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 Sources · Spotted something out of date?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 | Solveway |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | AI & Automation Practitioner, Level 4 (ST1512 v2.1) | AI 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. | 12 months plus end-point assessment |
| Teaching | A live online workshop each month with the cohort, a skills coach, and Coachy, TESS’s AI tutor, available 24/7 between sessions. | Blended learning: live online workshops, expert coaching and workplace projects |
| AI tools | No coding. Copilot, Copilot Studio and Power Automate, plus Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Make and Zapier. | Low-code and no-code tools such as Make, Zapier and Microsoft Power Automate; no coding experience needed |
| 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 Level 4 qualification |
| 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. | No dates published. Existing staff can often start within a few weeks. |
| First conversation | A 30-minute employer call: funding route, who is eligible and your start date. | A 15-minute employer consultation |
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 | Solveway |
|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | Good overall and Good for apprenticeships (full inspection, June 2025) | Report card, November 2025: expected standard in all five areas, safeguarding met |
| GOV.UK employer reviews, 2025 to 2026 | Good (15 employers) | Excellent (11 employers) |
| GOV.UK apprentice reviews, 2025 to 2026 | Good (21 apprentices) | No rating: not enough apprentices have reviewed it |
| GOV.UK achievement rate, 2024 to 2025 | 65.6% (118 of 180) | 74.3% (74 of 100) |
| Apprentices completed since 2019 | 522 | 364 |
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 Solveway. Ofsted replaced single overall grades with report cards in November 2025. Inspections since then grade five areas on a five-point scale (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement), so a report card and an earlier overall grade are not on the same scale.
Where TESS is stronger
- Start dates published. Monthly inductions; the next is 26 Oct 2026.
- Built for teams. Private cohorts from six, with HR, marketing and finance editions, or one toolset: Copilot, Gemini or Claude.
- More included. BCS, Microsoft or Google, and NCFE qualifications as standard, with two more optional.
- Support between sessions. Coachy, TESS’s AI tutor, available 24/7, and Coachy Manager Mode for each apprentice’s line manager.
- A quick result. End-point assessment with NQual, with results in about five working days on average.
Where Solveway is stronger
- Employer rating. Excellent from 11 employers on GOV.UK in 2025 to 2026, against TESS’s Good from 15.
- Achievement. 74.3% in 2024 to 2025, against 65.6% at TESS, on a smaller group of 100 leavers.
- A short first step. A 15-minute employer consultation.
- A regional base. Based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, with some teaching face to face depending on the apprenticeship, according to Ofsted.
Which to choose
Choose TESS if
- You want a fixed start date and every session in the diary from day one
- You are training a team of six or more, or a function such as HR, marketing or finance
- You want extra qualifications included
- Your line managers need help backing the apprenticeship at work
Choose Solveway if
- You want a small provider and value its Excellent employer rating
- You are in or near Hertfordshire and want a local provider
- A short first conversation suits you better
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 Solveway deliver the same apprenticeship?
Yes. Both deliver the Level 4 AI and Automation Practitioner standard (ST1512), with no coding. The standard and the funding band are the same; the teaching, timetable, extras and support differ.
Is Solveway 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 Solveway’s and TESS’s Ofsted results compare?
Solveway’s November 2025 report card graded all five areas expected standard, with safeguarding met. TESS was graded Good in June 2025, under the earlier framework, so the two are on different scales.
Can we use Solveway and TESS together?
Yes. Each apprentice has one main provider, but an employer can use different providers for different people or programmes, for example Solveway for a small local group and TESS for a team that needs a private cohort or a function edition.
Sources
- Solveway: AI Apprenticeship for employers
- Ofsted: Solveway Limited (report card published 28 January 2026)
- GOV.UK Find apprenticeship training: Solveway 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.