This document explains the requirements for end-point assessment (EPA) for the infrastructure asset management professional apprenticeship. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) must follow this when designing and delivering the EPA.

Infrastructure asset management professional apprentices, their employers and training providers should read this document.

A full-time apprentice typically spends 24 months on-programme (this means in training before the gateway) working towards competence as a infrastructure asset management professional. All apprentices must spend at least 12 months on-programme. All apprentices must complete the required amount of off-the-job training specified by the apprenticeship funding rules.

This EPA should then be completed within an EPA period lasting typically 6 months.

Occupational competence is outlined by the EPA grade descriptors and determined, when assessed in accordance with this EPA plan, by an independent assessor who is an occupational expert and confirms the overall EPA grade.

This EPA has 2 assessment methods.

The grades available for each assessment method are:

Assessment method 1 - work based project with presentation and questioning:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

Assessment method 2 - professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

The EPA is taken in the EPA period. The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms the gateway requirements have been met and is typically 6 months.

The expectation is that the EPAO will confirm the gateway requirements have been met and the EPA starts as quickly as possible.

The apprentice’s employer must confirm that they think their apprentice is working at or above the as a occupational standard. They will then enter the gateway. The employer may take advice from the apprentice's training provider(s), but the employer must make the decision.

The apprentices must meet the gateway requirements before starting their EPA.

These are:

• for the work based project with presentation and questioning apprentices must submit: project scoping document

• the apprentice must agree the subject, title and scope for their project proposal with their employer and EPAO by submitting a scoping document which will be no more than 500 words.

• for the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence apprentices must submit:

The apprentices must submit any policies and procedures as requested by the EPAO.

The EPA period starts when the EPAO confirms all gateway requirements have been met. The expectation is they will do this as quickly as possible.

The assessment methods can be delivered in any order.

The result of one assessment method does not need to be known before starting the next.

Overview

A work based project involves the apprentice completing a significant and defined piece of work that has a real business application and benefit. The work based project must meet the needs of the employer’s business and be relevant to the apprentice’s occupation and apprenticeship.

This assessment method has 2 components:

• work based project with a written report output

• presentation with questions and answers

Together, these components give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. They are assessed by an independent assessor.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because:

• The work-based project is the most valid method as it allows the demonstration of professional competence. The project will contribute to the employer’s business and be part of the apprentices’ everyday work, ensuring that they can demonstrate KSBs in practice. Producing a report reflects normal practice in the workplace for an infrastructure asset management professional, so this assessment method is appropriate.
• It is a significant and complex piece of work that thoroughly tests both higher and lower order knowledge and skills.
• Note that it is essential that the project articulates the apprentice’s own work practice rather than the activities performed by the team of which they were part.

Delivery

The apprentice must complete a work based project project based on any of the following:

Examples of the types of projects an apprentice could submit include:

• Development and implementation of an approach for understanding risk appetite and tolerance in infrastructure asset management decision making.
• Optimising maintenance through the use of predictive maintenance approaches on critical assets.
• The application of real options analysis to develop adaptive strategies.
• The use of predictive analytics to improve systems performance.
• Creation of an infrastructure asset management strategy that incorporates environmental, social and governance and their contribution to net carbon zero.
• Development and introduction of through life benefits in the assessment of projects.
• Asset health indicactors used to track asset performance over the short and long term.
• The creation of a system thinking approach to improve operational resilience considering systemic and asset risks.

To ensure the work based project allows the apprentice to meet the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade, the EPAO should sign-off the work based project’s title and scope at the gateway to confirm it is suitable. The EPAO must refer to the grading descriptors to ensure that work based projects are pitched appropriately.

The work based project output must be in the form of a work based project report and presentation.

The apprentice must start the work based project after the gateway. The employer should ensure the apprentice has the time and resources, within the project period, to plan and complete their project.

The apprentice may work as part of a team to complete the work based project, which could include internal colleagues or technical experts. The apprentice must however, complete their work based project report and presentation unaided and they must be reflective of their own role and contribution. The apprentice and their employer must confirm this when the work based project report and any presentation materials are submitted.

Component 1: Work based project report

The report must include at least:

• Executive summary
• Outcome - the delivered outcome
• Benefits - the positive impact on the business
• Barriers - the problems and how they were overcome
• Actions - detailed analysis, options and conclusions
• Support - the stakeholder and collaborators; and underpinning theory
• Measurement - the delivered short and long term benefits maps
• Appendices - supporting information
• References - list of references

.

The work based project report must have a word count of 8000 words. A tolerance of 10% above or below is allowed at the apprentice’s discretion. Appendices, references and diagrams are not included in this total. The apprentice must produce and include a mapping in an appendix, showing how the report evidences the KSBs mapped to this assessment method.

The apprentice must complete and submit the work based project report and any presentation materials to the EPAO by the end of week 12 of the EPA period.

Component 2: Presentation with questions

The presentation with questions must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

The apprentice must prepare and deliver a presentation to an independent assessor. After the presentation, the independent assessor must ask the apprentice questions about their project, report and presentation.

The presentation should cover:

• an overview of the work based project
• the project scope (including key performance indicators)
• summary of actions undertaken by the apprentice
• project outcomes and how these were achieved

The presentation with questions must last 60 minutes. This will typically include a presentation of 20 minutes and questioning lasting 40 minutes. The independent assessor must use the full time available for questioning. The independent assessor can increase the time of the presentation and questioning by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to complete their last point or respond to a question if necessary.

The independent assessor must ask at least 6 questions. They must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in line with the EPAO’s training. Follow up questions are allowed where clarification is required.

The purpose of the independent assessor's questions is:

• to verify that the activity was completed by the apprentice
• to seek clarification where required
• to assess those KSBs that the apprentice did not have the opportunity to demonstrate with the report, although these should be kept to a minimum
• to assess level of competence against the grading descriptors

The apprentice must submit any presentation materials to the EPAO at the same time as the report - by the end of week 12 of the EPA period. The apprentice must notify the EPAO, at that point, of any technical requirements for the presentation.

During the presentation, the apprentice must have access to:

• Audio-visual presentation equipment
• Flip chart and writing and drawing materials
• Computer
• any other requirements as previously notified to the EPAO

The independent assessor must have at least 2 weeks to review the project report and any presentation materials, to allow them to prepare questions.

The apprentice must be given at least 1 weeks’ notice of the presentation with questions.

Assessment decision

The independent assessor must make the grading decision. They must assess the project components holistically when deciding the grade.

The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. They must record:

• the KSBs demonstrated in the report and presentation with questions
• the apprentice’s answers to questions
• the grade achieved

Assessment location

The presentation with questions must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO for example, the EPAO’s or employer’s premises. It should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

The presentation with questions can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.

Question and resource development

The EPAO must develop a purpose-built assessment specification and question bank. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting with employers. The assessment specification and question bank must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.

The assessment specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this.

The EPAO must ensure that the apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.

EPAO must produce the following materials to support the project:

• independent assessor EPA materials which include:
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
  • question bank
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and the employer

The EPAO must ensure that the EPA materials are subject to quality assurance procedures including standardisation and moderation.

Overview

In the discussion, an independent assessor and apprentice have a formal two-way conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate their competency across the KSBs mapped to this EPA method.

Rationale

This assessment method is being used because:

• it allows the apprentice to be assessed against KSBs that may not naturally occur as part of a work-based project
• it allows the apprentice to show case their depth of understanding relating to the KSBs

• it allows the independent assessor to consider the context and sector that the apprentice operates within, giving flexibility to ensure that all the KSBs can be assessed appropriately

• it is cost effective, and it allows consideration of the potential need to conduct the EPA remotely.

Delivery

The professional discussion must be structured to give the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method to the highest available grade.

The independent assessor conducts and assesses the professional discussion.

The purpose of the independent assessor's questions will be to further clarify skills demonstrated in a portfolio of evidence.

The EPAO must give an apprentice 1 weeks notice of the professional discussion.

The independent assessor must have at least 2 week(s) to review the supporting documentation.

The apprentice must have access to their portfolio of evidence during the professional discussion.

The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence , however the is not directly assessed.

The professional discussion must last for 90 minutes. The independent assessor can increase the time of the professional discussion by up to 10%. This time is to allow the apprentice to respond to a question if necessary.

For the professional discussion, the independent assessor must ask at least 10 questions. Follow-up questions are allowed. The independent assessor must use the questions from the EPAO’s question bank or create their own questions in-line with the EPAO’s training. The professional discussion must allow the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method at the highest possible grade.

The independent assessor must keep accurate records of the assessment. The records must include the KSBs met, the grade achieved and answers to questions.

The independent assessor will make all grading decisions.

Assessment location

The professional discussion must take place in a suitable venue selected by the EPAO (for example the EPAO’s or employer’s premises).

The professional discussion can be conducted by video conferencing. The EPAO must have processes in place to verify the identity of the apprentice and ensure the apprentice is not being aided.

The professional discussion should take place in a quiet room, free from distractions and influence.

Question and resource development

The EPAO must write an assessment specification and question bank. The specification must be relevant to the occupation and demonstrate how to assess the KSBs shown in the mapping. It is recommended this is done in consultation with employers of this occupation. The EPAO should maintain the security and confidentiality of EPA materials when consulting employers. The questions must be unpredictable. A question bank of sufficient size will support this. The assessment specification and questions must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.

The EPAO must develop purpose-built question banks and ensure that appropriate quality assurance procedures are in place, for example, considering standardisation, training and moderation. The EPAO must ensure that questions are refined and developed to a high standard.

The EPAO must ensure that apprentice has a different set of questions in the case of re-sits or re-takes.

The EPAO must produce the following materials to support the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence:

• independent assessor assessment materials which include:
  • training materials
  • administration materials
  • moderation and standardisation materials
  • guidance materials
  • grading guidance
  • question bank
• EPA guidance for the apprentice and the employer

The assessment methods contribute equally to the overall EPA pass grade.

Performance in the EPA determines the apprenticeship grade of:

• fail

• pass

• distinction

An independent assessor must individually grade the: work based project with presentation and questioning and professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence in line with this EPA plan.

The EPAO must combine the final grades for the individual assessment methods to determine the overall EPA grade.

If the apprentice fails one or more assessment methods, they will be awarded an overall EPA fail. 

To achieve an overall pass, the apprentice must achieve at least a pass in all the assessment methods. To achieve an overall EPA distinction, the apprentice must achieve a distinction in both assessment methods.

To achieve an overall EPA distinction, the apprentice must achieve a distinction in both assessment methods.

Grades from individual assessment methods must be combined in the following way to determine the grade of the EPA overall.

An apprentice who fails one or more assessment method(s) can take a re-sit or a re-take at their employer’s discretion. The apprentice’s employer needs to agree that a re-sit or re-take is appropriate. A re-sit does not need further learning, whereas a re-take does.

An apprentice should have a supportive action plan to prepare for a re-sit or a re-take.

The employer and EPAO agree the timescale for a re-sit or re-take. A re-sit is typically taken within 2 months of the EPA outcome notification. The timescale for a re-take is dependent on how much re-training is required and is typically taken within 3 months of the EPA outcome notification.

Failed assessment methods must be re-sat or re-taken within a 6-month period from the EPA outcome notification, otherwise the entire EPA will need to be re-sat or re-taken in full.

Re-sits and re-takes are not offered to an apprentice wishing to move from pass to a higher grade.

An apprentice will get a maximum EPA grade of pass for a re-sit or re-take, unless the EPAO determines there are exceptional circumstances.

The EPAO must have reasonable adjustments arrangements for the EPA.

This should include:

• how an apprentice qualifies for reasonable adjustment
• what reasonable adjustments may be made

Adjustments must maintain the validity, reliability and integrity of the EPA as outlined in this EPA plan.

Internal quality assurance refers to how the EPAO ensures valid, consistent and reliable EPA decisions. The EPAO must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities section and:

The EPAOs for this EPA must adhere to the requirements within the roles and responsibilities table and:

• appoint independent assessors who are competent to deliver the EPA and who:
  • have recent relevant experience of the occupation or sector to at least occupational level 7 gained in the last 3 years or significant experience of the occupation or sector

Affordability of the EPA will be aided by using at least some of the following:

• utilising digital remote platforms to conduct applicable assessment methods

• using the employer’s premises

• conducting assessment methods on the same day

This apprenticeship aligns with:

Institute of Asset Management for Member