At Good2Go Awards, we believe that understanding the needs of our customers is key to providing exceptional service. We work closely with many training providers and employers to better understand their challenges and tailor our services to meet their expectations. One of the most significant issues we’ve identified is the financial burden that upfront payments for End Point Assessments (EPAs) can place on training providers and colleges. We’ve developed a solution that not only removes this burden but also helps ensure better cash flow for our clients.

The Problem with Upfront Payments

Many End Point Assessment Organizations (EPAOs) require upfront payments before the EPA is conducted. This money is taken from the training provider’s On Program Payments and is often not recoverable until well after the assessment has been completed and reported back to the Department for Education (DfE). This delay can severely impact the cash flow of training providers, leaving cohorts with financial gaps that can take months to recover from.

Worse yet, if an apprentice withdraws before the EPA takes place, any deposit paid is often non-refundable. This results in a financial loss for the training provider or college, making upfront payments a risky and costly practice.

Good2Go Awards’ Solution: Invoicing After the EPA

At Good2Go Awards, we take a different approach. We charge just one fee, and it’s only invoiced after the EPA has taken place. This means no upfront deposits, no financial risk if an apprentice withdraws, and no impact on your cash flow while waiting for the completion payment from the DfE.

This system gives training providers the opportunity to secure the 20% completion payment from the DfE before our invoice becomes due, easing financial pressure and allowing for better planning and resource allocation.

No Hidden Fees for Pathway Changes or Appeals

We know how dynamic apprenticeship programs can be, which is why we don’t charge any administration fees for changes to apprenticeship pathways. If your apprentice needs to switch pathways, we accommodate that without adding extra costs. Similarly, if there is a need to appeal an assessment result, we handle that thoroughly without charging you for the appeal process.

Flexible and Fair Cancellation Policy

Our cancellation policy is designed to give you flexibility. If you need to change the date of an EPA, you can do so up to 48 hours before the assessment with no cost at all. After that, we charge only for the Assessor’s time. If the EPA is cancelled on the day of the assessment and the Assessor is already on site, we will also charge for mileage in addition to their time. This approach ensures fairness while covering the necessary costs involved.

Cost-Effective and Fair Pricing

We are proud to offer a cost-effective service based on our actual costs, rather than adjusting our prices to match the apprenticeship funding bands. While some EPAOs raise their fees when the funding bands increase, we don’t. A clear example of this is the Engineering Operative apprenticeship. When the funding was increased from £6,000 to £10,000, many EPAOs hiked their prices—but we didn’t. Our prices remain fair, ensuring that training providers keep more funds available to enrich the apprenticeship experience.

A Win for Apprentices, Employers, and Training Providers

By keeping our pricing fair and avoiding the need for upfront payments, Good2Go Awards ensures that more of your budget can be invested in delivering high-quality training. This benefits everyone: apprentices enjoy a more enriched learning experience, employers receive better-prepared employees, and training providers can operate without the financial strain of upfront, non-refundable deposits.

At Good2Go Awards, we’ve designed our payment structure with your needs in mind. By offering a transparent, post-EPA invoicing system, no-fee pathway changes, and a fair cancellation policy, we remove the financial risks associated with upfront deposits and provide a cost-effective solution that supports both the apprenticeship journey and your organization’s financial health.