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Senior People Professional
Level 7 (1.0)

The Senior People Professional Apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) Explained

As an Ofqual-recognised End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO), Elevate supports your Senior People Professional apprenticeship End Point Assessment (EPA) needs. We provide practical assistance and clear guidance to ensure apprentices are well-prepared for their EPA success. Explore the details of this assessment below, or contact us for more information.

The main purpose of the role of the Senior People Professional is to enhance people practices within organisations to boost performance and effectiveness. As experts in people, work, and change, Senior People Professionals advocate for the people agenda, fostering work environments and cultures that maximise employee potential and achieve excellent organisational outcomes. They may also lead initiatives to transition the workforce towards sustainable, ethical, or net-zero carbon models to address climate change.

In their daily work, Senior People Professionals interact with various stakeholders within their organisation, creating value over the medium to long term. In larger organisations, they may work as part of a specialised team or lead a group of HR, L&D, or OD consultants and advisers. In smaller organisations, they might handle the entire people agenda independently and report directly to the organisational leader. They serve as ambassadors, maintaining broad networks and engaging with numerous internal and external senior stakeholders.

Senior People Professionals are responsible for using their expertise to design, implement, and evaluate people policies and practices that align with organisational needs. They lead people projects or play key roles in broader organisational programmes, managing their work with high autonomy. Staying up to date with legislation, regulations, and industry trends is essential, as is fostering strong relationships with senior stakeholders to drive people initiatives. They may also analyse workforce trends and develop strategies for transitioning staff into new economic sectors, such as the green economy.

These professionals might specialise in Human Resources (HR), Learning and Development (L&D), or Organisation Development (OD). The Apprenticeship Occupational Standard requires all apprentices to complete core training and select the most relevant specialisation for their role.

Professional Recognition: This apprenticeship is designed to prepare successful apprentices to meet the requirements for registration as a Chartered Member with Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD).

Timeline: The Senior People Professional Apprenticeship will typically take 36 months to complete with the end point assessment undertaken in the final 4 months of the apprenticeship.

For additional information about this apprenticeship, EPA check out the Senior People Professional apprenticeship End Point Assessment Plan

Assessment methods

Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio

The assessment takes the form of a professional discussion, where you and the independent assessor engage in a two-way conversation. This allows you to demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) mapped to this method, including the core KSBs and the specific option you’ve chosen, such as Organisational Development, Learning & Development, or Human Resources.

You will receive 3 weeks’ notice before the discussion, and the independent assessor will have 3 weeks to review your portfolio. The discussion will last 120 minutes, with an additional 10% of time available if needed to complete your responses. Further time can also be given for apprentices with specific needs, in line with the EPAO's Reasonable Adjustments policy.

During the discussion, the independent assessor will ask at least 10 questions, using a question bank as a guide but tailoring them to suit your answers. Both you and the assessor will have access to your portfolio throughout the discussion, though the portfolio itself is not directly graded.

Project proposal with presentation and questioning

The assessment consists of two components: a project proposal and a presentation with questioning. Both components are designed to help you demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and behaviors (KSBs) in a real-world business context.

For the project proposal, you will create a detailed plan that has a clear business benefit. The proposal should reflect your ability to tackle a relevant workplace challenge or opportunity, such as improving a people solution, reviewing a process, or planning a strategic project. It must be approved by the EPAO at the gateway, ensuring it meets the KSB requirements. The project does not need to be fully implemented during the EPA period but should be comprehensive enough to be fully implemented later.

Your project proposal should be 7,000 words (+/- 10%), including an executive summary, project scope, objectives, implementation plan, and recommendations. It must also include evidence of senior leader sign-off for implementation. You will have 12 weeks to prepare and submit the proposal after the EPAO approves its scope and title.

Once the project proposal is complete, you will prepare and deliver a presentation based on your proposal, followed by questioning from the independent assessor. This part of the assessment will allow you to further demonstrate your understanding and depth of knowledge related to the project. The presentation and your responses to the questions will be assessed holistically alongside the project proposal.

Both components are critical for your assessment and work together to provide a well-rounded evaluation of your competence.

What's the process for EPA?

Gateway

What does Gateway mean?

Gateway is a crucial stage that marks the transition from the on-program learning phase of an apprenticeship to the final assessment phase. It is the point where both the employer and the training provider agree that the apprentice has acquired the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) outlined in their apprenticeship standard and is ready to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). Gateway is essentially a readiness check, ensuring that the apprentice is prepared and has met all the prerequisites, such as achieving required qualifications, completing mandatory training and demonstrating competency in their role. This step is vital for setting up the apprentice for success in their final assessments.

To be all set for the EPA, Senior People Professional apprentices need to meet these requirements:

Have achieved a minimum of Level 2 English and maths. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the apprenticeship English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification are an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.

Completed all workplace learning and off-the-job training as evidence of the potential to demonstrate professional competence in relation to the required knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) of the standard. The apprentice should only be recommended for EPA when the employer is confident that the apprentice is occupationally competent and ready to undertake EPA.

For the Professional Discussion underpinned by a Portfolio of Evidence, the apprentice will be required to submit a completed Portfolio of Evidence.

Fully remote and accessible

With Elevate, apprentices complete their End Point Assessment (EPA) for the Senior People Professional Apprenticeship remotely. This flexibility allows apprentices to choose convenient scheduling options, whether during regular office hours or outside them. By providing a remote EPA, Elevate ensures that apprentices have the convenience and flexibility they need to succeed.

Information, advice and guidance

We provide comprehensive Guidance and Information Handbooks for the Senior People Professional Apprenticeship, ensuring apprentices are fully informed and prepared. Additionally, our onboarding sessions for training providers cover all aspects of the End Point Assessment (EPA) process, including timelines and best practices. To further support apprentices, employers and providers, we offer a detailed Information, Advice and Guidance video, which includes a section on our 'Hot Tips', to help navigate every step of the apprenticeship journey.

Clear prices, no surprises

Our prices reflect our maximum charge for the standard EPA (excluding reassessments) and are always fair and competitive, ensuring fees remain below the maximum 20% of the total apprenticeship cost. We believe in transparent pricing to support accessibility for all employers and training providers.

Our pricing structure includes a pre-EPA fee, charged during the contracting phase, to secure support materials and assessment booking. The remaining balance is charged upon Gateway entry and EPA booking. We cater to all group sizes and offer a flexible approach to pricing, with tailored options available for larger groups.

In line with regulatory guidelines, we’re open to discussing tailored pricing options to meet your specific needs. Please get in touch to explore how we can work together.

Browse our online guide to understand the distinction between a re-sit and a retake. For additional details, reach out to our team today. Please note VAT is charged for a re-sit and a re-take as these fees are not covered by the apprenticeship funding..

Here's what your investment brings

A flexible and highly responsive service
Comprehensive support for apprentices, providers, and employers across all the standards we assess. This includes employer EPA onboarding and scheduling meetings, standard-specific apprentice Information and Guidance Handbooks, a flexible booking system and Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) videos.
All apprentices receive performance feedback within 25 working days of assessment. Detailed feedback reports provided to apprentices.