What's New with OAL

Leading the Way: How OAL and Bournemouth & Poole College Transformed Marine Apprenticeships

In September 2022 at the beginning of the new academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) approached Occupational Awards Limited (OAL), to see if they could step in to support End-Point Assessment (EPA) for three key standards within the “Marine Sector” (Boatbuilder, Marina and Boatyard Operative and Marine Engineer). The previous EPAO delivering these standards had been unable to meet Ofqual requirements and unfortunately had to exit the market.

Celebrating an Inspirational Leader: Jan Richardson-Wilde Wins Individual of the Year at the FAB Awards 2024

Jan Richardson-Wilde, CEO of Occupational Awards Ltd (OAL), has been named Leader – Individual of the Year at the prestigious Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) Awards 2024. This award recognises her compassionate leadership, unwavering commitment to excellence, and significant contributions to the education and skills sector over the last year and throughout her career.

Not-for-profit EPAO the first to offer free PARS to all apprentices completing their Apprenticeship

Not-for-profit End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) Occupational Awards Limited (OAL), is the first to offer all apprentices completing their EPA with them the opportunity to have their fees for the new Post Apprenticeship Recognition Scheme (PARS) completely covered.

A Day at the Races

We aspire to innovate and advance our capability to work at the forefront of change, by highlighting an individuals or organisations contribution to universal inclusion we can encourage continued emotional investment. As we continue to celebrate apprenticeships through award ceremonies like The OAL Awards, we contribute to a brighter and prosperous future for both the individuals and organisations that work in apprenticeships.

OAL Is Investing In Apprenticeships For All Ages And Supporting The North Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards

Apprentices are at the heart of everything that industry leading Occupational Awards Limited (OAL) does – which is why the not-for-profit organisation is the headline sponsor for the 2023 North Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards. Find out how to enter and what makes OAL one of the top 10 apprenticeship end-point assessment organisations in the country.

OAL and DfE set up new Funding Streams to Support Apprentices

Following the sudden and unexpected closure of Learning Education and Development (LEAD) Limited, a large Private Training provider, during the summer of 2022, a significant number of apprentices were left in a state of limbo, having achieved gateway but had not started or fully completed End Point Assessment (EPA).

Does 16+2 = Math’s Misery For All?

Is Rishi Sunak’s announcement earlier this month, on his plan to extend compulsory maths education until the age of 18 a massive miscalculation?  Current analysis of public opinion indicates that it is a miscalculation and not good education practice.

First Ever Quality Practitioner Apprentice Achieves Distinction

Occupational Awards Limited (OAL) are delighted to announce that Emma Harrison, Managing Director, of South Yorkshire based Training Provider Whyy? Change achieved a distinction from her End Point Assessment for the Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship.

Sally Garner-Gibbons, Chichester College, Full Interview

What an apprenticeship does, is actually offers the jobs to people who really love it and want to be part of the industry, but for one reason or another decided that the alternative routes in the industry are not for them. I think it’s a really valuable way to start a career in our industry, particularly because it’s so technical, it’s so practical.

Food Industry Passport Launched to Prevent Recruitment Crisis

Whilst the eyes of the world were focused on Parliament Square, for the announcement of a new UK Prime Minister, in the Terrace Pavilion, at the House of Commons, the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink launched the Food and Drink Industry Careers Passport.

Cian Short, Early Careers Manager, Bakkavor – Full Interview

We have a fantastic interview that we carried out with Cian Short, Early Careers Manager at Bakkavor, the UK’s leading food manufacturer! In it Cian details how important Apprenticeships are towards developing talent within the business, their key reasons for developing apprenticeships and why he thinks other employers should follow suit!

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within Apprenticeships inside some of the UK’s biggest employers.

As part of NAW2022 #BuildtheFuture OAL (Occupational Awards Limited) conducted a series of interviews on how apprenticeships are key to the future success of so many of the employers we work with. What we found, was that part of this building for the future included a focus on inclusivity and diversity.

More Success at the Annual Apprenticeship Conference!

The FEWEEK Annual Apprenticeship Conference and accompanying Gala Dinner and Awards evening are widely regarded as the flagship events of the year within the apprenticeship sector.

Our Made in Yorkshire Awards Experience!

The Insider Media Made in Yorkshire Awards was celebrating it’s 10th year of running this year, and we couldn’t be prouder to have taken part.

A Celebration of Excellence in Apprenticeship Delivery

We are the proud sponsor for the Engineering and Manufacturing provider of the year at the Annual Apprenticeship Awards 2022 organised by FE Week and the AELP next March.

My First Conference Experience

Last month our Sales and Marketing Coordinator Zach attended his first conference since his entry into the Awarding and End-Point Assessment sector. The whole experience was extremely informative for him and inspired him to write an article detailing the highlights of the event!

Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices

Since August 2020 this service has supported hundreds of apprentices affected by redundancy

OAL & Sainsbury’s Support Local Communities

Between October 2020 and January 2021, working with Crosby Management Training 35 of our Sainsbury’s Butcher apprentices completed their end-point assessment under challenging circumstances, using a Covid-19 adapted assessment approach.