What Highfield Assessment does

Highfield Assessment, legally Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance Limited, is a UK-based, Ofqual-recognised end-point assessment (EPA) organisation founded in 1982 and headquartered in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The company is privately held by the Sprenger family — Richard Sprenger serves as Chairman, Jason Sprenger as Chief Executive, and Christian Sprenger as Managing Director — with no external investors identified. Highfield is approved to deliver independent apprenticeship assessments for 90 standards across 12 sectors including Business Administration, Catering and Hospitality, Construction, Digital, Education and Childcare, Engineering and Manufacturing, Health and Science, Protective Services, Sales/Retail/Marketing/Procurement, Social Care, and Transport/Aviation/Logistics. In August 2025 it launched a Foundation Apprenticeship suite starting with Health and Social Care, expanding into entry-level assessment.

The company operates a proprietary technology stack comprising the Highfield Assessment Dashboard (secure evidence upload and results delivery), an On-screen Assessment Platform with free remote invigilation provided via a third-party EU-based proctor, Highfield Core and Highfield Works mock assessment platforms that mirror the live environment, and an in-house scheduling system. These platforms are supported by the Apprenticeship Information Hub content site and the Apprenticeship Assessment Forum on LinkedIn. AI usage is limited to third-party tools for process automation, quality assurance, and service enhancement, with no proprietary models disclosed.

Highfield's business model is primarily transaction-based, charging per-apprentice assessment fees ranging from approximately £259 to £2,100 depending on standard, sector, and assessment method (face-to-face versus remote). Additional revenue streams include regulated and international qualifications, training materials, e-learning, e-portfolio (Highfield Vault), and e-assessment services within the broader Highfield Group, with a Middle East and Asia regional office in Dubai supporting international distribution. Direct sales and inside sales motions target UK employers and training providers through dedicated customer engagement and scheduling teams, with named relationships including Superdrug, Inspiro Learning, and Swift Childcare. End demand is structurally tied to UK government apprenticeship funding policy.

Name

Highfield Assessment

Legal name

Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance Limited t/a Highfield Assessment

Website

https://highfieldassessment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Highfield Assessment is a UK-based, Ofqual-recognised end-point assessment organisation providing independent apprenticeship assessments across 90 standards and 12 sectors, serving employers and training providers through proprietary platforms, remote invigilation, and dedicated customer engagement teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Apprenticeship Assessment Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Test Administration, Proctoring & Security Authorities (EDADAFAH)

Keywords

• End-point assessment
• Apprenticeship assessment
• Ofqual recognised assessments
• Foundation apprenticeships
• E-assessment platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Doncaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship End-Point Assessment Fees: Per-apprentice assessment fees charged to employers and training providers. Fees vary by apprenticeship standard and assessment method (face-to-face vs remote), ranging from approximately £400 to £2,100 per apprentice. Includes resit fees for failed assessments.
2. Foundation Apprenticeship Assessment Fees: Per-apprentice fees for foundation apprenticeship assessments, with Highfield Assessed and Centre Assessed options. Fees range from approximately £259 to £608 depending on sector and assessment type.
3. Remote Invigilation Services: Free remote invigilation included with exam-based assessments; face-to-face invigilation charged at £350 unless scheduled with other assessments on same day/location.
4. Regulated Qualifications and Training Materials: Highfield also provides regulated and international qualifications, training materials, e-learning solutions, e-portfolio and e-assessment services as part of broader Highfield Group offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Highfield Assessment is an Ofqual-recognised assessment organisation delivering independent end-point assessment (EPA) services for apprentices across 90 apprenticeship standards and a growing suite of Foundation Apprenticeship assessments spanning sectors such as Business Administration, Catering and Hospitality, Construction, Digital, Education and Childcare, Engineering, Health and Science, Protective Services, Retail, Social Care, and Transport/Aviation/Logistics. Service delivery combines scheduling, assessor allocation, remote invigilation, and results returned within 7 working days, supported by proprietary platforms (Highfield Assessment Dashboard, Highfield Core, Highfield Works) for evidence upload, mock assessment, and results management.

Product overview

Highfield Assessment is an Ofqual-recognised assessment organisation providing end-point assessment (EPA) services for apprenticeship standards and foundation apprenticeships across multiple UK sectors. The company operates primarily as a service-based assessment provider, offering its Highfield Assessment Service as the core offering alongside dedicated platforms including Highfield Core and Highfield Works for on-screen assessments and mock exams. Additional services include a free Remote Invigilation Service, an in-house scheduling system, and the Highfield Assessment Dashboard for evidence submission and results access. The company supports 90 apprenticeship standards across sectors including Business Administration, Catering and Hospitality, Construction, Digital, Education and Childcare, Engineering, Health and Science, Protective Services, Sales/Retail/Marketing, Social Care, and Transport/Aviation/Logistics. The product portfolio is complemented by free assessment resources, the Apprenticeship Information Hub for industry updates, and the Apprenticeship Assessment Forum community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Highfield Core: Online mock assessment platform that mirrors live assessment platforms for apprentices
• Highfield Works
• Highfield Vault
• Highfield Qualifications

Products and services

• Highfield Assessment Service (End-Point Assessment) Independent end-point assessment (EPA) service for apprentices across 90 Ofqual-recognised apprenticeship standards, including scheduling, assessor allocation, remote invigilation, and results delivered within 7 working days. Sold to UK employers and training providers.
• Foundation Apprenticeships Assessment Entry-level apprenticeship assessments with Highfield Assessed and Centre Assessed options, designed to support learners and create pathways into skilled roles across sectors including Catering and Hospitality, Construction, Digital, Engineering and Manufacturing, Health and Science, and Sales, Marketing and Procurement.
• Highfield Core On-screen mock assessment platform that mirrors the live assessment environment, allowing learners to practise navigation and question formats before their actual EPA examinations.
• Highfield Works E-assessment platform providing on-screen mock exams that mirror the live assessment environment for learner preparation ahead of end-point assessment.
• Remote Invigilation Service Free remote proctoring service for online exam-based assessments, delivered via a third-party partner located in the EU, with free resits for exam-based assessments completed through remote invigilation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Results turnaround within 7 working days of final assessment date
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BIIAB: BIIAB is an Ofqual-recognised awarding body and end-point assessment organisation operating in the UK. It provides regulated qualifications and EPA services, directly competing with Highfield in apprenticeship assessment and qualifications.
• Training Qualifications UK (TQUK): TQUK is an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation and end-point assessment organisation operating in the UK vocational and apprenticeship market. It directly competes with Highfield in EPA and regulated qualifications delivery to training providers and employers.
• NCFE: NCFE is a UK awarding organisation and end-point assessment organisation recognised by Ofqual. It delivers regulated qualifications and EPA services across multiple apprenticeship standards, directly competing with Highfield for training-provider and employer contracts in the same regulatory framework.
• FutureQuals: FutureQuals is a UK awarding organisation offering regulated qualifications and end-point assessment for apprenticeships. It targets similar training-provider and employer customers as Highfield across multiple sectors.
• AIM Awards: AIM Awards is a UK awarding organisation providing regulated qualifications and end-point assessment services. It competes with Highfield for apprenticeship EPA contracts and training-provider relationships across overlapping apprenticeship standards.
• NOCN Group: NOCN is a UK awarding organisation offering regulated qualifications, EPA services and training provider support. It is a direct peer in apprenticeship end-point assessment, competing for the same training-provider customers across multiple apprenticeship standards.
• Innovate Awarding: Innovate Awarding is an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation providing regulated qualifications and end-point assessment services in the UK. It is a direct competitor in the EPA market with overlapping sector coverage.
• Open Awards: Open Awards is a UK awarding organisation and EPA provider delivering regulated qualifications and apprenticeship end-point assessment. It competes with Highfield for training-provider contracts in overlapping apprenticeship standards and qualifications.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson (BTEC / Edexcel): Pearson operates Edexcel and a global education business including vocational qualifications and apprenticeship assessment services. It overlaps with Highfield in regulated qualifications and EPA delivery but serves a far broader global education market and operates at significantly greater scale.
• City & Guilds: City & Guilds is one of the largest UK vocational awarding bodies, offering regulated qualifications, EPA services and training content across a very broad range of sectors. It competes with Highfield in apprenticeship end-point assessment and qualifications, but at a much larger scale and as part of a wider portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/17846053
• Xx.com/askhighfield

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Highfield Assessment