The UK's leading specialist AI apprenticeship provider, by the numbers
The proof, in figures you can check. Every headline statistic about The TESS Group, sourced, explained in plain English, and kept current.
(UK average 33%)
The result that matters most
An apprenticeship is only worth as much as the outcome at the end. Here is ours, next to the national picture.
Outcomes and quality, at a glance
The headline outcome figures, independently verified by our End-Point Assessment partners and refreshed quarterly.
| Metric | Figure | Source / context |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction rate at EPA | 72% | Against a UK average of around 33%. Verified by EPA partners, refreshed quarterly. |
| Overall pass rate at EPA | 98% | Independently verified by EPA partners. |
| Ofsted rating | Good | Ofsted inspection, Good across all headline judgement areas. |
| Average review score | 4.9 / 5 | 697+ reviews: 453 on Google, 237 on Trustpilot. |
| Provider status | Skills England approved | Formerly RoATP. Mandatory from 2026 to deliver levy-funded training; TESS already holds it. |
Scale and reach
The breadth of TESS delivery across UK employers and learners since 2009.
A few of the 200+ UK employers who have trained teams with TESS, from the FTSE 100 to the NHS to four-person SMEs.
Talk to us about running this with your team →What the numbers feel like in practice
Outcomes from teams at the companies you know.
"This project increased visibility of performance reporting, stakeholder communication and accuracy. It enabled proactive management of peak volumes and faster responses."
"DPD have had good results with the TESS Group and have applied their courses to multiple apprenticeships. I'd 100% recommend them to anyone who wants to do an apprenticeship."
"I found the course useful and informative and have already used AI in helping us as a finance team look at ways we can streamline processes. The prompt framework was really useful."
Accreditations and partnerships
The bodies that recognise TESS as an accredited centre and chartered partner.
Funding and cost
How TESS programmes are funded for UK employers. For most organisations, the training itself costs nothing extra.
| Item | Figure | Source / context |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to levy payers | £0 additional | Drawn from your existing apprenticeship levy account. |
| SME / non-levy | Up to 100% funded | Government covers up to 100% of training costs under the Growth & Skills Levy. |
| Funding bands | £4,000 to £22,000 | Published Skills England bands, depending on programme. |
| AI Leadership Units | £750 per unit | Level 5, 30 guided learning hours each, no End-Point Assessment. |
| Levy expiry | 12 months | Unused apprenticeship levy expires after 12 months, so plan early. |
Plain-English glossary
The apprenticeship world is full of acronyms. Here is what the ones on this page actually mean.
- EPA (End-Point Assessment)
- The final, independent assessment at the end of an apprenticeship. It confirms the apprentice has met the national standard. A "distinction" is the top grade.
- The apprenticeship levy
- A fund that UK employers with an annual pay bill over £3m pay into. You can spend it on approved training, including AI apprenticeships, for your own staff.
- Growth & Skills Levy
- The 2026 evolution of the apprenticeship levy. As well as full apprenticeships, it funds shorter, modular courses such as our Level 5 AI Leadership Units.
- Skills England approved (formerly RoATP)
- The government's approved list of training providers. From 2026 a provider must be on it to deliver levy-funded training. TESS already is.
- Ofsted Good
- Ofsted is the government's education inspectorate. "Good" is its rating for high-quality provision, awarded to TESS across all headline areas.
Common questions
What is the TESS Group distinction rate?
72% of TESS apprentices pass at distinction at End-Point Assessment, against a UK average of around 33%. The overall pass rate is 98%. Both figures are independently verified by our EPA partners and refreshed quarterly.
Is the TESS Group Ofsted rated?
Yes. The TESS Group is rated Ofsted Good across all headline areas and is a Skills England approved provider (formerly RoATP). From 2026, Skills England approval is mandatory to deliver levy-funded training, and TESS already holds it.
How many reviews does the TESS Group have?
The TESS Group is rated 4.9 out of 5 from more than 697 verified reviews, made up of 457 reviews on Google and 237 on Trustpilot.
How many learners and employers has TESS worked with?
TESS has trained more than 10,000 learners across 200+ UK employer partners, including NHS England, Papa John's, DPD, EDF, the Financial Times, Transport for London, Dorset Council and the University of Kent.
Want these figures for your business case?
Book a 25-minute discovery call and we will map the right levy-funded programmes for your teams, with the outcome data by sector and honest funding advice.
Last updated: 15 June 2026 · The TESS Group (Training Event Safety Solutions Ltd), Northampton