ofsted In June 2009, the Programme Centre, which represents around 10% of the Apex business, was inspected by Ofsted. The inspection was a very useful development tool for those individuals involved and for the organisation as a whole. The overall assessment indicated that there was room for improvement in this particular provision and it prompted a series of actions that are already being worked on. There were many positives which came both from the inspectors and also from the apex clients who were interviewed during the inspection.
It was stated by the inspectors that Apex offered very good development of participants’ confidence and motivation to look for work, as well as offering good training advice and support. It was particularly encouraging to see Apex being recognised as having effective strategies to promote social inclusion. They also noted that advisors and tutors are well qualified, very knowledgeable and skilled in providing support for a range of issues of concern to participants. It is just as important to note the comments of some of our clients who made comments like “The improvement in my confidence is phenomenal” and “They treat us like adults” and “I owe a lot to Apex”.
As Apex provides other services that can be inspected by the Ofsted team, we anticipate another inspection in the near future.
annual reviews
Annual Review 2007 - 2008
Annual Review 2006 - 2007
promotional material Apex 25th Anniversary Video
Challenge Chris! - 22nd May 2008
BBC Leicester presenter Chris Baxter went to Apex in Leicester for Adult Learners Week to try his hand at some new skills. First he had a go at making a flower arrangement for Ben Jackson, and then he learnt how to put on a sari.
For the full story and other Apex news click here
about us Apex is a registered charity, which has existed since 1982. We have always tried to be an organisation that helps the members of the local community by being part of that community. At the heart of our business are the people that come through our doors everyday, in every centre that we deliver a service.
Apex began as an organisation that helped offenders get their lives back on track after coming out of prison. Since those early days, more and more services have been added and we now offer a comprehensive range of services to help people to overcome the barriers that are keeping them from getting a job.
Apex offers education, training, employability support, advice, guidance and support to those excluded from the labour market. The people we help experience a range of barriers, including , amongst others, long term unemployment, insufficient job application skills, being at risk of offending, having ESOL needs or being a lone parent. We also support those with IT training needs, those who are on the verge of exclusion from mainstream education and those who just don’t know where to turn next.
As well as encouraging all of our users to move into education and sustainable employment, Apex also works with employers and employer organisations to address prejudice and reduce discrimination in the workplace. We also promote to employers the benefits of work-based experience, in work training and volunteering.
Each year we help more than 3,000 people, from all different backgrounds, from all across Leicestershire, to improve their chances of finding work.
Our vision is to continue to inspire people by practising and promoting our values through working within communities and working alongside other community groups with a view to making a continued difference to the people of Leicestershire and beyond.
