What are Trailblazers?
TQUK collaborates with Trailblazers in the education sector to develop and enhance EPAs that meet the evolving needs of apprentices and employers.
Way, way back, in 2014, the government conducted a review of apprenticeships with employers. This review resulted in some BIG changes to the design of apprenticeships.
This meant they now consisted of two components:
Standard: Each standard needed to detail the requirements for the successful achievement of the apprenticeship, which generally included the knowledge, skills and behavioural criteria. In addition to this criteria, the standard needed to contain other mandatory content which included a relevant industry-based qualification, along with the recognised Maths and English qualifications (e.g. functional skills).
Assessment Plan: Every published standard needed to be accompanied by a more detailed assessment plan. This document details the requirements for that standard's delivery, assessment, and quality assurance.
How has the apprenticeship landscape changed?
In the last 10 years, the UK apprenticeship landscape has been growing and developing. The change that was felt the most was arguably the move to end-point assessment (EPA). This meant that the apprentice was assessed on their learning, knowledge, and practice by a third-party Assessor, not the employer/trainer.
The Richard Review, an independent report on apprenticeships commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and conducted by entrepreneur and educator Doug Richard, recommended a move to EPA to ensure apprentices were assessed after they had attained the most experience possible. This was to allow employers to have more direct control over the design and structure of apprentice training. It states in the report that the move would free providers from the burdens and restrictions of continuous assessment and allow them and the learner to focus more on training and learning. (After all, isn’t that what apprenticeships are all about?!)
But how are EPA and apprenticeship standards created? Trailblazer groups of industry leaders are in control of selecting the standards and criteria by which all apprentices are assessed. Once an assessment plan has been produced, the BIS and SFA will allocate a funding band and list the apprenticeship for a tender by potential assessment organisations.
Industry influence and a voice for positive change
TQUK collaborates with a vast number of Trailblazer groups to make sure apprenticeships meet the needs of their sectors. So when you work with us, you’re not just working with a company that delivers End-Point Assessment, you’re partnering with the people helping to design new standards, develop new assessment plans and shape a brighter future for Apprentices, providers and employers alike.
Setting the standard in playwork
‘The Playerworker Trailblazer group explored a number of organisations to help us develop an Apprenticeship, but TQUK stood out immediately. They were friendly, approachable and positive from the word go, listening to our challenges and always seeking solutions. After four years of working on the Apprenticeship, we received more guidance in that first meeting with TQUK than we'd got from anyone else during the whole period. It was obvious they were experts!
The Trailblazer group are all of the opinion that TQUK made what was a seemingly impossible task possible. They’ve been extremely patient and we’ve always felt their support and passion for creating this new dynamic route for training within our industry.’
Gill James, Facilitator, Playworker Trailblazer Group
