Standards
Apprenticeship standards outline the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) an apprentice must demonstrate to be competent in their occupation.
At TQUK, standards guide the support we provide to centres, employers, and apprentices throughout delivery and assessment. Standards are created by employer Trailblazer groups and provide a consistent national benchmark, ensuring apprentices develop the capabilities needed to perform effectively in their chosen roles.
Understanding standards
Each apprenticeship standard sets out the full list of KSBs, along with information such as job titles, recommended duration and level. Some standards include mandatory qualifications that must be achieved during the programme. Knowledge identifies what an apprentice must understand, skills describe what they must be able to carry out, and behaviours outline the types of professional conduct expected in the workplace. These components shape how providers design their training plans and how employers structure on‑the‑job learning, ensuring apprentices gain practical, occupation‑specific experience.
Training providers use apprenticeship standards to create delivery plans that help apprentices meet all KSBs. Employers rely on them to understand their responsibilities and to ensure apprentices have the right opportunities to develop occupational competence. For TQUK, the standards act as a reference point for advising centres, monitoring compliance, and ensuring every apprentice assessed through TQUK is trained against nationally approved expectations.
Finding the latest information
The Skills England Apprenticeship Search service provides the most up‑to‑date information on apprenticeship standards, including approved versions, funding bands, and policy updates. Users can browse all approved standards and filter by occupation or level via the service, which also reflects recent policy changes affecting apprenticeship duration and English and maths requirements. This is the authoritative source for checking the latest details and should be used by centres, employers, and apprentices when confirming standard information.
As part of current apprenticeship reforms, the assessment process will become more flexible. Historically, apprentices progressed to a “gateway” stage and then completed an end‑point assessment (EPA).
Under the new reforms, assessment can be conducted at any suitable stage of learning, rather than only at the end. This change is designed to make assessment less burdensome and more aligned with natural learning progression, while still ensuring apprentices demonstrate full occupational competence.
The reforms aim to make assessment simpler and more flexible, without reducing quality or rigour, as Skills England highlights: the changes focus on avoiding unnecessary complexity and improving effectiveness while maintaining standards. Although the timing is more flexible, apprentices must still demonstrate all required KSBs before completing their apprenticeship. You can find more information about the reforms on The Hive.
TQUK remains committed to ensuring all assessments align with current regulatory requirements and the expectations set out in each standard. Whether assessment takes place earlier in the programme or nearer completion, apprentices must still demonstrate that they can perform confidently, independently and safely within their occupation.
Our role is to support centres and employers through these changes, providing clarity and ensuring consistent, compliant assessment for every learner.