Stu commented, 13 January 2023 17:18

Thanks Martin However I am still slightly confused.  3.5 Readiness to deliver is about you directly delivering EPA. You must not contract out EPA to another organisation to deliver on your behalf (although you may use contracted assessors who may be self-employed or drawn from other organisations to support your delivery of EPA). However, you are solely accountable and responsible for the EPA for the standard(s) and assessment plan(s) you are registered to assess against, and you must deliver the EPA in line with the requirements set out in the assessment plan(s) you are registered to assess against. 1. does this include an managed partnership agreement? 2. although you may use contracted assessors who may be self-employed or drawn from other organisations to support your delivery of EPA. Does this mean that the EPAO can hire my staff on individual contracts but cant contract my company who employ the staff? I am further confused because 3: 6.12 of the conditions for being on the register of end-point assessment organisations found on the GOV.UK site clearly states, "It is permissible to work with other organisations for the purposes of sourcing assessors. In such circumstances it is your responsibility to ensure any conflicts of interest are managed and it must be clear that whilst performing their assessor role, assessors are doing this on your behalf as the registered EPAO" Thanks Stu

1. Partnership/subcontracting rules re EPAOs delivering EPAs?

Thanks Martin However I am still slightly confused.  3.5 Readiness to deliver is about you directly delivering EPA. You must not contract out EPA to another organisation to deliver on your behalf (...

Stu commented, 12 January 2023 14:27

Sub Contracting v EPAO Managed Partnership: Really interested in this topic but confused by what constitutes sub-contracting. Hopefully you can help. I run a small but growing Ltd company that has 4 staff  and provides a variety of education services primarily apprentice end point assessments and FE assignment sample assessment, moderation and verification services.  My first Q is: Can an EPAO enter into a fully managed "partnership" arrangement with a small independent EPA delivery company that employs expert end point assessors and IQAs? Or, do all EPAs have to be either direct employees of the EPAO and/or individual independent assessors on associate contracts with the EPAO? There appears to be ambiguity over what constitutes sub-contracting because Clause 6.12 of the conditions for being on the register of end-point assessment organisations found on the GOV.UK site clearly states, "It is permissible to work with other organisations for the purposes of sourcing assessors. In such circumstances it is your responsibility to ensure any conflicts of interest are managed and it must be clear that whilst performing their assessor role, assessors are doing this on your behalf as the registered EPAO" My 2nd Q is:- If an EPAO is allowed to employ my company's EPA services under a "managed partnership" arrangement that does not break any sub-contracting rules, does the employer or their approved training company have veto power to stop it - even if the employer(s) are 100% supportive of the proposed "managed partnership"? in this scenario, the registered EPAO will be "totally" responsible for the EPA service delivery of my company and we will be under their full management and bound by appropriate EPAO, ESFA and Ofqual contractual obligations. Thanks       

1. Associate Trainers and Subcontracting

Sub Contracting v EPAO Managed Partnership: Really interested in this topic but confused by what constitutes sub-contracting. Hopefully you can help. I run a small but growing Ltd company that has ...