LDN Apprenticeships is an Ofsted Outstanding-rated training provider offering digital and business-focused apprenticeships from Level 3 to Level 7. With a mission to
accelerate careers and create new opportunities across competitive industries, they’ve helped learners of all backgrounds achieve success – including in publishing, where they’ve truly paved the way.
“We deliver nine apprenticeship programmes, and one of them – the Level 4 Publishing Professional – is a particularly unique offer,” explains Howard Trent, Head of Digital Programmes at LDN Apprenticeships. “We were the first to deliver a publishing apprenticeship six years ago and we’re still the only training provider offering this unique route into the industry.
“In short, the programme has made a major impact and been a great success, and AIM have supported us all the way with our end-point assessments.”
Here’s the full story:
Launching a brand-new programme in a highly competitive industry brought both opportunity and responsibility. LDN knew they needed a strong, reliable End-point
Assessment Organisation (EPAO) to make it work.
“We were leading the way and it was crucial we got it right,” says Howard.
“The publishing industry can be tough to break into, so we built this programme in partnership with the Publishers Association to provide opportunities to more diverse talent. It was important to work with an EPAO capable of launching an entirely new standard.”
After speaking with other EPAOs, AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group stood out as the right choice. “We evaluated organisations not just on cost, but also on service level, turnaround times, communication, reputation – the whole picture. AIM ticked all the right boxes from the outset.”
From the start, the process of integrating AIM into LDN’s delivery model was seamless. As Howard describes it: “The onboarding was very smooth. At the beginning, AIM ran a session with our learners to help them feel more comfortable with the EPA process, which was valuable.
“The relationship from there has gone from strength to strength. The support we get from the team is excellent; they’re friendly, responsive, and helpful. We’ve been really pleased with the resources and guidance they’ve provided us and our learners.”
One standout aspect of the partnership has been AIM’s openness to feedback and collaboration. “We’re working with them right now on new infographics for our learners, and they proactively asked us what would be helpful, which says a lot about how much they value good learning design.
“Our main contact, Lizzy Potter, is fabulous. She’s always quick to respond, always has a solution, and handles issues with calm and care. That kind of support is invaluable.”
“We work with a wide range of learners with different needs,” Howard explains.
“One of the great things about AIM is their ability to accommodate our diverse learner base while maintaining fairness and rigour. They’re impartial and consistent, but always human.”
AIM assessors were also praised for their professional and supportive approach. “The feedback from learners has been really positive. The assessors are friendly and knowledgeable – they help people feel at ease, which isn’t always the case with assessments like this.”
LDN Apprenticeships has now successfully supported hundreds of people into the publishing industry through their apprenticeship. “The results have been outstanding, and really reflect the strength of our partnership with AIM. Ultimately, it’s their understanding of the learner experience that makes them such an effective EPAO.”
LDN’s commitment to the publishing programme – and AIM’s role in supporting it – has helped unlock success for learners and employers alike.
“One of our learners, Bryony Brain at Dorling Kindersley, won Apprentice of the Year at the 2024 AIM Awards, which we’re incredibly proud of.”
“Another AIM award went to our employer partner, Pan Macmillan. It’s just great to see the impact this programme is having.”
Howard Trent concludes, “AIM is a solid choice. They’re growing their range of standards all the time, and from our experience, they absolutely deliver. We
would certainly recommend them.”
Read more about AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group and how they can support your organisation with EPA here
To learn more about LDN Apprenticeships and their range of programmes, please visit https://www.ldnapprenticeships.com/
