highly skilled, creative, confident and successful. Working towards this aim providers and their staff have high expectations of their apprentices, fostering highly effective relationships focused on the needs of the individual working to ensure they develop meaningful ways to enhance their experiences and challenge learners to raise their aspirations.
Actions in the quality development plan and professional learning programme have a strong focus on developing approaches which enhance the learning and teaching experiences with a focus on how the provider can stretch and challenge apprentices in line with their individual needs and aspirations. Partners have developed a range of ways linked to individual sectors and need which focus on supporting our apprentices to engage positively and become highly motivated, passionate individuals valued by their employers.
Description of nature of strategy or activity
The provider has aspirational expectation for all learners and this has resulted in the development of a range of activities focused on enhancing the learner experiences and promoting learner ownership to add value to programmes.
Participation in competitions to raise aspirations
Providers within the network have a strong focus on skills competitions as a way of enhancing experiences and developing confident and ambitious learners. In 2025, 23 apprentices from across the network achieved success in skills competitions, with a number of these going on to represent Wales at UK Skills and World Skills. Providers also use a range of internal competitions in sectors like hair and beauty to enable apprentices to showcase their skills and learn from each other.
Learner centred approach to teaching, learning and assessment
A feature of the professional learning programme has focused on developing effective strategies which actively encourage our apprentices to take ownership of their progress and programme. This approach has centred on developing practitioner confidence in understanding the barriers and motivations of their apprentices to ensure opportunities to enhance experiences and secure success is optimised. Practitioner conferences have focused on effective and sharp target setting which drives progress and promotes ownership. This has included how target setting, effective questioning, insightful assessment and constructive feedback can ensure themes related to skills development, wellbeing, safeguarding, extremism and Welsh language are meaningfully embedded and add value.
Partners and their staff have developed innovative approaches where they work closely with their apprentices to identify how aspects of online safety, safeguarding and British values align with qualifications and the sectors they work in. Staff also work closely with apprentices to develop ways they can embed Welsh language into the workplace and develop ideas to improve their skills. A key focus being an approach which looks to develop confident and ambitious learners.
Programme Enhancement
Providers have developed innovative ways of enhancing programmes to meet employer needs but also meet aspirations of learners who are looking to progress within their chosen sector. Approaches within our network have included, introductory sessions to the level above, enabling learners to have an opportunity to engage with subject matter at a higher level to support progression. Apprentices complete additional qualifications in motor vehicle around hybrid vehicles to support with employment opportunities. In electrical apprenticeships learners work towards the 18th Edition to support them to prepare for external assessment elements of the programme. Apprentices have also attended trips and visits to provide an insight into their chosen career path and the opportunities available to them.
What impact has this work had on provision and learners’ standards?
The collective focus on ensuring learners are successful and have access to high quality learning and teaching has seen outcomes improve while developing the skills and knowledge needed to do well at work.
How have you shared your good practice?
To share good practice, the provider uses presentations in consortium meetings to share approaches to enhancing learners’ experiences. Partners share approaches to stretch and challenge and how they are enhancing learner’s experience. Sector specific task and finish groups have shared innovative ways of supporting learners. Meetings also share learner and staff successes through compliments reports and case studies.
An annual awards ceremony celebrates the inspirational journeys to success that learners have achieved and the impact they have on the businesses they work within. Self-evaluation highlights the achievement across the consortium. Skills competition winners work as ambassadors within the provider network sharing their experiences with others and the wider network.