Case Study

Taking steps to find new ways of teaching English

11 Nov 2024

The benefits of partnering with Ingeus goes beyond providing contracted services – it opens opportunities for business growth and, as DailyStep English found, can inspire new ways of working.

Working with jobseekers on employability programmes to improve their prospects of employment was a different experience for language learning business DailyStep English.

While its courses aimed at boosting English listening and speaking skills had proven successful with other organisations, motivating and supporting Ingeus participants on the Restart Scheme presented a fresh set of challenges.

Changing the way it worked to meet those challenges, however, has proven to be the catalyst for the future growth of the online business.

DailyStep was already working with London-based Get Ready for Work (GROW), which supports women to improve their employability skills, as well as businesses that paid for their employees to improve their English skills. 

In fact it was the head of GROW who recommended DailyStep to Ingeus and the partnership got underway a year ago.

DailyStep Director Jane Lawson says: “One of the differences working with Restart Scheme participants is that some of them may not have digital skills or equipment and there is greater time pressure as they are looking to start work as soon as possible. 

“We have tailor-made our courses so they are more focused on the kind of skills people need to get work quickly.

“Traditionally we send daily reminders to people of a new lesson but Restart Scheme participants may not log into their email every day, so to save them feeling overwhelmed by lots of messages from us we reduced the frequency.

“Some of them need more interaction, so we offer teacher support if they are unsure of something, or refer them to online tutorials. 
“We remind them by text if they are not opening the emails or logging in, or we contact their Restart Scheme Advisor.

“We get great feedback from the participants because some of them may not have many qualifications and completing our course, which is accredited by the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Service, shows their commitment to improving their skills in order to find work. Participants often tell me how pleased they are when their CPD Certificates are added to their CVs."
Developing these new ways of working has, says Jane, made her consider different ways the business might develop: “Ingeus has been amazing in helping us think about what we offer to help motivate and encourage people.”

Another benefit of the partnership is that DailyStep is given notice of contract opportunities across the UK. Jane says: “I am now looking at courses that may be more suitable for people in different parts of the country, helping to recognise different accents for example.”

Ingeus has worked to make sure DailyStep never feels a small cog in a big machine, with regular face-to-face meetings as well as an open day that offered the chance to meet the Performance Fund Team and Restart Scheme Advisors. 

Jane adds: “It made us feel we are part of something important, as we learned more about how the Restart Scheme gives such personal and tailored support. Participants are treated with care and as human beings rather than just statistics. It was so rewarding to learn that we are really helping people to change their lives."