Celebrating the milestone of 50,000 end-point assessment certifications

City & Guilds Managing Director David Phillips celebrates a key milestone for apprenticeships and reflects on our EPA journey so far

09 March 2023

We’re proud to have reached the significant milestone of 50,000 end-point assessment (EPA) certifications since we began awarding in 2017, something we could not have achieved without the employers and providers that we work with.

An exciting journey to 50,000 EPA certifications

What an exciting journey it has been from the Richard Review to the present day, with the opportunity to work so closely with employers and providers to support skilled apprentices that we know will make a fantastic impact within their organisations. 

We have learnt a huge amount along the way as standards have evolved, and it has been a pleasure to witness first-hand the many success stories of apprentices up and down the country, through formal award ceremonies or via our network of providers and employers. 

Five years on from the launch of apprenticeship standards we now offer more than 60 standards in sectors from Adult & Child Care to Construction and Building Services Engineering, with a large team of 600 expert associates who work with us across every stage of the process. 

Supporting apprentice success is central to our purpose and this milestone feels like a key point in time as we continue to champion and grow the apprenticeship brand. 

Putting the apprentice first

We know that you, our customers, have faced some challenges along the way but we remain committed to work collaboratively with you to overcome them, and putting the apprentice first. 

However, there is still lots to do to make the most of apprenticeships, for individuals and employers alike. 

According to our Levying Up research working with The 5% Club, only 4% of employers were using their full apprenticeship levy funding.  

At a time when many businesses are facing skills shortages, there are more opportunities to be taken advantage of, and some changes may be necessary to ensure high quality apprenticeships are a key pillar for talent development. 

Looking forward to the next milestone

We expect to see a continued evolution of apprenticeships and our goal is not just to keep up with change but to lead it. We will do this in partnership with the employers and providers who have demonstrated their dedication while working with us.  

To have reached 50,000 EPA certifications is a fantastic milestone and we look forward to seeing many more apprentices succeed in the coming years.  

We would like to say a big thank you to our customers who have worked so tirelessly to support each and every one of the 50,000 apprentices that we have certified. 

Find out more about our work on apprenticeships and our EPA service in the apprenticeships section of our website Apprenticeships | Apprenticeship Information | City & Guilds (cityandguilds.com)