NQual Wins Team of the Year at the FAB Awards 2025

This week, at one of the most significant events in the awarding and skills sector calendar, NQual was honoured with the 'Team of the Year' award at the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) 2025 Excellence Awards.

Standing among some of the most respected organisations in the industry, our team was recognised for exceptional achievement, innovation, impact, and the unwavering commitment that has shaped who we are today.

The Judges commented that,

"They have excelled in a highly competitive market, with the NQual’s EPA team really standing out for how well they work together and the genuine impact they have made. Showing a clear commitment to continuous improvement, with a strong focus on professional development that directly benefits their performance and reputation."

For a small but ambitious Awarding Organisation, this recognition is far more than a trophy—it is a powerful acknowledgement of the belief, determination and shared values embraced by every member of the NQual team. It is also a celebration we proudly share with our customers, apprentices, partners, and staff who contribute daily to the values and purpose that define our work.

Alongside our win, we were also shortlisted finalists for three other significant categories:

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'Customer Service Excellence Award'

'End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) of the Year – SME (up to 50 employees)'

'Rising Star Award' for Sophie Grand

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This set of nominations, combined with the overall Team of the Year win, reflects the impact our work is having across the sector and highlights the consistent professionalism delivered by our colleagues across departments.

This blog looks back at what this award means, why our team was recognised above others, and how our culture, innovation, and commitment to excellence have shaped our success.

A Year of Outstanding Achievement

The Team of the Year award recognises organisations that deliver beyond expectation, exceed performance milestones, and demonstrate outstanding success in their field. For NQual, this has been a year defined by growth, transformation and steadfast dedication to the apprentices and providers we serve.

Over the past 12 months we have:

• Certificated more than 2,500 learners, maintaining an exceptional 98% pass rate and a 58% distinction rate

• Launched 14 updated standard versions, ensuring our offer remains current, high quality and aligned with employer expectations

• Increased our provider base by more than 30%, with many partners extending into additional standards following positive first experiences

• Maintained booking and Gateway confirmation times (on average under four hours), making us one of the most responsive EPAOs in the sector

  
  

Behind each figure sits shared commitment, precision in delivery and the belief that exceptional assessment relies not only on expertise, but on the support structure that surrounds it.

Performance at this level is not the work of one person or one department—it is the combined strength of assessors, IQAs, EPA Managers, administrators, operations colleagues and leadership working together with absolute clarity of purpose.

Collaboration at the Heart of Everything We Do

One of the core reasons NQual secured the Team of the Year Award is the culture of collaboration that underpins the entire organisation. In a sector where quick decisions, clarity, and accuracy have profound consequences for learners and providers, the strength of internal teamwork is essential.

Across the business, collaboration is deliberate and structured:

• Monthly full-team meetings keep strategic goals, operational challenges and quality updates visible to everyone

• Daily communication channels, including shared Microsoft Teams spaces and task boards, ensure full transparency of workloads and priorities

• Cross-departmental working allows staff to support each other during periods of high demand

• Peer support groups, particularly for assessors working on complex cases, affirm decision-making, fairness and standardisation

• Ringfenced diary time ensures assessment delivery is protected, even during pinch points

Far from operating in silos, the NQual team functions as one cohesive unit. Administrative staff regularly support academic teams with pre-EPA checks; EPA Managers collaborate directly with assessors to translate feedback into action; and the operations and quality teams ensure that processes remain both compliant and highly efficient.

Innovation and Problem-Solving in a Changing Sector

The EPA landscape is evolving at a pace not seen since its introduction—funding changes, assessment plan reforms, capacity pressures, and shifting employer expectations all shape the work we do.

This year, NQual has not only adapted to these challenges but has used them as catalysts for innovation.

Key developments include:

• A quality control step for new assessors, reducing IQA workload while protecting consistency and reliability

• The Apprenticeship Readiness Webinar, which supports apprentices unfamiliar with virtual platforms or those lacking confidence

• AI-assisted drafting tools, used internally to strengthen feedback, enhance clarity and promote consistency

• Revision materials and guidance sheets to support tutors and apprentices in preparation phases

• The Coaching Link, connecting apprentices to volunteering coachees, particularly beneficial for learners undertaking standards requiring real-world coaching hours

• Strategic workforce planning, including the recruitment of 13 new full-time assessors and contracting additional independent assessors during high-demand periods

Innovation at NQual is never about technology for its own sake—it is about creating meaningful improvements that reduce barriers, increase confidence and enhance the apprentice experience.

This commitment to continuous improvement is crucial to our future growth and was instrumental in our shortlist for EPAO of the Year.

Impact That Reaches Beyond Assessment

Winning Team of the Year required demonstrating clear evidence of impact—impact that benefits not just the organisation itself, but the wider community of providers, employers, and learners.

NQual’s team impacts outcomes in several important ways:

• Reducing withdrawals through early intervention and proactive communication

• Boosting apprentice confidence via webinars, one-to-one guidance and clear pre-assessment support

• Improving learning delivery by sharing feedback with providers to inform future curriculum planning

• Strengthening sector capability through external speaking engagements, conferences and provider training.

  
  

Celebrating Our Rising Star: Sophie Grand

Among our short-listings, one stands out with special pride: the 'Rising Star Award' nomination for Sophie Grand.

Sophie’s journey from Assessor to EPA Manager reflects what is possible in an environment that encourages ambition, nurtures potential, and celebrates growth. Her nomination represents not only her talent and work ethic but also the culture of development that runs through the organisation.

We’re proud of her achievements and even prouder to have her as part of the NQual story.

Our I.M.P.A.C.T. Values in Action

Perhaps the strongest thread running through our award win is the way our team embodies our I.M.P.A.C.T. values:

• Innovation

• Maximisation

• Passion

• Accountability

• Collaboration

• Trustworthiness

These values are not printed for show—they shape how we work with one another, how we support providers, and how we help apprentices succeed at the end of their journey.

Every member of the team demonstrates these values in ways that are both authentic and visible. Whether through compassionate communication with a nervous apprentice, the precision of an assessment decision, or the creativity behind new support materials, the

NQual team brings professionalism with genuine care.

A Team Truly Deserving of Team of the Year

This award is more than a moment—it is a reflection of consistency, unity, and dedication across an entire year of hard work.

It belongs to every colleague who has:

• gone the extra mile for a provider,

• reassured an anxious apprentice,

• solved a problem with creativity,

• stepped in to support a teammate,

• delivered an assessment with fairness and care,

• or represented NQual with integrity and pride.

Our win at the FAB Awards affirms what we already knew: we are a team that makes a difference.

A team that listens, adapts, grows and delivers. A team that collaborates naturally and innovates purposefully. A team that brings impact—not by accident, but by design.

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and remain committed to raising the bar even further as we move into the next phase of our journey.

To our staff, providers, employers, apprentices and supporters—thank you. This award is shared with all of you.

Here’s to an even brighter year ahead.