Welcome to the September edition of Innovate's updates. Here you will find everything you need to know this month across our Qualifications and Apprenticeship services.
Reminder: Apprenticeship Reform FAQs
In August, we updated the document 'Apprenticeship Reform FAQs' to Version 3. If you haven't had a look at this document yet, you can find it in the support materials section on Proficient, and contains lots of helpful information about reform. If there is anything you would like to speak to us about in more detail please get in touch at hello@innovateawarding.org or talk to your usual point of contact.
New and Updated Standards
Level 3 Learning and Development Practitioner v2.0
Published and for first implementation on 11th March 2027
Level 5 Learning and Development Consultant Business Partner v2.0
Published and for first implementation on 11th March 2027
Level 2 Community Activator Coach v2.0
Published and for first implementation on 11th March 2027
Level 2 Food and Beverage Team Member v2.0
Published and for first implementation on 10th March 2027
Level 2 Hospitality Accommodation Team Member v2.0
Published and for first implementation on 10th March 2027
Level 3 Hospitality Supervisor v2.0
Published, pending funding and implementation date
Level 4 Hospitality Manager v2.0
Published, pending funding and implementation date
New and Updated Support Materials
Level 2 Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship v1.0
Support materials now available on Proficient.
Level 2 Retail Service, Supply and Administration Foundation Apprenticeship v1.0
Support materials now available on Proficient.
Previous Standard Versions
The standard versions currently approaching the gateway deadline within the next 6 months are:
Senior Healthcare Support Worker 1.4
Healthcare Assistant Practitioner 1.0
Proficient
Updated Guidance
We have updated our guidance to support you to use Proficient in line with Innovate’s processes.
The document is called Proficient Guidance and can be found in the Guidance section of the Support Materials area.
Testing
Reasonable adjustment communications– Informs the user who created the RA of the outcome e.g accepted, rejected. Launches 22/09/26
Your thoughts?
We work closely with Skilltech, the company behind Proficient, so if you have any feedback please do let us know so that we can help to shape future improvements to the platform.
New Qualification
Level 2 Award in Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Residential Care
Qualification Number: 610/7786/0
We are delighted to announce the launch on 1st September 2026 of a brand-new qualification for all staff working in residential childcare. The qualification will provide staff with the knowledge and understanding required to safeguard and protect children in residential care.
We are grateful to Sukhvinder Mann, Director of Social Care Academy and children’s residential professional, for his help and expertise in the development of this qualification.
The qualification specification is available to download from the Innovate Awarding website.
Withdrawn Qualifications
The following qualifications are in the process of being withdrawn, by the end of September:
IAO Level 3 Award in IT User Skills (ITQ)
IAO Level 2 Certificate in IT User Skills (ITQ)
IAO Level 1 Diploma in IT User Skills (ITQ)
IAO Level 3 Diploma in IT User Skills (ITQ)
IAO Level 3 Certificate in IT User Skills (ITQ)
Accolade - New Qualifications System
As you have hopefully seen in our previous updates, we are currently in the process of moving to a new Qualifications system called Accolade. This will eventually replace the existing QuartzWeb system and we are currently in the pilot phase. More details of this, including webinars showcasing the system will be sent later this week so please keep an eye out for these as it will be your opportunity to see the system and ask any questions you may have.
If you have any questions about anything included in this update, please get in touch with your usual point of contact or contact epa@innovateawarding.org for anything Apprenticeship Assessment related, or coordinators@innovateawarding.org for anything Qualification related.
