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 Sources · Spotted something out of date?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 | QA |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | AI & Automation Practitioner, Level 4 (ST1512 v2.1) | AI & Automation Specialist Level 4, 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. | 13 months, with 12 months of modules |
| Teaching | A live online workshop each month with the cohort, a skills coach, and Coachy, TESS’s AI tutor, available 24/7 between sessions. | 16 days of live instructor-led sessions, live and online workshops, self-paced learning, and a Digital Learning Consultant for coaching |
| AI tools | No coding. Copilot, Copilot Studio and Power Automate, plus Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Make and Zapier. | Pathways across Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI ChatGPT, Anthropic Claude and Google Gemini, with low-code options including Python |
| 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. | Optional AI Business Professional or AI Transformation Leader certification |
| 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. | Not published on its page |
| 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 | QA |
|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | Good overall and Good for apprenticeships (full inspection, June 2025) | Good overall and Good for apprenticeships (full inspection, June 2025) |
| GOV.UK employer reviews, 2025 to 2026 | Good (15 employers) | Good (248 employers) |
| GOV.UK apprentice reviews, 2025 to 2026 | Good (21 apprentices) | Good (282 apprentices) |
| GOV.UK achievement rate, 2024 to 2025 | 65.6% (118 of 180) | 68.2% (2,905 of 4,260) |
| Apprentices completed since 2019 | 522 | 17,609 |
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 QA.
Where TESS is stronger
- Start dates you can plan around. TESS inducts every month and publishes the dates; the next is 26 Oct 2026. QA’s page does not list dates.
- Built for teams. Private cohorts from six, and editions rebuilt around HR, marketing or finance work, or taught through one toolset.
- More included. Three extra qualifications as standard (BCS, Microsoft or Google, NCFE) and up to five, against QA’s optional certification.
- Line managers brought in. Sessions are in the diary from day one, and each apprentice’s manager gets Coachy Manager Mode.
- A quick result. NQual’s average is five working days from assessment to result.
Where QA is stronger
- Scale and track record. 17,609 apprentices completed since 2019 and 248 employer reviews on GOV.UK, against TESS’s 522 and 15.
- A slightly higher achievement rate. 68.2% in 2024 to 2025, against 65.6% at TESS.
- Live teaching stated up front. 16 days of instructor-led sessions.
- A wide technical catalogue. AI Engineer Level 6, Data Analyst Level 4, cloud, cyber security and software apprenticeships, if you are building technical teams as well.
Which to choose
Choose TESS if
- You want a fixed start date this quarter and every session in the diary from day one
- You are training a team of six or more, or a whole function such as HR, marketing or finance
- Your line managers need help backing the apprenticeship at work
- You want recognised extra qualifications included
Choose QA if
- You want one supplier for technical apprenticeships too: AI engineering, data, cloud, cyber or software
- A long GOV.UK review record matters most to your procurement team
- You want 16 days of live instructor-led sessions stated in advance
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 QA deliver the same apprenticeship?
Yes. Both deliver the Level 4 AI and Automation Practitioner standard (ST1512). QA calls its version AI & Automation Specialist Level 4. The standard and the funding band are the same; the teaching, timetable, extras and support differ.
Is QA 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.
How do QA’s and TESS’s Ofsted results compare?
Both had full inspections in June 2025, and both were graded Good overall and Good for apprenticeships.
Can we use QA and TESS together?
Yes. Each apprentice has one main provider, but an employer can use different providers for different people or programmes, for example QA for technical apprenticeships and TESS for AI and automation across business teams.
Sources
- QA: AI & Automation Specialist Level 4 Apprenticeship
- Ofsted: QA Limited
- GOV.UK Find apprenticeship training: QA 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.