Having worked in this sector for nearly 20 years now I have seen plenty shifts, and full-circle changes more frequently than I can confidently count, but what is clear and unmoving is that apprenticeship training providers are operating in a landscape where technical skill alone is no longer enough. Employers want adaptable, confident, work‑ready individuals, and that means educators need the tools, insight and support to deliver world‑class vocational learning. The WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence, in partnership with specialist awarding body NCFE, has become a catalyst for that shift, giving providers a powerful partnership that raises standards across teaching, curriculum design and learner development. I know from experience the real impact that the Centre of Excellence can have on learners’ confidence, educators craft, and the outcomes and results speak for themselves.
I have found from being involved with the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence for almost 5 years and most recently with Total Training Provision, is that one of the most beneficial elements of the offer is the world-class teacher training CPD suite, it is a game‑changer. Educators gain access to training shaped by international best practice, distilled from the methods used by the world’s top-performing nations and it really packs a punch. This isn’t generic professional development; it’s targeted, practical and immediately transformative. Teachers, tutors, assessors and trainers walk away with new techniques, stronger pedagogical and andragogical confidence and a deeper understanding of how to stretch learners beyond competence and towards excellence. A defining strength of the partnership is the dedicated support from High Performance Skills Coaches (Shout out to Adam McLane, who I have worked with across three different training providers). These specialists work shoulder‑to‑shoulder with providers, coaching staff, modelling advanced practice and helping teams embed high-performance principles into everyday delivery.
I have also found that curriculum leaders benefit from robust benchmarking tools that shine a light on what’s working and what needs to evolve. These tools help providers align their programmes with global standards, identify gaps and build a clear roadmap for improvement. In a sector where curriculum relevance and employer confidence are everything, this level of insight is invaluable.
Additionally, one of the most impactful resources is the Mindset Masterclass e‑learning. Over the last few years, I have experienced how many young people entering apprenticeships today, especially those whose formative years were shaped by pandemic lockdowns, struggle with communication, resilience, teamwork and self‑management. The Mindset Masterclass directly addresses this readiness gap. It gives learners structured development in the behaviours employers value most, while giving educators a framework they can weave into their teaching. For a generation that missed crucial social development, this resource is essential. I would implore all training providers to use this resource to develop the non-academic starting points of their learners. Over the years I have witnessed how starting points are rarely truly established in a way that supports the whole learner ahead of their journey in vocational education. The mindset masterclass is the solution.
So, in National Apprenticeship Week, a time of celebration of vocational learning, it is prudent to also celebrate that what makes the WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence truly powerful is how these elements come together. It strengthens provision at every level, from the coalface of education through to strategic leadership. For providers committed to delivering more than qualifications, for those determined to build confident, capable, future‑ready individuals then the Centre of Excellence is an opportunity for you to engage in something that is redefining what vocational excellence looks like in the UK.
“Shaun Donaghy
Director of Performance and Quality,
Total Training Provision.
