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!

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.