End Point Assessment for Apprenticeships
We are one of a small number of Ofqual-regulated End Point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) approved to assess across the full range of improvement and quality apprenticeship standards. We have been doing this since the improvement apprenticeships launched, and we know this world inside out — the standards, the tools, the projects, and the people who deliver and complete them.
If you are a training provider or employer looking for an EPAO that will be straightforward, responsive and genuinely supportive from day one, we would love to work with you.
The apprenticeships we assess:
We assess the full improvement suite, plus quality and management standards that sit naturally alongside it. Here is where things currently stand:
Improvement Technician — Level 3 ✓ Levy funded
Equivalent to Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. A practical introduction to improvement tools and techniques for those working in operational roles. Typically 14–18 months on-programme.
Improvement Practitioner — Level 4 — Available, funding under review
Equivalent to Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. The established route for developing improvement practitioners who can lead projects and drive change. Apprentices already on programme can complete as normal. Contact us if you are planning new starts and want to discuss your options.
Improvement Specialist — Level 5 ✓ Levy funded
Equivalent to Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. For experienced improvers who are ready to lead programmes, coach others and deploy improvement strategy across an organisation. Typically 14–18 months on-programme.
Improvement Leader — Level 6 — Available, funding under review
Equivalent to Master Black Belt. A senior strategic standard for those leading organisational improvement culture and capability. Contact us to discuss options for new starts.
Quality Practitioner — Level 4 ✓ Levy funded
A broad, practical standard covering quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and continuous improvement. Apprentices can base their work based project on a business improvement initiative — making this a strong funded option for employers developing improvement capability, as well as quality professionals. Leads to Chartered Quality Institute recognition on completion. Typically 14 months on-programme.
Junior Management Consultant — Level 4 ✓ Levy funded (coming soon)
For those working in consultancy or internal change roles, helping organisations to identify and implement improvements. A natural fit with the improvement world — watch this space.
Something we offer that others don’t
Apprentices assessed by ISSP who choose a DMAIC-based improvement project — using the Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve and Control methodology — are awarded Lean Six Sigma Green Belt membership and certification by ISSP on successful completion of their EPA. This applies across the improvement suite and to the Quality Practitioner standard where the DMAIC approach is used.
For many apprentices, this is a career-defining credential. For employers, it is tangible evidence of a level of capability that goes beyond the apprenticeship certificate itself.
Why work with ISSP?
We are specialists. Improvement is not one strand of what we do — it is everything we do. We have assessed apprentices across manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, government, higher education, logistics, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and many other sectors, and that breadth means we understand how improvement tools and principles apply in very different environments.
We are also genuinely easy to work with. We know that the EPA process can feel daunting — for apprentices, for employers and for training providers. We do not think it should be. We provide comprehensive guidance packs and supporting materials for every standard we assess, we work closely with training providers throughout the programme (not just at the end), and we make sure everyone involved knows exactly what is expected well before the Gateway Review.
What that looks like in practice:
- Clear guidance packs and summary documents for every standard, available to download below
- Early engagement — we want to be involved from the start of the apprenticeship, not parachuted in at the end
- Support with Gateway Reviews, including checklists and templates
- Responsive, named contacts — not a generic inbox
- Transparent, staged fees that are clearly set out before you commit to anything
How apprenticeships work
Apprenticeships combine on-programme learning — typically delivered by a training provider — with structured work-based activity, before culminating in an End Point Assessment carried out by an independent EPAO. The employer chooses the EPAO, and it is worth making that choice early. Registering with ISSP at the start of the programme means your apprentices have access to our guidance and resources from day one, not just when they are approaching their assessment.
All apprentices must achieve English and Mathematics at Level 2 before taking their EPA. The on-programme phase typically involves a minimum of 20% off-the-job training, project work and the development of a portfolio of evidence. The EPA itself takes place after a formal Gateway Review, at which the employer, training provider and apprentice all confirm readiness to proceed.
Not sure which standard is right?
If you are an employer or training provider trying to work out which apprenticeship best fits your people and your organisation, we are happy to help you think it through. The improvement, quality and management consulting standards overlap in useful ways, and the right answer depends on what your apprentices are already doing and where you want them to get to.
We have also put together a short guide to the current funding landscape and how the improvement and quality standards compare — download it below or get in touch and we can walk you through it.
Documents and resources
The documents below cover everything you need to register with us and understand our terms. If you are working with us — or thinking about it — comprehensive guidance packs and summary documents are available for every standard we assess. Just get in touch and we will make sure you have everything you need from day one.
- Getting Started:
- Policies:
- Useful Reading:
Get in touch
Whether you are an employer trying to work out which standard is right for your people, a training provider looking for an EPAO you can rely on, or an apprentice wanting to understand what your EPA will involve — we are happy to talk it through.
Email: info@isspro.co.uk Ofqual registration: RN6136