Level 4 Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship
Champions of Quality: Delivering Right-First-Time Performance and Reliability Across Your Business
Duration:
14 months (not including end point assessment) blended delivery method of online and face to face tuition. One face to face session per month, and one online session per month.
Start Date:
Any time
Cost:
Government funded or by the employer levy

If you have just moved into your first management role, or have been working in management for a while and would like to develop your skills to improve your team – this Apprenticeship could be for you. 

  • 94% of supervisors state that apprentices add clear value to their business.
  • 86% of employers said that apprenticeships helped them to develop skills relevant to their organisation
  • 92% of employers believe that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce
  • 70% of supervisors highlight that apprentices provide “fresh perspectives” that drive innovation.
What will I do on this Apprenticeship?

You will combine on-the-job learning with your employer where you are expected to complete at least half a day off-the-job learning to meet the 20% off-the-job training requirement. You will attend our training centre in Malton one day a month for face-to-face delivery. You will also undertake one online session a month with your trainer. 

You will also be visited in the workplace every 10 weeks to complete a tripartite review with you and your employer to check progress and set targets.

Level 4 Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship

The Level 4 Quality Practitioner Apprenticeship Standard is for employees who are responsible for quality and reliability.

Quality Practitioners ensure organizations across all sectors—including green, industrial, and public—meet customer, contractual, and regulatory standards. They deploy quality practices through four key elements:
Quality Planning, Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Continuous Improvement. In their daily work, they collaborate across internal departments and external bodies to audit, inspect, analyze data, resolve non-conformances, and drive
risk management. Responsible for all quality aspects within their area, they support senior leadership in strategy while guiding teams to improve performance and meet Key Performance Indicators.

Duties

 

    • Contributes directly to the formulation, alignment, and execution of organizational quality
      strategies, supplier performance benchmarks, and overall customer satisfaction targets, while
      deploying Quality Management System policies, procedures, and governance frameworks to
      actively identify continuous system improvement opportunities across all operational areas.
    • Plans, coordinates, and conducts comprehensive internal, external, and regulatory audits in
      strict accordance with organizational audit programs, evaluating compliance against
      customer specifications, internal standards, and statutory statutory or regulatory requirements
      to ensure consistent, high-quality deliverables.
    • Formulates and implements detailed quality control and quality assurance plans tailored to
      specific products, services, or multidisciplinary projects, while conducting hands-on
      inspections, technical verifications, and validations against established acceptance criteria,
      technical requirements, and service level targets.
    • Systematically gathers, tracks, and analyzes routine quality performance metrics, produces
      detailed reports and presentations to support governance and assurance activities, and leads
      root-cause investigations into non-conformances to implement swift containment actions
      and prevent future recurrence.
    • Applies specialized quality tools and techniques to optimize process efficiency, eliminate
      waste, and increase Right First Time metrics, while supporting proactive risk identification and
      mitigation for new or modified product and service launches to ensure seamless adoption.
    • Acts as an advocate for quality governance by guiding, training, and mentoring individuals
      both within and outside the Quality Function, supporting cross-functional teams and supply
      chain partners to continuously improve organizational quality competence, compliance, and
      overall performance.
Portfolio of Evidence – Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours (Workplace)

You will collate a portfolio of jobs you have done in the workplace. These jobs will show the knowledge, skills and behaviours you have developed throughout the Apprenticeship. This portfolio will be specific to your apprentice’s role.

End-Point Assessment

This is the final assessment you do to ensure you are competent to be certificated in your role. 

This will be carried out by an independent End-Point Assessment Organisation. 

The End-Point Assessment includes a professional discussion based on a portfolio of evidence and a multiple choice exam based on 8 separate mini case studies.

Once you pass your End-Point Assessment you will be awarded with your Apprenticeship certificate.

 
Where might this Apprenticeship take me?

Completing a Level 4 Quality Practitioner apprenticeship positions you as a high-level quality and reliability expert. 

Senior leadership roles: for example, Operations Director, Quality & Compliance Director, Senior Consultant

Advanced professional paths: Chartered Status

Strategic business transformation: Coach & mentor, lead multi-million pound projects, design integrated systems

Professional versatility: work in high-growth sectors 

Ready to start your path to developing your Leadership?
Entry Requirements

Candidates must have ideally achieved grades 4/C or above in 4 GCSEs. ideally in English & Maths.

If the learner has not achieved a GCSE Grade C/4 or equivalent in English and/or Maths, you will be supported to complete Functional Skills as part of your apprenticeship.

The learner must be employed in a relevant role for a minimum of 30 hours per week.

 
Our Team

Learn more about the team that will be training and supporting you

Our Training Centre

Learn more about the team that will be training and supporting you

Apprenticeship Funding
Learner Support
Getting Started with an Apprenticeship
How much does it cost?

The cost of the apprenticeship is funded by the Government and your employer. There are no training costs paid directly by the apprentice. 

As you are earning a wage, your employer may expect you to pay for your travel to Derwent Training for your training day. This may be via car, bus or train but every employer is different. It is your responsibility to get to and from the training centre for your off-the-job training. 

Apprenticeship Wage

What you earn as an apprentice will depend on your age, the apprenticeship standard and the location of the employer.

If you are 16-18, or 19 or over and in the first year of your apprenticeship then you are be entitled to the National Apprenticeship Minimum Wage. Many employers do pay more than this but as you are their employee it is their decision. You must be paid for:

  • your normal working hours
  • training that is part of your apprenticeship (at least 20% of your normal working hours)
  • study towards English and Maths qualifications, if they are part of your apprenticeship. 

You are entitled to at least 20 days of paid annual leave plus bank holidays. You can find information on the National Minimum Wage here.