As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we want to shine a light on the End-Point Assessment (EPA) element of apprenticeships and the crucial role it plays in ensuring high standards. EPA serves as the final stage of an apprentice’s journey, validating their knowledge, skills, and behaviours against industry benchmarks.

A rigorous and well-structured EPA process ensures that apprentices are fully prepared for their roles, instilling confidence in both employers and the wider industry. CIRO have offered EPA for the Train Driver Level 3 since 2018 were recently approved by Ofqual to assess apprentices pursuing the Level 3 Rail Infrastructure Operator (ST1378) and Level 3 Transport Scheduler (ST1438) standards.

Vicky Johndrow, CIRO’s joint Head of Awarding Organisation commented on the role of EPA’s:

“End-Point Assessment is such an important step in an apprentice’s journey—it’s what proves they’re truly ready for the job. At CIRO, we’re passionate about making sure our assessments are fair, supportive, and reflective of real industry standards. National Apprenticeship Week is a great time to celebrate the hard work of apprentices, assessors, and employers who all play a part in building a skilled and confident workforce.”

The Role of EPA in Addressing the Rail Industry Skills Gap

With the UK rail industry facing a growing skills gap and ongoing reform, EPA services play a crucial role in ensuring a well-trained workforce capable of meeting future demands. By providing rigorous, industry-specific assessments, CIRO helps bridge this gap by validating the competencies of new professionals, ensuring they meet the high standards required for safety, efficiency, and innovation in rail operations.

CIRO’s Background in EPAs

Since becoming a registered End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) in 2018, CIRO has assessed 1,850 apprentices, with 91% of Train Driver apprentices passing their EPA on the first attempt. This reflects the robustness of the assessment process and the high level of preparation undertaken by apprentices. The EPA process includes a multiple-choice test, observation of driving performance, and a professional discussion, ensuring that apprentices demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours. CIRO works with over twenty train operators and training providers to deliver consistent, industry-aligned assessments that uphold professional standards across the sector.

Apprentices’ Experience and Feedback

Beyond the statistics, we are incredibly proud of the positive experiences shared by apprentices who have completed their assessments with us. When asked to rate their overall EPA experience, 88% of our apprentices rated CIRO as “Excellent” or “Very Good.” Their feedback highlights the professionalism, support, and expertise of our assessors:

• “Great experience. Very professional and made me feel at ease. Could not be better. Thank you.”
• “I couldn’t fault the EPA today; both Laura and Jamie were exceptional. They put me at ease, made the process seamless, and answered all my questions. They are an asset to CIRO.”
• “Overall, it was very good, well-organised, with great instructions, and I enjoyed the day. Thanks.”
• “The assessment day itself has been fun, challenging, and Laura and Dave have been amazing—massive credit to your organisation.”
• “The EPA process has been great, and the delivery of today cannot be faulted. It was extremely good.”
• “I was anxious about the process, but the staff at CIRO are calm and friendly. It’s an assessment, and I feel the staff did their utmost to get the best out of me.”
• “Having an experienced and personable assessor made the assessment enjoyable and a good learning experience as well as an assessment.”

Join Us in Celebrating Apprenticeship Success As we mark National Apprenticeship Week, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting apprentices on their journey to success. At CIRO, we believe in fostering an environment where apprentices feel confident, prepared, and valued. Our EPA provision continues to set high standards, and we look forward to assessing and supporting many more apprentices in the future.

If you’re an apprentice or an employer looking for a trusted EPA provider, get in touch with us to learn more about how CIRO can support your journey: epa@ciro.org