Checked 4 October 2026 against each provider’s own page, Ofsted and GOV.UK. Sources · Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
The programme side by side
| Topic | TESS | BPP |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | AI & Automation Practitioner, Level 4 (ST1512 v2.1) | Level 4 AI Automation Specialist Apprenticeship, on the same standard |
| Length | 12 months of training, then a 3-month end-point assessment window. An 8-month fast-track is also available. | 15 months |
| Teaching | A live online workshop each month with the cohort, a skills coach, and Coachy, TESS’s AI tutor, available 24/7 between sessions. | Online live teaching and performance coaching, guided self-study and work-based projects |
| Support | A skills coach, Coachy available 24/7, and Coachy Manager Mode for each apprentice’s line manager. | A team that includes educational psychologists, career mentors, performance coaches and mental health specialists |
| Extra qualifications | Three included: BCS Foundation Certificate in AI, Microsoft AI Business Professional (AB-730) or Google AI Essentials, and NCFE AI Prompt Mastery. NCFE Data Analysis and NCFE Cyber Security are optional. | None listed on its page beyond the apprenticeship |
| End-point assessment | NQual, an Ofqual-recognised assessment organisation. Results in about five working days on average. | Assessment organisation not named on its page |
| Start dates | Monthly inductions, online. Next: 26 Oct 2026. | Five intakes a year: March, May, July, September and November. Applications close six weeks before each start. |
| Private cohort for your team | From six learners, with HR, marketing and finance editions, or one toolset: Copilot, Gemini or Claude. | Not described on its programme page |
Cost is the same with either provider. The funding band for this apprenticeship is £18,000. Levy payers pay from their levy. Employers who do not pay the levy pay 5% (£900) for apprentices aged 25 and over, and nothing for apprentices aged 16 to 24. How 2026 funding works.
Official ratings
| Topic | TESS | BPP |
|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | Good overall and Good for apprenticeships (full inspection, June 2025) | Good overall and Good for apprenticeships (full inspection, March 2022) |
| GOV.UK employer reviews, 2025 to 2026 | Good (15 employers) | Good (373 employers) |
| GOV.UK apprentice reviews, 2025 to 2026 | Good (21 apprentices) | Good (327 apprentices) |
| GOV.UK achievement rate, 2024 to 2025 | 65.6% (118 of 180) | 58.6% (3,405 of 5,810) |
| Apprentices completed since 2019 | 522 | 16,287 |
GOV.UK figures cover every apprenticeship each provider delivers, not this one alone: the AI & Automation Practitioner standard is too new for anyone’s results. National achievement rate for 2024 to 2025: 65.4%. TESS’s own figure: 72% of its apprentices achieved a distinction at end-point assessment across all the standards it delivers (2024 to 2026). GOV.UK does not publish distinction rates, so there is no matching figure for BPP.
Where TESS is stronger
- Start any month. The next induction is 26 Oct 2026. BPP runs five intakes a year with a six-week application deadline.
- A higher achievement rate. 65.6% in 2024 to 2025, against 58.6% at BPP and 65.4% nationally.
- A more recent inspection. Ofsted Good in June 2025. BPP’s last full inspection was in March 2022, also Good.
- More included. BCS, Microsoft or Google, and NCFE qualifications as standard, with two more optional.
- Built for teams. Private cohorts from six, editions for HR, marketing and finance, and Coachy Manager Mode for line managers.
Where BPP is stronger
- Scale and track record. 16,287 apprentices completed since 2019 and 373 employer reviews on GOV.UK, against TESS’s 522 and 15.
- A large support team. Educational psychologists, career mentors and mental health specialists alongside performance coaches.
- Fixed intakes. Five set start months and a clear application deadline, which suits annual planning.
- One provider for professional routes. BPP also trains in law, accountancy and HR, if you want one supplier for those apprenticeships too.
Which to choose
Choose TESS if
- You want to start this quarter, or any month, rather than wait for an intake
- You are training a team of six or more, or a function such as HR, marketing or finance
- You want extra qualifications included and a fast end-point assessment result
- Your line managers need help backing the apprenticeship at work
Choose BPP if
- You already use BPP for law, accountancy or other professional apprenticeships and want one supplier
- Fixed intakes fit your planning cycle
- A large in-house support team is a priority for your apprentices
Questions to ask both providers
- When are your next start dates, and when do we need to commit?
- Which end-point assessment organisation do you use, and how long do results take?
- Which extra qualifications are included, and who pays the exam fees?
- What do you ask of line managers, and what do you give them to help?
- What are your GOV.UK achievement rate and review scores this year?
- Can you run a private cohort for our team, and from how many people?
Book a 30-minute employer call
We will check eligibility and funding, show you the next start dates, and say so plainly if another provider is the better fit.
Book an employer callFrequently asked questions
Do TESS and BPP deliver the same apprenticeship?
Yes. Both deliver the Level 4 AI and Automation Practitioner standard (ST1512). BPP calls its version the Level 4 AI Automation Specialist Apprenticeship. The standard and the funding band are the same; the length, intakes, extras and support differ.
Is BPP cheaper than TESS?
No. The funding band for this apprenticeship is £18,000 with either provider. Levy payers pay from their levy. Employers who do not pay the levy pay 5% (£900) for apprentices aged 25 and over, and nothing for apprentices aged 16 to 24. What differs is the teaching, the timetable, what is included and the support around it.
Which provider can start sooner?
TESS runs monthly inductions online; the next is 26 Oct 2026. BPP’s intakes run in March, May, July, September and November, with applications closing six weeks before each start.
How do BPP’s and TESS’s Ofsted results compare?
Both were graded Good overall and Good for apprenticeships. TESS’s inspection was in June 2025 and BPP’s in March 2022.
Sources
- BPP: Level 4 AI Automation Specialist Apprenticeship
- Ofsted: BPP Professional Education Limited
- GOV.UK Find apprenticeship training: BPP Professional Education Limited
- Ofsted: The Tess Group
- GOV.UK Find apprenticeship training: Training Event Safety Solutions Ltd (TESS)
- GOV.UK: training providers for the AI and automation practitioner (level 4)
- TESS: AI & Automation Practitioner Level 4
All checked on 4 October 2026. Providers change their programmes, so confirm the latest with each provider before you sign.