Half Year Interview
With Steve Smith, Managing Director
 
As we head into the summer break and preparations are underway for the start of the new academic year we sat down with Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS to reflect on 2023 so far…. 
 
“It’s been a fantastic first half of the year. We set ambitious goals at the beginning of January, and so far, we have exceeded them all! In 2022 we delivered a record year for SIAS across every measurable; commercial, strategic, product, brand and social impact, and it was therefore really important for me that we could build on that momentum in 2023, so, overall, I am extremely happy with where we find ourselves now.

“There were several key priorities that we set ourselves for the year. First and foremost, we wanted to continue to build on our strong focus on customers and value delivery. To support that we’ve transitioned our operations team this year to a model that is even more focused on customer experience, this shift has included the introduction of our new EPA Relationship Coordinator roles who now work closely to support our provider and employer partners every day. It’s the way we are ensuring that every customer and apprentice can fully benefit from the value and positive impact our unique end-to-end EPA model delivers. Our partners continue to provide positive feedback about how we are making EPA work for them in the way it should, which has been great to see and hear. The transition to the approach has been brilliantly managed across the start of 2023 and it’s just business as usual for us already at SIAS.

“Another priority for the first half of the year was the implementation of our new testing platform, Questionmark – a natural evolution for us after the successful introduction of EPA Pro in 2022. We had an aggressive timeline to be up and running to support the first standards in scope by June and we achieved that. Over the next four or five months we’ll phase the testing platform into and across several of our other standards giving our customers and apprentices even more flexibility in how they engage with us in relation to assessment.

“We’ve also been working on expanding our product portfolio, and this year so far we’ve achieved everything we set out to do in terms of developing and becoming approved to EPA new standards.
“We are now up and running with Funeral Director and Funeral Team Member supporting Co-Op as the leading employer nationally in a critical sector which is exciting. Equally exciting is our continued success and expansion into wider STEM standards, particularly Engineering – we’ve recently been approved to EPA Level 3 Machining Technician and by September we will also be live and ready to accept registrations onto Level 3 Engineering Fitter and Level 3 Metal Fabricator also, so watch this space!

“Looking ahead, we continue to have big product plans, including the introduction of standards like Level 3 Polymer Technician, Level 3 Battery Manufacturing Technician and Level 3 Process Manufacturing Technician (standards coming out of Science Manufacturing Route Review), as well as two specialist standards in partnership with the NHS – Level 3 Clinical Coder, and Level 3 Prosthetics and Orthotics Technician.

“By the end of 2023 we’ll have doubled our product portfolio to 20 standards, from the point I started with SIAS in January 2022, and we’re aiming to further expand it to around 25-30 standards by the end of next year.
 
“Another priority for 2023 was to continue to strengthen our compliance and internal quality processes, last year was the first year under Ofqual regulation for all EPAOs and I’ve spoken a lot about that and the challenges and opportunities it has brought into the market. For us, continuous improvement is an on-going priority. We had a strong first statement of compliance at the end of last year, so we’ve been working hard in the first half of this year to build on that and look for more ways to improve.
“Throughout 2023 we’ve also continued to achieve incredible numbers in terms of our commercial and strategic growth.  In 2022 we delivered a record number of new registrations, new provider, and employer partners on-boarded, and overall financial performance – we’re on track to double that again this year!

“Why that’s important, and what is exciting for me, is that we are using that commercial success to re-invest back into SIAS in a significant way – whether it’s investment in technology infra-structure like EPAPro and the Questionmark testing platform, or in our people through the substantial growth in our headcount, or in even more and better resources to support the Standards we assess – across the board, we are using our continued success to invest in continuing to ensure we service the growing demand with quality, and to ensure we deliver a best in market value proposition to all of our valued partners and stakeholders, not just now, but for the next three, five, ten years and beyond – we are already positively disrupting the market in a way that would have been almost unthinkable a couple of years ago!

“So, I am hugely proud of what we are achieving. It doesn’t happen organically, this type of success and impact isn’t a fluke, it happens because I have an amazing team of fantastically talented, committed professionals at SIAS who work really hard every day at pace and with quality, putting our customers at the heart of everything we’re doing, a team I’m so proud to be a part of and lead.
“What I’m the proudest of though, beyond our achievements, is that we’ve managed to introduce into the sector a unique, innovative and fresh approach to how EPA can be done. When we first started to approach things in this way, I think there were some people in the market that were sceptical and thought it wasn’t possible, certainly not at scale – but it is possible, it is working, we can see it working, our customers are telling us it’s working, and it is what’s driving our success!

“And I know now other EPAOs, and stakeholders, are beginning to really look at what we’re doing and starting to try and replicate it, or parts of it, and for us that’s a huge compliment because I believe what we do, and how we are doing it, can bring benefits across the wider sector. 

Of course, I want SIAS to ‘win’, to be successful, to be the best EPAO out there, but for me it’s not just about ‘winning the game’, it is about trying to change the game, so that there’s a better outcome for all apprentices… and what is best for apprentices, what gives them the best chance possible to maximise their huge potential, to achieve, to succeed and progress….is ultimately what this must always be about for all of us that work in, and care about, this great sector.”

Reflections on the AELP National Conference
By Steve Smith, Managing Director
 
“The AELP national conference in London is always a key date in our calendar. This year we attended as exhibitors for the first time and were also invited to host a workshop where we presented on ‘The Key drivers to EPA success – what does great end-point assessment really look like’. This turned into a very useful discussion where we explored with attendees the factors that drive the best EPA experience for apprentices, employers and providers alongside our provider partner James McIntosh from CATCH. 
 
“As usual there were some very insightful presentations and discussions on the main stage and for me there are a number of key takeaways.”
 
“I was particularly pleased to hear the Skills Minister, Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, announce the long-awaited conclusion to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s (IfATE) exceptional funding bands review. The review, announced in November 2022, was a long time coming, and much needed by the sector. Funding band uplifts were announced for 10 apprenticeship standards including two key Engineering standards which form part of our current EPA portfolio at SIAS.
 
“Although the outcome of this review was of course welcomed by me and many others, there clearly remains frustration in the sector at how long the review took, we still have nearly 50% of the original standards in the exceptional review deferred by employers to a wider and more drawn-out review. We need a much more responsive approach to reviewing standards and a funding model that properly factors in all eligible costs including those relating to end-point assessment.
 
“On day two the Shadow Skills Minister, Toby Perkins MP, gave more information about Labour’s plans for a Growth and Skills Levy which would be a radical shift in the current Levy model – under Labour’s plans levy paying employers will be able to spend 50% of their contribution on non-apprenticeship courses, with at least 50% needing to be spent on apprenticeships. There was some concern in initial feedback at the conference that this level of flexibility in the levy would see non-levy payers squeezed out of the apprenticeship budget, and saw calls from some key stakeholders for any reforms to proceed with caution. I do feel a cautious and highly targeted approach is the right one if radical changes to the Levy are introduced but overall I welcome greater flexibility for Employers and Providers in what skills interventions they choose to fund in and around their apprenticeship offering.
 
“The Shadow Minister did however also make a clear commitment that “there will be no reduction in the amount of funding available to fund non-levy payers’ apprenticeship funding”, a commitment which would provide security for non-levy payers wanting to continue taking on apprentices, again an important clarification but the implementation of that commitment will be potentially interesting in an environment in which funding is becoming increasingly challenging.”
 
All in all a fantastic couple of days, lots to think over and we’re now planning ahead ready for Autumn conference in Manchester.”

SIAS Introduces first in-house assessor for Funeral Standards
We talk to Greg Preece…
 
In recent years, the funeral industry has undergone significant changes, with a growing emphasis on personalisation and meeting the unique needs of grieving families. With this evolution comes the need for standardised training and qualifications for funeral professionals. In this interview, we speak with Greg Preece, the first in-house assessor at SIAS, about the importance of funeral apprenticeships and the role SIAS plays in maintaining industry standards.
 
Thank you for joining us Greg, can you start by telling us about you and your background…
“I started my career in the funeral industry over two decades ago.  Starting at the bottom, sweeping floors and making tea, and worked my way up to become an area manager for various firms. I worked with different types of funeral services, from small countryside family businesses to large city-based firms dealing with multicultural funerals and repatriations.
 
“I joined SIAS a couple of months ago and I’m delighted to be their first ever in-house assessor with responsibility for the funeral standards we end-point assess which cover three main roles – funeral operative, funeral arranger, and funeral director.”
 
Why are apprenticeship standards so important in this sector?
“Over the past 15 to 20 years, I’ve witnessed significant changes in the funeral industry. Funeral services have become more personalised, focusing on celebrating the life of the deceased and meeting the specific wishes of the family. This shift means funeral professionals must adapt to new trends, such as using picture coffins, eco-friendly options, and tailoring the funeral experience to reflect the individuality of the person being honoured. It’s so important that we set standards to ensure these wishes are implemented with care and professionalism.
 
“Most people are quite surprised to hear that anyone can open a funeral home without formal qualifications or training if they so wish.  That means that with an average of 69 deaths occurring per hour in the UK, it is crucial to establish and uphold industry-wide standards to ensure the best possible service for grieving families. Funeral apprenticeships provide an avenue for training and professional development, guaranteeing that funeral professionals possess the necessary skills and knowledge to handle this sensitive task with care and compassion.”
 
Having joined SIAS recently, what are your immediate priorities?
“The three standards we’re assessing are relatively new standards for the funeral sector and my immediate plans involve ensuring the criteria and questions used for assessment are comprehensive and applicable to all funeral professionals. The goal is to strike a balance that suits both small and large firms, creating a national standard that promotes professionalism and quality across the board.
 
“We are currently focused on working with the Co-op but over time we’re looking to expand our services into other organisations.  We’d like to collaborate with different funeral businesses to ensure industry-wide adoption of the apprenticeship standards.
 
“The funeral industry is unique and requires hands-on experience to truly understand its intricacies. Not everyone can handle the emotional and cultural demands of the job without first-hand experience. That’s why I believe having knowledgeable assessors is crucial for setting and maintaining industry standards.”
 
Working in the funeral industry isn’t necessarily top of mind for many young people… how do you make the sector more appealing?
“It’s true that a career in the funeral industry may not be an obvious choice for everyone but it does have its unique aspects and vast opportunities. The industry provides a wide range of experiences, allowing funeral professionals to work with diverse individuals and cultures. The need for adaptability, empathy, and attention to detail makes it an interesting and fulfilling career path for those who seek variation and stability.”
 
For more information on the Funeral Director Standard visit HERE. 
 
For more information on the Funeral Team Member Standard visit HERE.

One year on from Ofqual
By Steve Smith, Managing Director
 
Fresh from the recent Federation of Awarding Bodies’ annual End-point Assessment Conference, SIAS Managing Director Steve Smith shares his views on the introduction of Ofqual as a regulator for end-point assessment organisations, and a year of change in the sector…
 
Last month’s conference was an important opportunity for us to reflect on the transition to Ofqual and I was able to exchange thoughts on this and more with colleagues in one of the plenary panel sessions. There is a general view that there is strong progress, with some remaining challenges, and I’m pleased to offer you some views on the key points.

Quality and compliance
Looking back to external quality assurance (EQA), prior to the shift to Ofqual, multiple EQA organisations were working in very different ways. The bar for quality and compliance across the sector wasn’t consistently where it should have been, and more importantly where providers, employers and apprentices should expect it to be.
 
Ofqual has picked up the reins, and this is a positive shift for all involved. It has brought greater infrastructure, experience, and the added legal authority to regulate the sector more strongly than was experienced previously, and all end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs), have a higher bar to reach.
 
A rigorous transition
The process of becoming Ofqual-regulated was not easy, nor should it have been: standards were set very, very high, and not every EPAO successfully transitioned.
 
I was really proud that SIAS came through that process so strongly and quickly. I wouldn’t have expected anything different, but it’s a good indicator that at SIAS, we self-regulate well, and we have a strong foundation around quality, despite the patchiness of the previous EQA model. Continuous improvement is in our DNA, so this too enabled us to make the transition relatively smoothly.

Across the board, the transition makes the end-point assessment offer stronger, and it should give employers, providers and apprentices far greater levels of reassurance and confidence, which is something all EPAOs work hard to instil.
 
General condition challenges
Some challenges remain, particularly around the General Conditions Ofqual has in place for measuring compliance across awarding organisations, and now EPAOs. The Conditions have developed over many years and some should, and are, being reviewed as they don’t necessarily align specifically to EPAOs, end-point assessment, or our market, in the way that they need to.

 
Positively, Ofqual recently updated its guidance to General Conditions, in respect to how they relate to end-point assessment, EPAOs, and our market, and I welcome that. It was a strong step in the right direction and shows that Ofqual is aware of some level of disconnect, and this has created positive momentum. Another challenge still present is Ofqual’s approach to ‘prohibited training’, which presents some real challenges for smaller specialist EPAOs and in my view, risks being contrary to what’s best for apprentices.
 
The sector and Ofqual need to maintain strong dialogue and transparency. Ofqual is learning and adapting its approach to the end-point assessment sector and market, whilst EPAOs continue to learn, mature, and adjust to a new regulator. We all want the same thing: a strong, robust, and high-quality sector where apprentices, providers, and employers are getting the best experience possible.
 
Data, grading and benchmarking
For the first time, Ofqual has requested an annual data submission relating to performance and achievement rates from every EPAO, linked to the standards that we are assessing. This data will not be published at an organisational level, but it will help EPAOs and all stakeholders benchmark against overall performance by each standard and is a positive step forward.
 
There have been interesting discussions about a grading system for EPAOs, similar to Ofsted’s where the performance of schools and training providers is summarised with a single phrase such as outstanding, good, requires improvement, or inadequate.
 
I’m not a fan of one-word gradings: like schools and colleges, EPAOs are complex organisations, and grading them in one word presents difficulties. However, I would be open to any move to establish a framework or model that enables organisations to be ‘named’ and benchmarked against each other, national averages, and national standards.

There are caveats, the first being timing. Our sector is relatively new, still evolving and maturing, and with the transition, there’s still a lot of bedding-in that needs to continue. Now isn’t the optimal time to introduce a model like that, but certainly over the next 2-4 years, as the sector matures, introducing a transparent, organisational-level, benchmarking model could be a logical part of our continuing journey.

The other caveat is that however it is structured, it shouldn’t be based solely on achievement rates. There are many factors influencing achievement other than pure assessment, for example, quality and consistency of assessment are very influential, but so are a myriad of other factors, including the quality of training provision, and even a learner’s socio-economic background.
 
If we are going to move to a fully transparent public benchmarking model at an organisational level, it should be based on a pre-determined range of appropriate metrics, agreed by all stakeholders, such as strength of post assessment feedback, or results turn-around which give a fuller picture, rather than one based purely on achievement rates. With these issues considered, I personally, and SIAS, would welcome moving towards such a model.

Transparency, and considering both sides of the coin
Why? Because we’re serious about continuous improvement, and reaching and maintaining that high bar, we need full transparency. Without it, we risk allowing poorly performing EPAOs – if they wanted to – to shield themselves, and that is counterproductive. In a free market, stakeholders deserve to make decisions based on having all the relevant information available to them.
 
The EPAOs that remain following the transition are high-quality organisations, doing things in the right way. If you are a such an organisation, a fully transparent benchmarking model at an individual EPAO level shouldn’t be feared: it should be seen as an opportunity, and leaders like me across the sector must be able to cascade that mindset throughout our organisations.
 
SIAS is doing some incredible things and we’re bold in talking about that, but if in the future, there were areas of weakness or challenge that we needed to address, then then I’d want to do that openly. I tell my team that there are always two sides to every coin in organisational performance, and I’d want to believe that we would be prepared to own the other side of the coin and do something about it if there were areas of weakness. Without a transparent benchmark framework, there’s a driver missing for organisations perhaps less prepared to own the whole coin!

Whether Ofqual would mandate that, is probably unlikely, because I believe the regulator would rightly feel uncomfortable about intervening in the market; in fact, it’s unable to do so under the current remit. So, it may be the case that at some point in the future we as an EPAO sector need to be grown-up enough to embrace, develop and implement that type of model ourselves.

Self-regulation
Self-regulation is a big commitment that would need buy in, but it’s a conversation to be had. And there’s precedent with the conversation happening about an EPAO ‘Guide to Best Practice’, which is coming from the sector, and not the regulator. When we’ve matured further, and the time’s right a shift to this more transparent data-driven, organisational-level benchmarking matrix, self-regulation could be a natural progression. It might be a little controversial – it’s not clear that every EPAO would necessarily feel the same way, but I would be very supportive of a move in that direction.
 
Assessment plans
I’m also encouraged by the fact that Ofqual seems to be deep diving into standards where assessment plans are historically weak or there’s been inconsistency, where they feel the assessment plans have discrepancies, vagueness, or have been open to interpretation.
 
EPAOs build and deliver assessments against the assessment plans that are handed to them from the trailblazer groups. One of the challenges for the sector and for EPAOs historically has been maintaining levels of consistency and how they are interpreted.
 
As long as it happens collaboratively with the EPAOs, the work Ofqual is doing around assessment plans can only be a good thing, because as standards go back into review or trailblazer, there is an opportunity to standardise those assessment plans, providing clarity that makes our job more efficient, and it will ultimately benefit apprentices.

An interesting and challenging first phase
It’s been an interesting, challenging, and in many ways, an exciting first phase under the new regulator. The sector has much to do, together with Ofqual and stakeholders as it continues to evolve. There will be challenges ahead, but the benefits we’re seeing, and the impact of a more rigorous and consistent regulatory approach can only strengthen overall the experience for apprentices and that must be applauded.

We’re delighted to announce that we will be introducing an Online Assessment Platform in 2023 as another exciting new development at SIAS to support our rapid growth and continued success.
After a rigorous tender process, we have selected ‘Question Mark’ as our supplier partner, and we are now working closely with them on the implementation plan.

This best in market testing platform will support knowledge-based assessment components for many of the standards we currently assess and will only serve to further enhance the EPA experience for our partners, and importantly apprentices themselves.

Steve Smith, Managing Director said: “As our business continues to evolve and grow with pace, the Question Mark online assessment platform will further enhance the EPA experience for our learners and our valued provider and employer partners – ultimately making the process smoother, stronger, and more agile.

“The platform will enable us to move beyond our current approach of paper-based knowledge tests and scenario case study assessments – to a more modern, digital solution, that will create a more flexible experience for all. We were particularly impressed by Question Mark and their use of in-built AI based proctoring to build a level of robustness which supports both the end-user experience and compliance.

“We are continuing to invest heavily across SIAS to ensure we set the benchmark around what the very best EPA should be, as we continue to put partnerships and delivering real value at the heart of our journey to become a truly market leading 21^st century assessment organisation.”

The testing platform will be introduced in a phased approach, with full support and guidance for our partners provided by SIAS throughout – we will as always be making sure the transition is seamless for our customers and for Apprentices, and we are excited about the extra positive impact and value this will deliver.

We are aiming to start the roll out in June of this year.  Look out for more details coming soon!

In the next in our series of meet the team articles we talk to Janice Snape, EPA Relationship Co-ordinator at SIAS. Janice Snape joined the team in 2015 when SIAS was just an idea on a piece of paper, as Administration Manager until a couple of months ago when she transitioned into her new role.
 
Thanks for joining us Janice, can you start by letting our readers know who you are and what your role is at SIAS?
 
“I’m Janice Snape and I am now one of our EPA coordinators here at SIAS, but until just a couple of months ago I was the administration manager. I’ve been at SIAS right from the beginning, I’ve always been in a role that’s mainly paper-based working on developing documents and managing data, but I’m now much more interactive with our customers and involved in organising end-point assessments. So, it’s a bit different to what I used to do.”
 
How long have you been at SIAS and what was your own background before you joined the organisation?
 
“I’ve been at SIAS for a little over 8 years now, so when I joined, SIAS was just an idea on a piece of paper and not much else. In essence I’ve been here from the very beginning.
 
“I’ve been in education for a long time; I worked a classroom assistant in a school, and at one point I was actually a dinner lady, but that was a long time ago! I then moved into FE and worked in a community FE organising courses for disadvantaged people and delivering outreach courses to people who wouldn’t come into college. I then moved into mainstream FE working on the old Train to Gain project, organising courses in the workplace.
 
“My next move was into a private training provider, organising their administration and contracts to make sure they were compliant data wise. I did everything there, mainly because it was just me for a long time.
 
“Then I arrived at SIAS! So, generally speaking, I’ve been in education in some form from the very beginning.”
 
If you were to give people an insight into your world is there a way to describe a typical day for you? 
 
“The first thing that comes to my mind is, it’s busy! We’re very responsive to our customers so there’s a continual need to manage and support customer questions and enquiries.  We’re also very proactive, so most days I’m keeping in touch with customers and making sure their apprentices are on programme and up to date.
 
“As an organisation we strive to have a lot of interaction with customers so we do a lot of planning meetings with the apprentices and their mentors. Speaking to the apprentices is something I’ve never had to do in this job before so that’s really interesting!”
 
There’s a lot happening at SIAS.  What’s the thing that excites you the most?
 
“I think for me, what excites me the most is the team growing and seeing the way we’re all working together. There’s a real buzz about the place. Even when we’re all busy and we can be tearing our hair out trying to get things planned and coordinating assessors, it’s not easy but the atmosphere is great. We’re working with some big businesses that have got strict deadlines and they’ve got their own rules to abide by, so getting everything coordinated can be absolutely crazy sometimes, but with the buzz and everybody helping each other, always looking for ways to get things done better and quicker, it’s a real exciting time.”
 
Moving on to Janice outside work, tell us a little about you?
 
“I’ve been married now for 35 years this year and I have four fully grown-up children, two grandchildren and some step grandchildren. We have a lot of people always in and out of our house, the grandchildren stay with us every Thursday night, so Thursday night we have a bit of a madhouse. So as soon as the children go to school on the Friday morning we zip off to our caravan in Wales for a bit of peace and quiet. We love to spend our time in the country, we’ve also got a border collie, Jack, who’s getting on a bit now unfortunately. He doesn’t like the long walks, but we walk a lot out in the hills in mid Wales and wonder in the peace and quiet every weekend.”
 
And, any final thoughts to leave with our readers?

“I think it’s just such an exciting time, the growth in science and technology is tremendous.  Having seen SIAS grow from nothing but an idea on a piece of paper with a couple of people working on it, to today; it’s a whole different world and it’s so exciting. We have such a lovely team and it’s great to work in. I look forward to what happens next!”

It’s been a couple of weeks since we found out that we had been shortlisted as a finalist for the EPAO Of The Year (SME) category and we are counting down the days until the Federation of Awarding bodies annual EPAO Conference and Awards in May.
 
Our MD Steve Smith Said: “I’m truly delighted that SIAS has been shortlisted.  There are lots of fantastic EPAO’s doing great work every day – so to be a finalist is a wonderful achievement – good luck to all other EPAOs at the Awards – for me collaboration is just as important as competition.

“To be a finalist is a reward, and real recognition, for all the hard work, massive commitment, and brilliance from ‘Team SIAS’ over the past 12-15 months – the way we are disrupting the market and really delivering for partners and apprentices through a relentless focus on pace, quality, customer, partnerships and end to end!

“To think about how far we’ve come in a relatively short space of time is awesome and humbling – and again everyone at, and involved with, SIAS should be proud of themselves.”

“I always love being at the AAC event.  The positivity in the room is fantastic because everyone there is involved in, and believes in, apprenticeships.  It’s great to be part of that community and to connect with stakeholders and colleagues old and new. 

“For me and for SIAS it was especially good this year because, for first time, we were sponsoring the awards and able to demonstrate our support more directly than we have before. 
 
“There was a great mix of content across the two days and we enjoyed hearing from the Skills Minister, shadow Skills Minister, Ofqual, Ofsted, IfATE and UCAS among others and the team also participated in a number of really informative workshops. 
 
“So, what were my key takeaways?  For the first time I felt there was an honest and collective recognition that the apprenticeship system as it stands now just isn’t working in the way it should be.  Employers are voting with their feet, and we’ve seen a significant drop in starts since the Levy was introduced, and another YoY reduction so far this academic year. 
 
“We’re seeing 52% completion rates nationally, SMEs not engaging in the way we would hope, £2bn in levy returned to the Treasury, the uptake from 18-19 year olds and at Level 2 and 3 not what it should be –  so it’s clear that things need to change. 
 
“In many ways we’re shielded from a lot of that impact at SIAS because we support STEM industries which are bucking the trends outlined above to a certain degree which is for us very positive, starts on Engineering standards are up and completion rates across STEM based standards are high – but it is clear that holistically there are changes required to ensure apprenticeships are really working for all in the way they can, and should.
 
“We listened with interest about the proposition for the introduction of a broader skills levy.  Something like this would give all employers greater agility and flexibility in terms of what they spend with 50% ringfenced for apprenticeships, but with an option for more spend and focus on other skills interventions which could support apprenticeship provision.
 
“We heard and agree with the concerns raised over the Government de-investing out of Level 2 apprenticeships which we feel strongly is the wrong approach.  To support social mobility and levelling up we need skills, and restricting access and entry points at Level 2 will hinder, not help, that agenda.
 
“It was clear that many stakeholders across the sector remain concerned about functional skills and are pushing for English and Maths Functional Skills not to be a requirement within apprenticeships moving forward.  Some certainly see this current requirement as the key barrier to starts and completions, they are costly to deliver, and again raises concerns around accessibility and negative impact on social mobility. We at SIAS remain fully supportive of lower level apprenticeship provision.
 
“Overall, it was a fantastic couple of days and what a night at the awards event – congratulations to all the finalists and winners!
 
“I left the conference on a high but with a couple of overriding thoughts…. We are without a doubt entering into a very challenging 2-3 years for the sector. We’re in the midst of a damaging skills and labour shortage, potential change in Government, and with that might come a radical change to the Levy.  Coupled with the continuing evolution of technology changing the face of the workplace and the cost of living and energy crisis we are all facing unpredictable and significant pressures.  To survive and thrive it’s the organisations that are bold, pro-active, disruptive, and ambitious that will prosper and be able to have greater impact.  The days of sitting still are well and truly over!”

Working closely with our partners is key to our approach to EPA, and we know how vitally important it is to listen to feedback.  

Over recent months we have listened to providers and employers describe some of the challenges and the difficulties that can arise when reviewing if an apprentice’s job role will meet the requirements of the apprenticeship standard.  In several cases identification of the incorrect job role can come late into the apprenticeship and can lead to late withdrawals or failures at EPA.
 
In response to this, and because at SIAS we are always looking for ways to support our partners in new and innovative ways  – we have now developed a library of ‘Skill Scans’ per apprenticeship standard, these ‘Skills Scans’ can be used either at recruitment, or early in the apprenticeship, to check if the job role will give opportunities for the apprentice to fully develop the correct knowledge, skills and behaviours to meet the requirements of the assessment plan and EPA.   These new ‘Skills Scans’ can support both training providers and employers to look for further opportunities within the job role to develop.
 
You can find the ‘Skill Scans’ in the support materials section on EPA Pro under each standard.
 
The SIAS team are always here to support, so please do not hesitate to contact us at admin@siasuk.com if you have any questions or require any further information.

Last year was hugely successful for SIAS and the organisation saw lots of change.  We caught up with Steve Smith, Managing Director of SIAS to find out about his reflections on his first year with the organisation and his plans for 2023. 
 
Thanks for joining us Steve. 2022 was your first year with SIAS and lots was achieved… how do you reflect back on last year?
 
“Last year was incredibly successful, in many ways a transformational year for SIAS across the range of key areas of focus and priority. I came into the business as the new Managing Director in January with a relatively new leadership team so there was a strong focus on building a high quality team of professionals, from the leadership team down, who could drive the business forward and capitalise on the good foundation that was already here.
 
“I was really pleased at how that developed throughout last year and how that culture within the business really strengthened and evolved  behind our values, and behind our social mission to support industry, Apprentices, and the future STEM skills agenda. It’s a culture and ethos built primarily around a commitment to working with real pace, to being high quality in everything we do, and to being 100% customer-centric –  that mindset shift across the organisation was a really successful part of 2022.
 
“It goes without saying as well that we had some big priorities that we had to land. One was the introduction of our new EPA system, EPA Pro. We delivered it on time, on budget and, most importantly for me, we transitioned our customers in a really positive, proactive and supportive way. 
 
“Another significant milestone last year was becoming approved by Ofqual in February, then building on that throughout the year through a robust continuous improvement plan which meant come December we were able to successfully file a fully compliant first Statement of Compliance to Ofqual. That was an incredible achievement and involved a lot of hard work from the teams.
 
“We also in 2022 had a record number of new registrations, new providers and employers on-boarded, and we developed a range of new and significant commercial and strategic partnerships. We were also able to really turn up the volume around our brand through our marketing, our involvement at events, and the way we now communicate with our customers and valued partners.
 
“Ultimately though the one aspect I‘m most proud of is that we were able to develop and introduce into the sector a unique and innovative approach to EPA – pivoting around being non-transactional, partnership-centred, aligning with our customers, and, importantly, introducing what I feel is the only truly end-to-end EPA model.  We’re really passionate that end-point assessment support and planning doesn’t start at gateway, but needs to start when learners start on programme. I believe that what we are doing, and how we are doing it, is having a massively positive impact on not just our customers and our apprentices, but on the wider sector also.”
 
Looking ahead now to 2023, what are your plans?
 
“Our plan is to continue to build on all that success with zero complacency, we will aim to just keep getting better!  We’ve got some ambitious commercial and strategic targets this year which will see us moving, as we already are, into much larger-scale EPA opportunities and partnerships.   
 
“We’re also going to be transitioning our operational approach even further now our EPA system is fully live.  We will become more focused on customer support and customer experience, delivering that tangible value through our end-to-end model to our provider and employer partners. 
 
“We’re going to continue to strengthen SIAS in terms of our quality and compliance. We want to work in a proactive, positive way with Ofqual as our new regulator. We have a strong focus on self-regulation, so that work around continuous improvement will continue.
 
“Product is also going to be a significant focus as we continue to move forward and grow through targeted diversification.  Science Apprenticeships will remain as important as ever but there is scope for us to continue to widen our portfolio into wider STEM areas, particularly in the engineering and manufacturing apprenticeship standards space, so you’ll see us in 2023 becoming approved to end-point-assess a range of new standards that we haven’t previously been approved to EPA.”
 
“We will be, throughout 2023, continuing to play an important role in early discussions and work linked to the future skills agenda, particularly around the green economy and low-carbon net zero industries.
 
“We are already making sure that we are positioned in the right conversations to bring our expertise, our experience and our legitimacy to bear in some of those early discussions around the skills that are going to be required to support our economy and our industry’s transition to low carbon and net zero. The key question for us is how can we, through assessment and through supporting the apprenticeship standards that will start to spin out in these areas, influence in a positive way. That’s another area that I think will be an evolving but increasingly important part of our strategic direction in the year and the years ahead, working closely with employer and provider partners.”
 
Businesses are going into the new year facing challenges relating to the cost of living crisis and recession.  How might this affect SIAS?
 
“We’re gearing up to manage these challenges as effectively as we can. The current economic climate; the whole financial pressure piece, is going to have an impact on every business in this country to some degree but we are well placed I believe, in the part of the sector we service, to not be overly impacted, and certainly our expectation is that we will have another year with steep positive growth.
 
“There’s also some challenges and interesting narratives forming around apprenticeships generally now, such as the consultation currently live around mandated qualifications within apprenticeship standards, which we’re going to have a voice on. 
 
“There’s also the continued challenge around how the sector can make the levy and the apprenticeship framework work better for SMEs, not just large employers.  Again, I think that’s an important focus for the sector this year and, again, we want to try to influence that as best we can, in terms of how we work with and support both our large employer and our SME partners.
 
“I strongly believe that if we as a sector, as a wider economy, as a nation, are to come out of this macro-economic challenge successfully, then apprenticeships and skills development can and will play an important role in supporting that.”