We are thrilled to announce that SIAS has successfully expanded its Scope of Recognition with Ofqual Approval to include regulated qualifications, achieving full Awarding Organisation (AO) status.

This strategic transition marks a significant milestone in our journey.  Building on the success of our world-class, customer-focused, End-Point Assessment (EPA) services, we will now also provide qualifications and a range of wider assessment, accreditation, and skills solutions.

Steve Smith, Managing Director at SIAS said: “This is a pivotal and transformational moment for the business.  SIAS as an EPAO has experienced significant growth over the past 2-3 years due to our unique model, and our obsession with providing a high-quality, customer-centric approach – we are now building on these strong foundations with an Awarding Organisation that shares the same mindset.

“The decision to become a full Awarding Organisation aligns with our mission to put our customers’, and STEM industries needs at the centre of everything we do. Our provider and employer partners have expressed a desire for us to broaden our service offering, and we are committed to delivering that in a collaborative way. Our profound understanding of our partners’ opportunities and challenges ensures that, as an Awarding Organisation, our qualifications and wider AO products and services will always align with industry and market requirements.”

From September 2024, SIAS will introduce three distinct product streams: Assessment (EPA), Awarding, and Approved. Our customer service and support model, applied across the entire learner journey, will remain central to our broader AO product and service offering, and we will continue to always provide the comprehensive support to training providers, employers, and learners, that SIAS is famous for!

Steve continued: “Our expansion to a full Awarding Organisation will not impact our existing EPAO services. Nothing in our EPAO operations will be disrupted or changed, this is simply a natural evolution for SIAS, and we will aim to bring the same modern, disruptive approach to awarding as we have done to EPA by #doingthingsdifferently.

“We are launching the Awarding Organisation with a core offer of qualifications in our specialised sectors in the first year, and this initial portfolio will then expand and evolve quickly.
Our AO qualifications and products will, as always, be focused on our specialist technical and vocational STEM areas, inclusive of the future technologies and skills required to achieve industrial net zero targets.

“We will work closely with accredited providers to support the delivery of our qualifications and are aiming to onboard multiple first mover training provider partners before our go-live date this September.

“Supporting STEM industries and employers is what we do, so I’m thrilled that our transition to full Awarding Organisation means we can now deliver even more positive impact to industry at even more scale – and not just in England as we do currently, but in devolved UK nations and international markets, which is exciting!”

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting journey. We look forward to continuing our mission of delivering exceptional service and supporting the skills development agenda.

In this meet-the-team article, we talk to we talk to Jack Conlon, Product Co-ordinator at SIAS.
 
Thanks for joining us, Jack, please tell us a little about who you are and your role at SIAS.
Hi, I’m Jack, I am a part of the product team at SIAS and my role is Product Co-ordinator. This involves helping to create the products used in our End-Point Assessment standards, from support and guidance documents for apprentices and end-point assessors, to the assessment papers themselves.
 
How long have you been at SIAS for?
I have been at SIAS for just over four months.

What was your background before you joined the organisation?
My previous role was as a Contract & Project Administrator for a data capture company, which on a day-to-day basis involved handling suppliers and contractors for different projects within the business. Before that I’ve worked in retail, sales, and customer service. So, a pretty mixed bag of experience.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I spend most of my time actually in the paperwork, creating the documents that will be used as guidance or assessments papers based on the assessment plan. I also assist with meetings arranged with end-point assessors to review the products we create to ensure that they meet the high standards of SIAS.

There’s lots happening at SIAS with a growing product portfolio. What have you found to be the most exciting thing?
For me it would have to be the pace at which SIAS is growing, even in the short time I have been here it has grown a great deal which is exciting. I’ve been really impressed with how the growth has been managed so that there’s never been a loss of quality.

Please tell us a little bit about Jack outside work?
I have 2 young children, a 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, so they keep me busy when I’m not working. My family is my biggest drive in wanting to do well in and outside of work. I have a good number of hobbies, I play guitar, I’m a big film buff, I enjoy reading fantasy and sci-fi, gaming, drawing and I also like to paint miniatures, I find it really calming. I’ve also been a big Marvel fan since I was a kid. In a nutshell I’m a geek and I love it.
 
Do you have a final thought for our readers?
Just that I’m really happy to be a part of the brilliant team at SIAS. Everybody has a very positive, can-do attitude. SIAS do live up to the standards that they set for themselves as an EPAO and as an employer. It’s been a great 4 months and I’m looking forward to my future here.

In this meet-the-team article, we talk to we talk to Elaine Emery, an Assessment Development Manager at SIAS.
 
Thanks for joining us, Elaine, please tell us a little about who you are and your role at SIAS.
I am an Assessment Development Manager working in the Product Development Team here at SIAS.  This role is primarily about the development and maintenance of the End-Point Assessment (EPA) materials and supporting resources for the Apprenticeship Standards we cover.  I work alongside my colleagues and with subject matter experts to ensure that the assessments are current and relevant to the role and meet industry needs.
 
How long have you been at SIAS for?
I have been working here at SIAS since January 2024.

What was your background before you joined the organisation?
Prior to working at SIAS I have worked with other Awarding Organisations / End-Point Assessment Organisations for approximately 12 years in both product development and operational teams.  Prior to that I worked for the NHS as a contracting / commissioning manager.  NHS services are dedicated to providing the best care possible to patients and I believe working in this environment for many years has given me a real appreciation of the value of good customer service and the importance of working within strict regulations. 

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day could involve reviewing assessment plans in detail to ensure I fully understand all of the requirements specific to that particular EPA. It also involves working on the development of new assessment materials and resources for an EPA. I meet with subject matter experts to secure their technical expertise to support developments. My role also involves reviewing current EPA materials to ensure that assessments are up to date and fit for purpose and I attend relevant meetings, both internal and external, in relation to the Standards we deliver and to the wider EPA landscape.

There’s lots happening at SIAS with a growing product portfolio. What have you found to be the most exciting thing?
SIAS have really ambitious plans and are working hard to achieve these whilst ensuring they do not compromise on quality or customer service.  It is really exciting to be a part of this and to see how the whole SIAS Team are pulling together to make this a reality.  You really do feel like you are a part of something special.

Please tell us a little bit about Elaine outside work?
I have two grown up sons and two grandchildren who all live locally so I get to see lots of them, which is great. Since childhood I have always been a creative person, and over the years have taken up various hobbies including sewing, knitting and various crafts.  However, my first love has always been art, and I have a particular love for drawing people and animals.  I have been a portrait artist for a number of years now and love the sense of satisfaction from creating a piece of artwork from someone’s old photo.  Also I am due to get married in August this year so when not in work am busy making plans for the big day!
 
Do you have a final thought for our readers?
I am really pleased to have had the opportunity to join SIAS.  They are great both as an employer and as an EPAO and I am really looking forward to seeing their ambitious plans becoming a reality.

Chris, thank you for joining us today. Can you start by telling us about the partnership between Train’d Up and SIAS?
 
“Train’d Up first signed our collaborative agreement with SIAS in May 2023. We’ve been working together for about 12 months now, and the experience has been very positive. Initially, we focused on the Level 3 Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician, the Level 3 Science Manufacturing Technician, and the Level 3 Science Industry Maintenance Technician standards.”
 
That’s quite an extensive list of standards. What made Train’d Up select SIAS as your end-point assessment (EPA) partner?
 
“One of the key reasons we chose SIAS was their early registration process. It’s a joined-up process that works well for everyone involved. The planning meetings with the SIAS team are incredibly helpful. They are very personable and bring a human factor to the partnership. There’s always someone at the end of the phone if we have any problems, which is invaluable.”
 
It sounds like the relationship goes beyond good processes. Can you elaborate on how SIAS has engaged with Train’d Up and your stakeholders?
 
“SIAS has delivered a series of engagement events that have been very beneficial for us. For instance, they held a session with one our key clients, which helped align expectations for EPA.”
 
How did the partnership with SIAS start?
 
“SIAS took on many of our apprentices due to complete EPA. We worked with SIAS to plan and successfully deliver in a short period of time, marking the start of a good relationship. From that point onwards, we moved engineering standards to SIAS.”
 
How has this partnership with SIAS changed your perception of the EPA process?
 
“We value the close relationship and collaboration from registration through to planning meetings, workshops, and conducting the EPA elements.  We’re looking forward to continuing this collaboration and exploring new opportunities with SIAS in the future.”

TIRO and SIAS are proud to announce the establishment of a dynamic new collaboration aimed at delivering excellence for science and technology apprenticeships. This partnership marks a significant milestone in both organisations’ pursuit of ambitious growth and greater impact and underscores their shared commitment to fostering high quality apprenticeship delivery and assessment experiences.
 
The partnership sees SIAS, the leading provider of STEM focused end-point assessment services, teaming up with TIRO, the leading Provider nationally for science apprenticeship standards, working together to support apprentices and employers across several apprenticeship standards, including Level 3 Laboratory Technician and Level 3 Science Manufacturing Technician.
 
Charlotte Blant, Tiro CEO said “We are delighted to be joining forces with SIAS. Steve Smith and his team have impressed us from the word go, with both their industry knowledge and expertise, combined with their commercial approach to supporting the learning journey of our apprentices through the EPA process. We are looking forward to further developing our partnership over the coming months.”
 
Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS said: “We are excited and honoured to be working with TIRO as their exclusive EPAO supplier for the apprenticeship standards they offer across the science sector. From the outset, it was evident to me that there were clear and tangible synergies between both organisations regarding our values, mindsets, mission and objectives, and I have no doubt that our collaboration will deliver remarkable results.
 
“TIRO’s dedication to advancing high quality science and science manufacturing apprenticeships aligns seamlessly with our commitment at SIAS to deliver unparalleled value to our partners –   together I know that we will drive innovation and excellence for the benefit of employers and importantly apprentices nationally!”
 
Steve added, “With Charlotte, David, and the entire TIRO team, we are eager to continue to pioneer an innovative apprenticeship model that positively disrupts, exceeds employers’ expectations, and empowers apprentices to realise their full potential as they embark on meaningful careers in industry.”

As 2023 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we’ve had at SIAS over the past year. It’s been a period of growth, innovation, and strengthened partnerships that has positioned us as the leader in the field of STEM apprenticeship standards and skills assessment.

First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our provider and employer partners. Your continued unwavering support has been instrumental in making this year a resounding success, and I’m proud of the continued positive impact that together we are delivering through our collaborations.

I also want to say a huge thank-you to all of my staff – I’m so proud of the team we have, and are, building at SIAS, it’s an organisation filled with highly talented and committed professionals, I’m honoured to lead them –  they make everything possible!

Record-Breaking Achievements

This year, we developed and approved 10 new standards, bringing the total number of standards in the SIAS portfolio to an impressive 23. Our commitment to STEM subjects as our core offering remains steadfast, and as we scale our business, we are dedicated to maintaining the high standards of customer service that define us.

Our team, like our product portfolio, has also doubled in size, prompting an upcoming office expansion to accommodate our growth. This expansion is not just about physical space but reflects our determination to continue making a positive impact in the field of education and skills assessment.
We have across the year finalised a record number of new partnerships with Providers who have made the decision to switch to SIAS for EPA services, these exciting new collaborations, coupled with continued growth and commitment from our valued existing partners, has seen active learners registered with SIAS for EPA grow 80% year on year and 234% since 2021.

Building and Strengthening

Throughout the year, we’ve diligently built our brand and enhanced our communication efforts. Attending more events than ever before, we were honoured to take a seat as presenters at several industry conferences, further solidifying our presence in the sector.

Our commitment to quality led us to embrace new technologies. We embedded EPAPro as our end-point assessment system and introduced a cutting-edge online assessment platform in partnership with Question Mark. Our relationship with our regulator OFQUAL remains positive, and we continue to explore innovative ways to enhance our assessment processes.

Operational Excellence

We introduced and evolved a new operational support model, ensuring we could deliver our unique start-point to end-point support and EPA model to all customers. This included the establishment of EPA Relationship Manager roles, further enhancing our ability to provide a dedicated and responsive service to our partners.

Our ability to now, at scale, provide the very highest standards in consistency and timeliness of assessment throughout the year, was something I was particularly pleased with.

Looking Ahead to 2024

As we eagerly anticipate the coming year, our focus remains on continuing to build the business, to establish and develop even more exciting partnerships, and to delivering exceptional customer service day in day out. Our goal is to continue to expand our EPA portfolio to reach 30+ standards, with comprehensive coverage across all STEM disciplines. I want us to be the best EPAO in the country, nothing less than that will cut-it!

The green skills and net-zero agenda will become an increasing a focal point for us in 2024 and beyond, as we explore apprenticeship standards and skills interventions related to hydrogen, carbon capture, battery power, and electrification. Additionally, we plan to invest further in technology and explore the positive impact of artificial intelligence on our assessment processes.
And finally, stay tuned for a special announcement in the first half of 2024—something truly exciting is on the horizon!

In closing, I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your support throughout this year. Whether you celebrate or not, I wish you a Merry Christmas, and here’s to a prosperous and fulfilling 2024 for you and your teams.

In this meet-the-team article, we talk to Deborah Hoggett, Head of Product and Assessment at SIAS.
 
Thanks for joining us, Deborah, please tell us a little about who you are and your role at SIAS.
Hi, I’m Deborah, one of the Head of Product and Assessment at SIAS. So my role is to develop the products for our end-point assessment standards, and that involves development of the actual assessments themselves, and the guidance materials, and support materials for apprentices, employers, and training providers, as well as guidance for the end-point assessors we work with.
 
How long have you been at SIAS for?
I’ve been at SIAS for around four months now, so I’m still relatively new.

What was your background before you joined the organisation?
I’ve always worked in education and training, I started my career working in further education with colleges, and then I moved on working for the Sector Skills Development Agency, which looked after the sector skills councils and then more recently I went back to university to study psychology and cognitive neuroscience. From that I went to a charity which helped people who were neurodivergent back into education, training, and employment, and then did a bit of a circle-back, working back in assessment and awarding. So yes, I’m back to the beginning, I suppose!

Tell me about going back into education. That must have been a leap? What was it particularly about that subject area that interested you?
It’s something I’ve always been interested in and feel like I’ve done things a little bit back to front! I had children when I was young, and then I decided to go back into university. I studied hard as a mature student and did quite well. I think, with psychology and education, thinking about assessments, it’s all interlinked, so I wanted to use what I’d learned and put it back into to what I’m passionate about.

What does a typical day look like for you?
There’s not really a typical day, I suppose, when you’re working for an end-point assessment organisation, and that’s something that I really like about the role – I like the variety. One day I could be working on developing assessment materials with some of our subject matter experts and it can be quite technical when you’re thinking about science and engineering, and then the next day I might be picking apart an assessment plan, so we’ve got a really good understanding of what’s involved with that, and then possibly discussing that with stakeholders. Tomorrow I’m going to a conference and delivering a presentation to some apprentices, so again that’s quite different, but it’s all exciting.

There’s lots happening at SIAS with a growing product portfolio. What have you found to be the most exciting thing?
I think it’s great to be part of such a really forward-thinking and customer-focused organisation. We are growing and there is a lot happening, and it’s really exciting to think about how far we can go as an organisation, and to always try to aim higher and be better for our customers, and ultimately for the learners.

Please tell us a little bit about Deborah outside work?
I’ve got three children aged 21, 18, and 13 so family time is really important to me. I grew up learning how to play the piano, so we’re quite music-focused in our house, we’re always listening to it, or I’ll be playing a tune of some kind. And I’m also a bit of a Formula One fan too – I love watching the races and I’ve been lucky enough to attend a few.
 
Do you have a final thought for our readers?
I think it’s a really exciting time as both for us an organisation and also for the sector, given the regulatory changes and all the rapid changes around us in the labour market.  So it’s more important than ever that we give apprentices, employers, and training providers a quality service. We have a great bunch of people here at SIAS, everyone comes to work with this shared mission and it’s a pleasure to be part of it.

In this meet-the-team article, we talk to Ellie Goodwin, Assessment Development Manager.
 
Hi Ellie.. tell us who you are and what your role is at SIAS?
“My name’s Ellie and I’m an Assessment Development Manager at SIAS. My main role is working on the development of products, working alongside subject matter experts, stakeholders, and engaging with the team to create guides, assessment materials, and everything else that comes with end-point assessments.”
 
And how long have you been at SIAS?
“I started at the very end of July 2023, so that’s only around three months ago now.”
 
Before you joined SIAS kind of what did you do, and what’s your background?
“Before SIAS, I worked in product development for multiple awarding and end-point assessment organisations in a Product Development Officer and Qualification Executive role. I’ve been working in the higher education sector for over two years now and prior to that, I did a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Sheffield Hallam University, so I’ve got qualified teacher status.”
 
So, education has always been something you’ve been really interested in?
“Yes, I’ve never left it, really!”
 
Day-to-day, what sort of things does your role involve and what interactions do you have in and outside of the organisation?
“Each day can be completely different. I often work on the development and maintenance of guides, assessment materials and support materials alongside stakeholders and subject matter experts to create those products. I work closely within our products team as well as the wider SIAS team, Quality, Operations and Business Development. I also get the opportunity to attend events and connect with a diverse range of individuals within the industry, engaging in meaningful interactions. This involves addressing any questions they may have about the process.”
 
What sort of things are you interested in outside of work?
“I like to go to the gym, I’ve been going there for about five years – I’m definitely no muscly weightlifter, but I really enjoy exercise! I recently got a dog, so I now do a lot of walking, and I love reading, specifically cheesy romance.”
 
So as a newbie, are there any observations you have about your experience of SIAS so far?
“It’s a really lovely organisation to work for – it treats employees really well and everybody’s been so welcoming since I came onboard. It’s also really exciting to be part of a growing organisation with the opportunity to progress and develop and even though it’s growing at a rapid pace, there is a real team feel, you’re in constant communication with everybody, and that’s really nice. I’m home-based visiting the office a couple times a month, so to say that I’ve managed to settle in really well and not feel isolated or alone is a real credit to the organisation. I’m always able to speak to somebody and I feel supported when I need it.”

We recently sat down with Jade Horton, our EPA Relationships Co-Ordinator at SIAS, to discuss her attendance at the AELP Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Summit. We were eager to hear about her key takeaways from the conference.

Could you provide some insight into what the conference covered?

“The conference began with an inspiring speech by Tim Campbell, creating a sense of belonging and empowerment among attendees.

The panel discussion on overcoming barriers provided valuable insights into driving change. BPP emphasised the importance of data in identifying gaps and making improvements. They established advisory groups and removed barriers such as experience and qualifications to create a more accessible employment selection process. The panel agreed that achieving equality and diversity requires a long-term commitment to cultural change.

Maureen Dairy discussed the expectations of Ofqual inspections, highlighting the significance of positive relationships between apprentices and training providers and emphasising the importance of meeting individual needs to create engaging learning spaces.”

 In comparison to other events that you have attended, what set this particular one apart?

“Compared to previous events, the speakers and attendees demonstrated incredible passion. It was an honour to hear about their journeys and to hear about people just like me, who want to make a difference to ensure everyone in the world has a place, supporting them and giving them the opportunity to find it.”

What were the main takeaways or lessons that you gained from the conference?

“Understanding people’s starting points is crucial. Several speakers shared stories of overcoming odds to achieve incredible things. It made me wonder how much more they could have accomplished if given the initial opportunities they deserved. When I applied for the role at SIAS in my early 20s, I didn’t believe I stood a chance. I felt inadequate compared to the other experienced individuals. However, I was given a chance and today I am here. The conference taught me the importance of taking responsibility for ourselves and each other, and that making small changes can lead to significant actions.”

Could you give some details about the workshop you attended and explain how it impacted you?

“The event focused on achieving outcomes through learner and neural inclusion. It emphasized the significance of understanding neurodiversity. I learned about the services provided by the cognassist, which enables learners to engage in ways that suit their individual needs.

I strongly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Our different ways of thinking, working, and learning should not be seen as limitations.”

How do you plan to apply the knowledge and insight you gained to benefit both SIAS and your customers?

“The importance of listening was a major takeaway. We should always listen to people’s specific needs, whether it’s a colleague, apprentice, employer or training provider, so we can tailor our approach accordingly.

Another aspect is analysing data to identify areas that require attention. For example, the significant gender disparity in the STEM industry is well-known and we need to take action to bridge this gap. However, it’s essential to remember that promoting change within a culture takes time and patience. By making small changes and understanding our customers’ needs, we can gradually work towards achieving our ultimate goal.”

Were there any notable quotes or facts from the event that particularly stood out to you?

“Tim Campbell emphasised the significance of not allowing our attire to become a shield, to demonstrate that we possess unique experiences and stories to share. This helps break down barriers and foster inclusive environments. It was highlighted that our postcodes do not define us, underlining the importance of avoiding judgment based on the area we come from. Regardless of our background, we have the potential to achieve remarkable things. This message resonated powerfully.”

The role of End-Point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) is pivotal in shaping the success and achievements of learners on apprenticeship journeys. SIAS, the leading EPAO for the science, manufacturing and engineering apprenticeship sectors has been positively disrupting the EPA market through a unique EPA model which leverages five fundamental attributes that it believes makes-up the best way to EPA. Coupling this approach with cutting-edge technologies, which are embedded throughout the end-to end EPA approach, not only contributes to improving achievement rates for apprentices, but is also ensuring employers, providers, and apprentices have an exceptional and positive EPA experience.

We caught up with Steve Smith, Managing Director at SIAS to find out more about how they are using and embedding technology to support their five core EPA principles…  here’s what he had to say…
“At the core of SIAS’s approach is our commitment to consistency in assessment, to ensure parity of esteem both across cohorts and learner to learner.  With our standardisation and pre-planning framework, we ensure that every apprentice is evaluated fairly and equitably.  SIAS employs technology-driven assessment tools that facilitate this consistent evaluation of knowledge, skills and behaviours and both our EPAPro EPA platform and our QuestionMark testing platform for knowledge-based assessment, inclusive of AI proctoring, serve as tech hubs for our end-to end assessment activities, providing employers and providers with real confidence in the overall process.
“SIAS’s use of technology through our EPA system also allows us to provide quick, agile and comprehensive post assessment feedback for both employer and provider partners. This facilitates a deeper understanding of strengths and areas for development and this immediate feedback loop contributes to the drive for continuous improvement across the key stakeholders and ultimately results in a more effective learning experience for future apprentices.

“Early visibility of apprentices in the learner journey is another key factor to EPA and achievement success and again technology plays its part. Our platform both facilitates the registration of apprentices with SIAS within 42 days of starting on programme and tracks the progress of apprentices from the outset, giving employers and providers real time access to all relevant information regarding their learners. That real-time visibility for all stakeholders ensures that we, as the EPAO, can pro-actively work in a joined-up way with partners to ensure that apprentices remain on-track, on-time, and on the path to achievement.

“This holistic approach to EPA pivots fundamentally around our end-to-end EPA planning and support model, which again is underpinned by tech and the EPAPro platform which assists in planning, scheduling, and supporting providers, employers and apprentices through the assessment process.
“And last but by no means least, we capitalise on the use of technology to enhance our partnerships which are very much the centre of our approach. The EPAPro system, MS Teams, WhatsApp and SMS, all facilitates efficient communication between us, apprentices, employers, and training providers to enable agile, flexible and highly responsive ways of working.   

“As we continue to shape the present, we are looking ahead to the future. The training and assessment community is already witnessing the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential that has to impact the world of assessment. We are well-prepared to embrace this evolution, ensuring strong compliance and maintenance of the integrity of our assessment of apprenticeship standards. We are already exploring the potential of AI and a world beyond a conventional assessment model, which will no doubt in the future enhance the precision and personalisation of learning and assessment experiences.”

So, without a doubt SIAS’s innovative approach to EPA, driven by their belief in five fundamental attributes, and powered by advanced technologies, is playing a role in helping to improve achievement rates across the STEM standards and industries which they support. Through consistency of assessment, rapid on-point feedback, early visibility of learners, a proper end-to-end support model, and an obsession with meaningful partnerships, SIAS is setting new standards in EPA success.
The integration of technology is not only accelerating and supporting the rapid scaling and impact of what they do and how they do it, but it is future proofing the relevance of their EPA model for many years to come, inclusive of the exciting potential of more AI based solutions. As the educational landscape continues to evolve and be shaped by technology advances, the future for SIAS and the wider apprenticeships sector is certainly an exciting one!