top of page

About Us

1st Awards are your End Point Assessment Specialists. We are a trusted partner that will provide high-quality, fair and reliable End Point Assessment (EPA) services. We dedicate our approach to delivering personable assessments whilst recognising the need to remain highly compliant. Our low-risk track record means every apprentice is in a safe pair of hands whilst on the EPA journey with 1st Awards

Collectively, our experience has been obtained within the highest quality of industry recognition within the education and professional sectors.

We pride ourselves on the personable experience, tailoring your organisation’s needs to meet the Institute for Apprenticeships requirements. 

We can proudly boast a wealth of knowledge in Apprenticeships, Work Based Learning and End Point Assessment within the public and private sectors.

Foremost, we have been in the industry and have a robust knowledge in our areas of expertise which enables us to understand the assessment process towards your company’s requirements.

Our Mission

1st Awards, our mission is to shape the future workforce by delivering first-class End Point Assessments conducted by industry experts. We believe that consistently effective assessment is crucial for recognising and validating the skills and competencies of apprentices, contributing to their success in their chosen sector.

Our Values

  • Support

We pride ourselves on our commitment to client satisfaction. We provide ongoing support throughout the assessment journey and offer easy access to the Team. We offer Support Packages, User Guides, FAQ’s and mock material as standard.

  • Response

1st Awards ensure communication is clear and guarantee rapid response times. We understand that if you are seeking support, you will require this within a quick turnaround time 

  • Agile

Our approach is adaptable, allowing us to align with your scheduling and operational needs.

  • Honest

1st Awards act with integrity in all we do. We maintain an honest relationship with our clients, providing clear expectations and consistent updates throughout the process.

Why Choose Us?

Each organisation has unique requirements. Our detailed understanding of this drives the need to provide bespoke EPA solutions designed to meet the specific needs of employers, apprentices and training providers. Our assessment process is efficient, effective and seamless and always complies with the specific requirements detailed in IfATE guidance. Foremost, we have a robust knowledge in our areas of expertise which enables us to understand the assessment process to suit your company’s requirements.

Our assessors are highly experienced Industry Professionals with extensive knowledge in Apprenticeships and End Point Assessment across various sectors, including:

Industry Insight

Having been actively involved in the industry, we have cultivated robust knowledge in our areas of expertise. This first-hand experience empowers us to comprehensively understand the assessment process and how it relates to your company's specific needs. We recognise that each organisation has unique challenges, and we strive to align our assessments with your company culture and objectives.

Image by Dylan Gillis
Image by Fred Moon

Our Approach

We focus on delivering a personable experience that prioritises your organisation’s goals. Our services include:

Comprehensive Assessments: We conduct thorough evaluations to ensure apprentices are fully prepared for their roles.

Flexible Solutions: Our approach is adaptable, allowing us to align with your scheduling and operational needs.

Integrity and Transparency: We maintain an honest relationship with our clients, providing clear expectations and consistent updates throughout the process.

Foremost, we have been in the industry and have a robust knowledge in our areas of expertise which enables us to understand the assessment process towards your company’s requirements.

Our Commitment to Quality

At 1st Awards, we are committed to:

  • Delivering Tailored Assessments: We customise each End Point Assessment to reflect your organisation's ethos and operational needs.

  • Ensuring Compliance: All assessments meet the rigorous standards set by the Institute for Apprenticeships.

  • Providing Flexible Solutions: We accommodate your organisation's schedule and preferences, ensuring a seamless assessment experience.

  • Offering Constructive Feedback: Our assessments include clear, actionable feedback to support the development of your apprentices.

Responsive Support

 We pride ourselves on our commitment to client satisfaction. Our team provides ongoing support throughout the assessment journey, ensuring clear communication, quick response times and compliance at all times.

Meet the Team

Andrew Dale

Director of Operations

Andrew is 1st Awards' Operations Director, his background is from Hospitality and catering, manufacturing and Education. ​ He has trained and completed Stages at the highest level of hospitality and catering, including the Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and William Curley's whilst then becoming a Head Pastry Chef of a one-star Michelin restaurant. ​​ Shortly after he began working in Education, he set up and managed Bakery and Patisserie courses at Levels 2 and 3. He then developed and wrote the practical elements of a Bakery and Patisserie degree of which only four similar programs were running at that time. ​​ He then worked in manufacturing where he solely worked on projects for Marks and Spencer and developed flagship products and leading innovative manufacturing methods. ​ Whilst working for 1st Awards, ​Andrew consults for food manufacturers developing their dessert ranges for leading food retailers.

8e85e1_d7119ffb86ab4d41adbfc50dd76eb21a~

Tracey Sajno

Director of Compliance

A passionate hospitality industry professional with expertise in End Point Assessment, Quality and Compliance. Tracey is a highly qualified Leader and Manager who has worked in Education for over 20 years in both the public and private sectors. ​Tracey has worked in key roles for influential large scale and bespoke companies which guarantees a high level of understanding of the key challenges of Apprenticeships. ​Tracey’s high level of experience ensures that 1st Awards has the correct level of compliance to assist with any queries you may have to ensure your apprentice can maximise their potential through End Point Assessment journey.

Joanne Bailey

Melaine Jones

Group Operations Manager

Melanie has come from both a hospitality and educational background. From owning her own award-winning public house, to working as a college tutor, Curriculum Manager and apprenticeship end-point assessor, and IQA, all roles were steeped in delivering excellent customer service, which she passionately maintains as the 1st Awards Group Operations Manager. Melanie has worked in the world of apprenticeships for over 25 years, experiencing and delivering upon the changes in this fast-paced environment. From NVQs and frameworks to our current end-point assessment delivery, Melanie has strived to give each and every apprentice the greatest opportunity to showcase their very best. Melanie’s drive and vast experience ensure that the wheels of 1st Awards are ever turning, allowing us to deliver a seamless and enjoyable EPA journey for all.

Governance

1st Awards is a privately owned End Point Assessment Organisation that is Directed by its’ two founders with the primary objective of providing consistently fair and reliable End Point Assessments for a range of apprenticeship standards.

 

1st Awards have a separate governance structure which operates independently of the day to day operations. The Board is primarily responsible for ensuring that 1st Awards pursues its’ quality and compliance objectives and in doing so, remains financially robust.

bottom of page