Quality Practitioner - Level 4 Apprenticeship (Starting between August 2026 and July 2027)

?A fully competent Quality Practitioner can work in a wide range of organisations (from multi-nationals to SMEs), including automotive, defence, food, pharmaceutical, nuclear, retail, financial services, logistics services, public sector and government. This occupation will also be found across the green economy.

The purpose of the occupation is to deploy effective Quality Practices in their responsible area to ensure organisations fulfil the contractual and regulatory requirements of their customers and other stakeholders.

This includes four main elements:

• Quality Planning (planning a delivery system for reliable outputs, such as implementing Quality Management Plans),
• Quality Assurance (providing confidence to stakeholders that Quality standards are maintained, such as conducting audits),
• Quality Control (verifying a product or service is meeting agreed specifications, such as carrying out inspections) and
• Continuous Improvement (preventing recurrence of poor quality through analysis and addressing the root cause of poor quality, such as conducting investigations).

This qualification is completed in the workplace and learners are required to demonstrate all evidence requirements, learning outcomes and assessment criteria through the production of an evidence-based portfolio.

Near the end of the Apprenticeship, the Learner will have to pass the End Point Assessment. An external body will assess the learner through a multiple-choice exam, project report and presentation and professional discussion. This will result in a Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction.

This apprenticeship standard is designed as a 14 month programme and is for apprentices who wish to gain the skills, knowledge and behavioural competences required to work in a quality role.

• ?
• Support Senior Quality Practitioner and Leaders to formulate Quality Strategy ?
• Contribute to the management of customer satisfaction and supplier performance ?
• Deploy Quality Policies and Governance ?
• Guide and support others to improve quality competency and performance ?
• Plan and Conduct Audits and other assurance activities ?
• Develop Quality Control Plans for products/services ?
• Provide guidance on use of methods/tools to improve quality performance ?
• Solving Quality problems, such as non-conformances, and overcoming challenges to the implementation of solutions ?
• Effective application of quality risk management and mitigation to drive new products/services development

You will be assessed against set Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours that have been developed by the industry throughout the programme. Your employer plays a large part in helping and supporting you becoming a competent Quality Practitioner.

Your final assessment known as End Point Assessment will take place at the end of your apprenticeship through the End Point Assessment Organisation: Advanced Analytics. This is a portfolio-based apprenticeship.

Multiple choice exam, project report and presentation and questioning, and professional discussion (underpinned by log) set in the apprentice’s workplace.

Currently working within a suitable role within this vocational area. Learners will find it useful to have access to:

• Standard office IT equipment to gather, analyse and present data
• Data analysis software
• A basic understanding of business improvement methods and principles