BPEC opens new FESS End-point Assessment facility in Derby

Posted to News on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Share:

AN ALL-NEW BPEC End-point Assessment (EPA) facility for Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) apprenticeships has been officially opened at BPEC’s headquarters in Derby, marking a major milestone in the continued expansion of the FESS apprenticeship programme across the UK.

The FESS Assessment Bays were formally opened by Neil Collishaw (CEO of BPEC, pictured left) and Trevor Jenks (pictured, right), national training manager at the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) and Super Sector Lead for the FESS sector (SGL10.2). This new facility will play a vital role in increasing local access to EPAs for learners completing the highly successful FESS apprenticeship, in turn helping to meet growing demand across the sector.

The facility’s opening is a significant component of BPEC and the SSAIB’s shared commitment to ‘Empowering Excellence’ and supporting the national Routes to Competence Programme.

The EPA facility will deliver assessments for the FESS apprenticeship standard, ensuring that it continues to meet the needs of industry and employers alike.

Driving force

Trevor Jenks commented: “The SSAIB is the driving force behind the FESS route to competence and raising the bar within our sector. The new facility’s official opening is a major step forward in providing local accessibility against the industry-relevant technical assessment competence standards needed to meet the challenges of the fire and security technicians of the future.”

The new EPA facility builds on previous collaborative successes, including the launch of the FESS Experienced Worker Assessment facility by the Banham Academy, and demonstrates the “strong network of training and assessment excellence under one roof.

Neil Collishaw added: “At BPEC, we are committed to supporting high-quality apprenticeships and skills development. This new EPA facility is a tangible step forward in providing accessible and industry-relevant assessment for the next generation of fire and security technicians.”

This latest development will help to ensure that the sector continues to deliver high standards, technical competence and increased opportunities for apprentices nationwide.

*Further information is available online at www.bpec.org.uk and www.ssaib.org