AQA expands further into skills sector by buying Construction EPA Company

AQA is expanding into the vocational skills sector with the purchase of Construction EPA.

Construction EPA plays a vital role in checking that young people, independent of their training provider, are developing the skills they need to progress from apprenticeship to full-time work.

The Preston-based end point assessment provider, which was founded only five years ago by Samuel Riley, is focused on construction end point assessment. This is a highly promising sector in light of the Government's commitment to build more homes in coming years and expand apprenticeship opportunities, as well as the acute need for construction workers. It's estimated that the UK needs an additional 250,000 construction workers between now and 2028 to meet growing demand.

Construction EPA, which is the third largest construction end point assessment provider in the UK, assesses apprentices on standards to do with a wide range of construction skills including bricklaying, carpentry and plastering. It runs assessment centres in Chorley, Leeds and Stoke, and is looking to expand to other parts of England.

Construction EPA has now become an independent subsidiary under AQA - much like TQUK, which AQA bought in December 2022.

AQA CEO Colin Hughes said:

"I'm delighted to welcome the Construction EPA Company to our team. It's grown swiftly in a short period of time in part due to its all-inclusive pricing model, which means that it provides the venue, materials, assessors and equipment to assess apprentices.

"It neatly complements TQUK and is further evidence of our growing presence in this dynamic sector."

Construction EPA Company Chief Executive Officer Samuel Riley said:

“Our end point assessment offer is designed to ensure that apprentices complete their apprenticeship with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their chosen trade. We aim to provide a seamless assessment process that delivers high-quality results, helping apprentices and employers to achieve their goals.

“We are proud that our unique model has driven great growth in the past five years and are excited at the opportunities that joining AQA Group brings for future growth. With the UK’s construction output expected to grow by 2.4% between 2024-2028 and the expectation that we will need an additional 250,000 construction workers to meet demand, the possibilities are huge.

“We believe that, together with AQA, we can strongly support our Government to achieve its housebuilding and construction targets by closing the skills gap and supporting people into employment in our growing and rewarding sector.”