The Training Standards Council, which began inspecting government-funded work-based training schemes last May, said this week that results had been disappointing.

The council has published 209 reports on training providers and 100 are to be re-inspected because of one or more areas of unsatisfactory or poor provision. Of the 100, 11 per cent received a grade 4 or 5 (less than satisfactory or poor) in one or more occupational areas. A handful received grades 4 and 5 for most of the areas assessed by the inspectors. The most common weakness is in quality assurance procedures and nearly three-quarters of those due to be re-inspected failed to achieve a satisfactory standard in this area.

David Sherlock, chief inspector, said: “Re-inspection should not be viewed as the last nail in the coffin for poor training providers, but rather as a second chance to demonstrate excellence.”