Apprenticeships in England are successfully completed once the apprentice passes their End Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is designed to ensure the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprentice meets industry standards, ensuring apprentices can work competently and confidently in their place of work.
The EPA consists of:
An online multiple choice knowledge test
A professional discussion
A practical observation of the apprentice carrying out a range of tasks
We caught up with former level 3 senior equine groom apprentice and international showjumper, Ben Clark, who discusses his apprenticeship experience and how he prepared for his EPA.

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Ben says, “My mum has always had horses at our family yard, Homestead Equestrian, so I grew up around them and had the opportunity to ride from an early age. I was originally into football and rugby but there was something that always drew me back to the horses and I loved riding.

My greatest achievement was being selected to represent Great Britain at the Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final in 2018 as part of the Junior British team. I went on to win with my 16 year old grey gelding, Valentino. From here, my professional showjumping career kicked off and I have since represented Great Britain at a number of events, including the European Championships.

My mum previously worked with apprentices, so I decided to enrol onto the level 3 senior equine groom apprenticeship in 2020. This meant I could expand my knowledge, work with the horses all day and pursue my passion in showjumping, which didn’t feel like work!

I really enjoyed learning new skills as part of my apprenticeship. I’ve learnt how to run a sustainable yard efficiently, along with the skeletal and muscular system of the horse, which is really interesting. My employer, and Trainer Coach Alex Hubbard, have provided essential support and knowledge from their own equine experiences, which has been invaluable.

I’m away from home a lot, travelling and competing abroad, but Alex made me feel at ease when getting the work completed and ensuring that I was fully prepared for my End Point Assessment.

Leading up to my EPA, I knew there would be a knowledge test, practical observation and a discussion with the invigilator, so I prepared by focusing on the areas where I felt less confident. I revisited my portfolio and undertook mock questions. Alex was a fantastic help preparing me for my EPA, and throughout my whole apprenticeship. I couldn’t have done it without her guidance and additional help.”

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Thank you Ben, we look forward to following your success in the future!

Find out more about our apprenticeships in England and Wales, by contacting us here.