14 Jan ICME now a fully approved Ofqual regulated End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO)

ICME is delighted to confirm that the Institute is now a fully approved Ofqual regulated End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) for the L3 Metal Casting, Foundry and Patternmaking Apprentice Standard.

ICME National President, Lee Jenkins IEng FICME, welcomed the news saying, “This is a significant milestone for ICME and the wider industry, which now has an approved casting specific apprentice standard at level 3, being delivered out of the National Foundry Training Centre(part of the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills*) as well as an End Point Assessment Organisation with the necessary skills and competences ready to carry out the assessment of the apprentices on programme.  This is a great achievement on which we can build to ensure that ICME continues to fulfil its role as a professional body, supporting the UK industry.”

Amy Worrallo MICME, ICME EPA quality manager agreed, “We are very proud to have achieved full approval from Ofqual. This is a tremendous achievement for ICME, as very few micro-organisations have gained this status due the high standards necessarily required by the regulator. We are now ready to assess any apprentices that come through gateway on the Metal Casting, Foundry and Patternmaking technician standard.”

The lead employer body for the industry, the Cast Metals Federation, CMF, also welcomed this approval.  Pam Murrell FICME, CMF CEO said “This is great news for the industry as our employers, who have apprentices on programme coming to the end of their training with Foundry Training Services tutors and Dudley College of Technology, need to be sure that their apprentices have a route to go through the End Point Assessment process in order for them to achieve full certification.   Employers can now be confident that that ICME will be ready to carry out the End Point Assessment of their knowledge, skills and behaviours as soon as their apprentices are deemed ready to pass through the ‘competence’ gateway.”

“The development of the future talent pipeline for the industry is vital”, added Pam, “and we hope that any apprentices on programme will go on to have fulfilling and rewarding careers in the industry.  We congratulate Amy and ICME teams on this achievement.”.

* The ECMS is supported by the University of Wolverhampton and the Black Country LEP Midlands Engine

Angela Mason
Angela Mason
angelamason@cmfed.co.uk