EMPLOYER PARTNER★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"They have done nothing but impress me."
EP
Employer Partnermatrix Standard interview · 2025
Testimonials gathered by an independent government assessor during our matrix Standard accreditation in January 2025, alongside reviews from employers and learners on Google and Trustpilot.
We work with organisations of every size, from FTSE 100 companies to local government, the NHS, and fast-growth SMEs. Five of the partnerships we're proudest of.
“Kirstie really took her time and tailored the entire session to what we needed, with lots of added touches that made the difference.” A hands-on Gemini for Business session for the Wild team.
A tailored Microsoft Copilot for Business workshop took Colart's HR team from access to capability: structured prompting, four repeatable techniques, agents, and responsible-AI guardrails, facilitated by Kirstie Kavanagh.
Jade's driver-app improvement project saved DPD £90,000. Harrison's operational project saves £50,000 a year. Both delivered through fully levy-funded apprenticeships with TESS Group, Improvement Specialist L5, Operations Manager L5, and the AI Leadership Pathway.
Ashton combined AI tooling, project management methodology and improvement frameworks to deliver his end-point project £8,000 under budget and 10% above growth target. Funded entirely through the apprenticeship levy.
A Birmingham-based education charity's finance, comms and operations teams left our one-day AI short course and immediately started streamlining their PO process, drafting wellbeing articles faster, and using AI as a critical eye on their everyday work.
TESS delivers the CMI Level 6 Award in Professional Coach Supervision and CMI Level 7 Diploma in Coaching to senior staff at EDF, alongside bespoke half-day remote coaching sessions tailored to operational leadership. An approved supplier through EDF's BE Vendors portal.
TESS Group is a Police CPI-endorsed CSAS/RSAS training provider, delivering Community Safety Accreditation Scheme and Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme training to TfL, covering police powers, operational protocols, and the refresher updates that keep the qualification current as TfL's roles evolve. Established at TESS by Neil Richards; continuing under our specialist training team.
During our January 2025 matrix Standard accreditation, assessor Kathy Leahy interviewed 9 staff, 9 learners and 3 employer partners. These are the things they said, unedited and unscripted.
"They have done nothing but impress me."
"They are small enough to care, but big enough to be on it."
"They understand that apprenticeships are meant to be employer-led."
"They listened to our needs, they have built a relationship with us."
"I feel really comfortable speaking with my Skills Coach."
"It's a personalised approach, my coach genuinely wants me to achieve."
"My Skills Coach is fantastic, so supportive."
"I know they are there to provide support whenever I need it."
"It's a family-orientated company, you are not a number, you are a person."
"Communication is really open, senior managers are very accessible."
"They practice what they preach, it's refreshing."
"We are learner-focussed, we are able to focus on learners' needs."
Assessment result: Standard Met, accreditation maintained through January 2028. The assessor noted that partners were "effusive in their praise" and described the relationship as a genuine partnership where concerns are addressed swiftly.
Assessed by Kathy Leahy · 9 staff, 9 learners, 3 partner interviews
Six quick clips from live TESS AI training — practical tips, governance thinking and the skills your team needs next.
Every clip under 45 seconds · plays on click
30-minute discovery call. No deck, no pitch. Just a frank conversation about what your team needs and whether we're the right partner to deliver it.