As we approach the end of 2025, it feels right to take a breath, look back, and share where we are and where we are heading together.

This year has been one of the busiest yet for progress minded. We have navigated significant change, both within our organisation and across the broader apprenticeship landscape. There have been big announcements, genuine uncertainty, and evolving expectations. At times it has felt like everything is moving at once. And yet, in all of this, we have seen clarity emerge, progress take shape, and new opportunities appear on the horizon.

Above all, what has kept us grounded are the conversations we have had with you. Apprentices striving for success, providers working hard to design and deliver quality programmes, employers committed to growing talent. Your feedback, honesty and insight have shaped what we do and how we do it. That partnership and trust means everything.

We want to recognise the effort, resilience and commitment shown by apprentices, training providers and employers this year. You have kept learners at the centre of everything you do, adapted as things changed around you, and continued to strive for excellence in apprenticeship outcomes. That focus on people, not process, is the reason we are optimistic about the year ahead.

With all of this in mind, here is what we want to share with you as 2025 draws to a close.

You Said, We Did

You said: “We want more guidance on delivery.” We did: We have created the delivery toolkit, which explores common pitfalls we see in assessments and offers practical ideas, activities and tips to support effective delivery and help apprentices prepare with confidence.

You said: “We want more procedural guidance.” We did: We have refreshed the provider guide, setting out our core ways of working, including how to use ACE360, our key policies and essential processes.

You said: “We want a more detailed apprentice guide.” We did: We have expanded the apprentice guide from a roadmap into a practical, step-by-step resource that explains what to expect in assessment, includes example questions and top tips geared to building confidence.

You said: “We want more information about the apprenticeship reforms.” We did: We are committed to giving clearer, regular updates on reform and what it means for you. This newsletter is the first of these, and we will continue them via our channels, including LinkedIn, future newsletters and webinars.

You said: “We want more sector forums and industry updates.” We did: We are putting together a calendar of sector forums and support webinars, launching from Spring 2026, to bring people together around shared challenges, insight and practice.

What’s New with progress minded

progress minded has now become an independent organisation as a subsidiary of JGA Limited. This gives us new opportunities to focus on what matters most to you: clarity, support and quality in apprenticeship assessment.

While our values, ethos and human-led approach remain unchanged, this independence allows us to invest more directly in improving resources, enhancing support, and responding to the real needs of apprentices, providers and employers.

You may begin to notice a more modern and clean experience in how we present our materials. This is not a full rebrand. Our logo and core identity stay the same, but we have refreshed our look and feel as part of a more elevated experience. The new resources are the first step, with a refreshed website to follow in early 2026.

Apprentice Reform: Our Focus Stays Steady

It’s no secret that there has been a lot of conversation, opinion and rumour around apprenticeship reform this year. We’ve seen headlines, LinkedIn posts, WhatsApp messages and plenty of “have you heard…” moments.

We’ve been very intentional about not adding to that noise.

Our position has been clear throughout: stay steady while things evolve.

We do not add to rumours or share unconfirmed detail. Instead, we focus on what is live, what is changing, and what it means in practice. When information is confirmed, we share it clearly and with context.

That does not mean we are standing still. Behind the scenes, we have been closely involved in trailblazer groups for the majority of the standards in our portfolio that are currently under review. This keeps us close to the detail and actively involved as reforms take shape.

Over the last few days, further information has started to emerge. A first look at the requirements and guidance from Skills England does not answer everything, but it has helped bring some important areas into sharper focus.

What this is starting to tell us in practice is:

Mandatory qualifications. Where a mandatory qualification does not fully cover the occupational knowledge and skills set out in the standard, assessment will still take place. This is a positive step for standards where competence goes beyond qualification content alone.

Assessment outcomes. While knowledge and skills may be sampled, assessment organisations are required to assess all assessment outcomes. This provides clearer direction on how assessment may be structured and where responsibility sits.

Assessment methods. Assessment outcomes may be assessed using more than one assessment method, allowing approaches to be designed around the occupation rather than forcing everything into a single method.

Grading. Grading criteria must align to the level set out in the performance descriptor. Moving forward, standards will operate on fail, pass and distinction only, with no merit grade.

English and maths. These remain separate completion requirements under the funding rules. However, the asterisks now appearing against some knowledge and skill criteria in pilot assessment plans begin to make more sense. There may be instances where aspects such as verbal communication skills are evidenced through assessment. This will not apply in every case and we are awaiting further detail on how this will work in practice.

We also now have sight of the first batch of 96 standards expected to launch, several of which sit within our portfolio, including IT Solutions Technician, Digital Support Technician, Information Communication Technician, Network Engineer, Data Technician and Data Engineer. This gives us greater clarity on timing and allows us to actively prepare rather than speculate.

Our New EPA Resources

We are excited to share the launch of our new and refreshed EPA support resources, developed to provide clearer guidance, reduce uncertainty and support everyone involved in assessment.

These resources have been shaped by the questions we are asked most often and the challenges we see in practice. They are designed to be practical, accessible and genuinely useful, whether you are delivering programmes, supporting apprentices or preparing for assessment.

Apprentice guide. Expanded from a simple roadmap into a practical guide that clearly sets out what the apprentice does, what we do as the assessment organisation, and how the EPA process fits together. It includes a simplified EPA timeline, clear explanations of what to expect at each stage, top tips for preparation, and example questions to help apprentices understand how assessment works and what good looks like.

Provider handbook. Brings together our key ways of working in one place. It provides clear procedural guidance on EPA processes and timelines, how to use ACE360, how to manage gateway and submissions, and how to apply our policies consistently. The aim is to support confidence, consistency and smooth delivery for teams managing EPA.

Employer guide. A clear, one-page overview of the employer role in EPA. It sets out what employers need to do before EPA, what is expected during the assessment period, and what support looks like on the day of assessment. It includes practical tips to help employers support their apprentice confidently and consistently, without adding complexity or unnecessary workload.

Delivery toolkit. Designed to support tutors, coaches and delivery teams. It focuses on common pitfalls we see in assessments and provides practical ideas, activities and tips to support effective delivery and apprentice preparation. The toolkit is intended to complement delivery and help apprentices reach readiness with confidence, rather than relying on last-minute preparation.

Where to Find Them

All resources are available in the ACE360 Knowledge Base.

If you need any help accessing them or want support, please contact the EPA Team at EPATeam@progressminded.co.uk or Laura at Laura.Thurlow@progressminded.co.uk.

Thank You and Festive Wishes

As we move into the festive period, we want to extend our deepest thanks to everyone we work with. Thank you for putting apprentices first. Thank you for supporting them, guiding them and working tirelessly to build strong, capable and confident learners. Your dedication to learners and your commitment to quality provision is what makes apprenticeship assessment meaningful and impactful.

This year has asked a lot of all of us. You have responded with professionalism, resilience and humanity. We see that effort every day in practice, and we know that together we are shaping an assessment system that truly serves apprentices, providers and employers.

We hope you are able to take time over the holiday season to rest, recharge and enjoy the company of those who matter most. May your Christmas be peaceful, warm and filled with good cheer. We are optimistic about what 2026 will bring and look forward to continuing this journey with you.

Warmest festive wishes, the progress minded team