This week IOC hosted end point assessment organisations for the annual masterclass and best practice workshop on the trailblazer stream of Express logistics, from the degree apprentice on the express delivery operative level two. Busting the jargon, clarity on delivery operative was: it's for all four streams, mail, parcel, food and meal delivery - the candidate may be a walking postie or a sameday cargo bike operative - they do not need a vehicle licence, they do not need to be a van driver. The other myth busted was on simulation options and focused the EPAOs on scenario one as the first choice based on route finding; the heart of express courier operative work. ‘There should be a mix of candidate knowledge of local road and ability to use map or IT to then find a route to the delivery.

IOC has supported the development and implementation of apprenticeships in the express delivery sector for many years and is the secretariat for the Express Delivery ‘trailblazer’ Group. The IOC is also recognised by OFQUAL as the External Quality Auditor for the Express stream of Apprenticeships. Hence delivering the annual masterclass on best practice assessment.

While major changes are on the horizon for apprenticeships with new body, Skills England, it’s important that the current apprenticeships continue to be delivered to a high standard and meet employer and candidate needs.

On 29th July 2025, IOC hosted a workshop for assessment organisations involved in the Express Delivery Operative (L2) and Express Delivery Manager (L6) apprenticeships. Skills England statistics show over 2,500 starts and nearly 1,100 completions of the L2 apprenticeship since 21/22.

Key outcome messages of the workshop:

1. The four express delivery streams are: mail, parcel, food and meal.

2. The L2 standard is clear that candidates are not required to use a van. It is designed for all those involved in express delivery, whether on foot, cycle or using powered transport.

3. The L2 standard indicates that in assessment, it is reasonable to test candidate’s knowledge about all aspects of the standard, but the End Point Assessment Plan is clear about the need to select the simulation that best fits the candidate job role.

4. The EPA Plan states “In selecting the role simulation, the EPAO and the employer must ensure that all skills elements which will be assessed in the simulation are appropriate to the individual apprentice.”

Detail discussed included considerations in selecting the simulation, noting that:

• ADR and dangerous goods are rare in delivery to door.
• Safeguarding is primarily at door and around age challenge.
• Simulation One (Route finding) is a good fit to all job roles in express delivery.
• Simulation of dog attack is important for those involved in doorstep delivery; the most dangerous situation is a sleeping border collie in a restricted space with limited exit.

IOC encourage assessment organisations to access the training and assessment resources on the IOC website, notably the four volume learning workbook and the fifth volume which has challenge questions for the professional discussion element of the assessment.

The new duty list is likely outline for future assessment strategy. Looking ahead to the new specification for assessment standards, it was noted that the Duty Lists recently agreed with IFATE may provide the basis for the assessment specification.