Energy & Utility Skills announces Ofqual recognition for its Energy & Utilities Independent Assessment Service
The Energy & Utilities Independent Assessment Service (EUIAS) fulfils a vital role for the power, gas and water industries. The EUIAS is the only apprenticeship end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) dedicated to the energy and utilities sector; it is the sole EPAO for five apprenticeship standards that meet the essential skills needs of industry.
It was announced last year that Ofqual, the regulator of qualifications, examinations and assessments for England, would provide External Quality Assurance (EQA) for most apprenticeship standards. This required EPAOs to be recognised by Ofqual where they were not already part of the regulated sector. The EUIAS has achieved Ofqual regulated status, at the first attempt, and months ahead of the July 2021 deadline.
Phil Beach CBE, Chief Executive of Energy & Utility Skills, said: “We are pleased to have achieved this valued recognition, which allows us to continue supporting members, customers and apprentices through the end-point assessment process. As the former Executive Director for Vocational and Technical Qualifications at Ofqual I know from experience that recognition is a high bar, and our successful first-time application validates the quality of EUIAS provision.”
Bernie Zakary, Head of the EUIAS, said: “Ofqual recognition is further confirmation of the robustness and validity of the assessment service we provide and an assurance to all customers and apprentices that our end-point assessments are carried out to the highest standards.”
The EUIAS was first approved to deliver end-point assessments in 2016 and carried out the country’s first ever end-point assessments. After over 1,800 successful end-point assessments in technical and safety critical apprenticeships, the EUIAS continues to support employers in the power, gas and water industries contributing to the UK’s infrastructure plan.
