How does Apprenticeship Levy funding work?
If your annual pay bill exceeds £3 million, you pay 0.5% into your Apprenticeship Levy account via PAYE. You then use these funds through the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) to pay for training. TESS Group handles all the DAS paperwork for you. If you don't pay the Levy, the government covers 95% of the cost — you pay just 5% co-investment. For SMEs with fewer than 50 staff, apprentices aged 16–21 are 100% government funded.
Can I use my Levy to fund standalone qualifications like CMI, ILM, or CIPD?
The Levy can only be used for apprenticeship programmes, not standalone qualifications directly. However, TESS embeds additional qualifications — CMI, ILM, BCS, Microsoft, NCFE — within our apprenticeship programmes at no extra cost. This means your team gets both the apprenticeship standard and professional qualifications funded through your Levy. Standalone qualifications are also available separately for a competitive fee.
How much time do apprentices spend away from work?
Apprentices are required to spend a minimum of 6 hours per week on off-the-job training, but this doesn't mean 6 hours out of the office. Our blended approach includes live workshops (typically 1 per month), workplace study tasks that are applied directly to their role, 1:1 skills coaching, and self-paced online learning. Most managers tell us their apprentice becomes more productive, not less.
Can existing employees do an apprenticeship?
Absolutely — and this is where apprenticeships are most powerful. Around 70% of our learners are existing employees being upskilled into new responsibilities. The only requirements are that the apprentice must learn substantial new skills (not just formalise what they already know), be employed for at least 30 hours per week, and have the right to work in England.
What makes TESS different from other training providers?
Three things. First, every programme is bespoke — we design around your organisation's strategy, not a generic syllabus. Second, we embed up to 5 additional qualifications (CMI, ILM, BCS, Microsoft) at no extra cost — most providers include zero. Third, our trainers are industry practitioners, not academics. That's why we have a 4.9/5 rating across Google and Trustpilot from 450+ reviews.
Do you offer programmes outside of London and the South East?
Yes — we deliver across England. Our blended model means live sessions are available virtually or on-site at your premises. We currently work with organisations from Dorset to Durham, and our monthly start dates mean there's no waiting for cohort intakes. Whether you have 1 learner or 50, we'll make it work.
What happens at the End-Point Assessment (EPA)?
The EPA is an independent assessment at the end of the programme, conducted by an external assessment organisation (not TESS). The format varies by standard but typically includes a professional discussion, project presentation, and/or workplace observation. We prepare every learner with at least 3 full mock EPAs, gap analysis, and portfolio reviews — aiming for merit and distinction, not just a pass.
How quickly can we get started?
From first call to first workshop in as little as 4 weeks. We have monthly rolling starts across all programmes, so there's no waiting for a September or January intake. The typical process: discovery call (week 1), programme design and learner onboarding (weeks 2–3), first workshop (week 4). We handle all the DAS setup, contracts, and learner enrolment.
