Tim Chewter
Head of Research & Communications, Strategic Development Network (SDN)
DiVA Apprenticeships recently became an approved Apprentice Assessment Organisation (AAO). We caught up with their Director, Arit Eminue, to find out how the recent Future Apprenticeship workshop helped DiVA to get to where they are today.
DiVA is a recruitment and training organisation specialising in business administration, digital and creative apprenticeships. They work with well-known brands in broadcasting, music, marketing and communications, and the wider creative sector.
DiVA first started to consider delivering end-point assessment after a conversation with another training provider operating in the creative industries. This provider was currently training apprentices on the Broadcast Production Assistant standard, but no Apprentice Assessment Organisation was in place.
DiVA was in a prime position to deliver the end-point assessment, as Arit explained:
“My background is in TV and I know the sector well. It’s also quite a niche standard. After reading the standard and assessment plan, it was clear we had the apprenticeship and industry knowledge to deliver the end-point assessment. We have no plans to deliver the training for the Broadcast TV Production Assistant standard, which limits a conflict of interest. The assessment methods for the standard are within our skillset to create and the initial volume of apprentices is manageable, making it an ideal standard for us to pilot.
“This was the point at which we booked onto the Future Apprenticeships workshop in February, to help us prepare to become an Apprentice Assessment Organisation.”
Arit received an ETF bursary, administered by the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), to attend the workshop. The workshop: ‘Preparing for your organisation’s involvement in end-point assessment’ focused on helping delegates lay the ground ready to become AAOs. The workshop also included a walk through the registration process, how it should be approached and pitfalls to avoid.
“I had no prior experience of writing bids of this nature, so engaging in some training was essential. Having read the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) guidelines for those considering registering as an AAO, I needed more clarification on how to approach writing the bid.
“The workshop was a huge help. The two key take-home points for me were to clearly evidence our sectoral expertise beyond the delivery of apprenticeships, and to approach the application from an awarding body perspective, not from a training provider. This requires a different mind-set.
“The workshop provided really helpful examples and exercises, including assessment plans and mock assessments. One exercise involved ten questions you would ask an AAO as a training provider. These questions helped me understand the full role of the AAO and underpinned our approach that we later submitted.
“The SDN facilitator was also really generous in sharing their notes with us, which summarised key awarding body and assessment guidance – saving us time and giving us clarity.”
After preparation work, DiVA submitted an application to the Register of Apprentice Assessment Organisations and were successful.
“The training I attended in February was instrumental to the process. Had I not attended the session, I would have been far less informed, and suspect may not have made the register at the first attempt.”
DiVA are now starting to create their end-point assessment systems, processes, and materials, learning from other AAOs who have shared their approach.
“End-point assessment may not be our core business, but it could bring opportunities in the future. We are hoping our first pilot cohort will allow us to see how things develop and use this as a basis to create a longer-term strategy.”
Three sets of events are being held in the Autumn to help those considering the delivery of apprenticeship end-point assessment as an organisation or individual:
Future Apprenticeships is commissioned and funded by ETF. AELP and SDN deliver the programme.