Get access to invaluable tools, resources and support

By partnering with 1st4sport you’ll get access to:

• Learning portfolio to support apprentices on-programme and at gateway, with all tasks clearly laid out.
• A toolkit for employers, to ensure that the employer is involved in the process. The toolkit makes it clear what is needed at each stage and enables them to efficiently and accurately sign off the apprentice prior to EPA.
• Skills Coach toolkit which contains assessment material, grading descriptors and standard overview.

Industry specialists, with experienced and qualified assessors throughout England

1st4sport specialises in the sport and physical activity sector, which means we understand the key challenges that training providers experience when delivering apprenticeship programmes. We use our industry expertise and partnerships to ensure our supporting resources are fit for purpose and in line with current best practice.

All our assessors are:

• Experts in their field, with extensive relevant and up-to-date industry experience, in a higher occupation role than that being assessed.
• Qualified to a minimum of Level 3 in assessment practice and regularly undertaking CPD activity to ensure that they are up to date with the latest developments.
• DBS checked to ensure apprentices are not at risk during their EPA experience
• Understand the specific challenges that face the apprentices and able to adopt a human approach, putting apprentices – from all walks of life – at ease.

Fair, equitable and independent assessments

Our Compliance and Risk team ensures rigorous quality assurance, malpractice and conflict of interest policies are followed, to ensure apprentices completing their EPA with 1st4sport are treated fairly and without prejudice by our assessors, in a safe environment.

Our impartial service complies with the regulatory authorities and is quality assured by the responsible body. What’s more:

• Each 1st4sport EPA manager regularly reviews a representative sample of evidence for each component of the EPA to check for fairness and impartiality.
• We insist any conflicts of interest are declared and we’ll take steps to ensure impartiality.
• Clear operating rules are in place to prevent malpractice, maladministration or prejudice.
• Corrective action procedures are in place should a policy breech occur.
• We are fully committed to embracing diversity.