The Development Manager (TDM), a specialist skills and workforce development provider, is celebrating an exceptional set of inspection outcomes following its latest Ofsted inspection, published on 15th July 2026.
The outcome reflects TDM’s unwavering commitment to delivering transformational education that changes lives, develops careers and creates measurable impact for employers across the UK.
Under Ofsted’s new inspection framework, a Strong judgement recognises providers that are working above the standards expected of them. It signals excellence in educational practice and confirms TDM’s position as a provider delivering high-quality outcomes for learners, employers and communities alike.
While TDM is grounded in the practical application of skills in the workplace, the inspection reinforces a wider truth: TDM is one of the strongest education providers in the country.
Overall, the report recognises TDM with Strong judgements for Achievement, Inclusion, and Leadership & Governance, alongside confirmation that safeguarding standards are fully met.
Inspectors praised the organisation’s highly effective approach to identifying and removing barriers to learning, its commitment to supporting learners from all backgrounds, and the quality of leadership driving continuous improvement across the organisation. Ofsted highlighted the effectiveness of TDM’s inclusion practices, robust learner support systems and strong culture of safeguarding, ensuring learners feel safe, supported and able to succeed.
“The team at TDM all deserve to be immensely proud of our Strong Achievement judgements from Ofsted. Strong, they say, is the new Outstanding.
For our Strong Inclusion judgement – we are deeply, deeply invested into starting up careers – for both unemployed recruits and employed reskillers – and then taking those people onwards towards BSc (Hons) levels of education, technical skills and professional, productive behaviours for their employer organisations.
Further, our Strong Leadership and Management grade gives a good indication that this organisation’s delivery quality is only going to get stronger and stronger.”- Derrin Kent, Managing Director and Director of Studies.
The inspection results are particularly significant given TDM’s mission to widen participation and create opportunities for people who may otherwise face barriers to career progression. With more than 65% of learners coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, inclusion is not a supporting activity at TDM, it is fundamental to the organisation’s purpose.
“What gets you out of bed every morning is having a sense of purpose, understanding why we do what we do.
This is why Ofsted recognised our value. Inclusion and achievement are not accidental; they are the result of hard work, dedication, and a truly personalised coaching approach that supports every learner as an individual.
Little by little, learner by learner, we are helping to build the career mindset of the future and creating opportunities for both career progression and social mobility.
I am immensely proud of the entire TDM team and deeply grateful to the employers who champion apprenticeships. The Strong grades for Inclusion and Achievement outcomes belong to them as well.
Together, we are creating meaningful opportunities and helping to drive career and social mobility across our communities, the wider economy, and the skills ecosystem.” – Ely Kent, Director of Operations and Academic Lead.
The inspection findings build on a period of continued growth for TDM, helping individuals progress from entry-level through to degree-level opportunities, and creating highly skilled careers that have an unwavering positive washback effect on their organisations, and the wider UK economy as a result.
For employers, the outcome provides independent validation that TDM delivers more than ‘training’. It delivers essential skills and education that creates lasting workforce capability, improves performance competence and enables businesses to build the skills they need for the future.
For learners, it provides reassurance that they are joining an organisation recognised nationally for both educational quality and its commitment to helping individuals achieve their full potential.
For TDM, the judgement is both recognition and motivation.
TDM remains focused on its long-term mission: helping people build meaningful careers, helping employers develop high-performing workforces, and proving that outstanding educational outcomes can be achieved through genuinely work-based learning that changes lives.
Strong in achievement. Strong in inclusion. Strong in leadership. Strong in purpose.
And, according to Ofsted, getting stronger still.
Full report available at – https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/33/1270853