Apprenticeship assessment service

Leading the future of apprenticeship assessment

Request a call back to discuss the apprenticeship reforms and how to prepare for the changes

Skills for every sector – support for every step

As part of Skills England apprenticeship reform, City & Guilds has evolved its apprenticeship assessment service to better support providers, employers, and apprentices in delivering high-quality, proportionate assessments.

A streamlined, flexible assessment service

We have streamlined our assessments to make them more manageable and reduce assessment burden – this means you get to focus more on great delivery for your learners.

Based on feedback from our customers and employers we have built on the best of what has made us the largest end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) in England to bring you a new and even better service.

Apprenticeship assessment journey

Once approved: If you are new to City & Guilds, a Digital Solution Manager will reach out to support your onboarding and use of Proficient to get you set up and familiar with the platform.

During delivery: You will have access to sector specialist Technical Advisors, and apprenticeship specialist Partnership Managers, to make sure every step of your apprenticeship journey with City & Guilds is as easy as it can be.

Getting started

The training provider registers the apprentice for their programme.

Assessment delivery

The training provider books an assessment in Proficient, or Walled Garden for an online assessment, and uploads internal assessment results to Proficient.

Quality assurance

City & Guilds will quality assure centre assessed components through verification activity to validate results.

Gateway to completion

Training provider confirms in Proficient that the minimum duration and KSBs are met. City & Guilds check and validate.

Results and certification

The Department for Education issue the apprenticeship certificate.

Approval to deliver apprenticeship assessment

Getting started with a City & Guilds apprenticeship is straightforward, with approval routes and onboarding support designed to help you begin delivery as quickly as possible. Some approval requests may require an external quality assurance visit. The application process may review different areas of delivery such as policies, staff resource, delivery principles and physical resources.

Fast-track approval

If you're an existing City & Guilds customer, you may be eligible for our Fast-track approval process which is an accelerated service so you can get started more quickly. Fast-track approval is available for selected apprenticeship assessments. For assessments that are eligible, full guidance and the Fast-track application form can be found on the relevant product page.

If you're unsure whether Fast-track is available for the product you are interested in, contact our team.

Explore apprenticeship standards

Approval for existing customers

Already approved to deliver City & Guilds apprenticeship assessment? If you'd like to deliver additional apprenticeship assessment products, complete a Qualification Approval (QAP) form through Walled Garden. We'll review your application and let you know if any further information is required.

Log in to Walled Garden

Approval for new customers

If you are new to City & Guilds and would like to start delivering apprenticeships with us you will need to apply for centre and qualification approval. To start step one of our fully supported four-step process visit our approval webpage.

Apply for centre approval

Unsure of your next step, or looking to deliver an apprenticeship end-point assessment?

Apprenticeship assessment approval routes are different to the EPA approval process. Start your application for EPA approval or, if you are unsure of your next step, request a call back from our team:

End-point assessment approval Request a call back

Flex your delivery of internal assessment

As apprenticeship assessment evolves, providers will take greater responsibility for assessing occupational competence through internal assessment activities.

To support providers through these changes, City & Guilds is introducing Flex: Our flexible apprenticeship assessment service that enables you to outsource some or all of your internal assessment delivery to City & Guilds.

Flex gives you greater choice and control over how internal assessments are delivered, allowing you to combine your own expertise with trusted City & Guilds assessment support. Customers will be able to apply for the Flex service as part of the apprenticeship assessment approval process.

With Flex, you can adapt your needs and delivery model

By outsourcing your internal assessment to City & Guilds, Flex gives you the freedom to choose the level of assessment support that works best for your organisation.

Flex your assessment delivery at programme level, cohort level or even apprentice by apprentice.

Retain control where you have the capacity and expertise, while accessing trusted City & Guilds assessment specialists when additional support is needed.

Scale support up or down as requirements change, helping you respond to fluctuations in demand and resource availability.

Reduce pressure on delivery teams while maintaining quality, consistency and confidence in assessment delivery.

Access a service that fits around your delivery model, rather than changing your delivery model to fit the assessment service.

A refreshed support service designed around you

Assessment handbooks and resources

To support your delivery, we provide apprenticeship assessment handbooks alongside a suite of resources aligned to each standard and assessment plan, offering tailored support for providers and helping apprentices succeed.

Whether you're planning, delivering, or supporting, these tools offer valuable insights to enhance engagement, ensure compliance, and drive confident delivery.

Visit our document library to see our key assessment guides and documents.

Explore apprenticeship document library

Access to technical and apprenticeship experts

Alongside resources, during your apprenticeship delivery, you will have access to centre support and webinars from our sector specialist Technical Advisors and apprenticeship specialist Partnership Managers. This is to make sure every step of your apprenticeship journey with City & Guilds is as easy as it can be.