Key Takeaways from the UVAC Conference 2025

Last week’s University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC) Conference brought together providers, employers, sector bodies and technology partners to reflect on the upcoming wave of apprenticeship reforms. The event offered a strong combination of grounded employer insight, policy perspectives and practical challenges, with many discussions pointing toward one central theme: the sector is preparing for meaningful change, but progress will require clarity, collaboration and shared frameworks.

Below are PS edtech’s key takeaways from the day.

ARU’s Apprenticeship Management System Success Shows What Good Looks Like

One of the standout sessions was the opening keynote from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), which reflected on their successful Apprenticeship Management System (AMS) procurement and rollout.

PS edtech supported ARU through the full lifecycle - requirements capture, operating-model design, vendor selection, and implementation through to rollout alongside the internal project team.

Seeing their experience showcased as an example of good practice was a highlight. Their journey illustrates what is possible when universities take a structured, user-centred approach to AMS transformation supported by a clear operating model and the right technology partner.

Employers Reinforce the Need for Flexibility and Targeted Training

Strong messages came from Enginuity, AstraZeneca and the Financial Services Skills Commission in the employer panel session chaired by Dr Fiona Aldridge. Three themes dominated:

• Greater levy flexibility will be essential for employers looking to meet skills gaps that don’t always fit neatly into current standards.

• Short, targeted training and re-training pathways are increasingly important as industries respond to rapid technological change.

• SMEs require more structured, hands-on support to engage with apprenticeships confidently and sustainably.

These insights mirrored many of the conversations we are having across PS edtech projects, particularly around how systems and operating models need to evolve to support employer-centric delivery.

Vendors Are Moving Quickly - Especially in AI and Integration

From the supplier side, the conference highlighted clear movement across apprenticeship technology platforms:

• Aptem’s push into AI-supported progress reviews signals a broader shift toward intelligent monitoring and personalised learner support.

• Tribal Group’s modernisation of Maytas 6, with a new technology platform, Power Automate workflows and deeper Power BI and SITS integration, shows continued investment in interoperability.

These developments reinforce what we see across the sector: providers are no longer looking for standalone systems but for ecosystems that support quality, compliance and operational efficiency end-to-end.

The Sector Needs a Shared Blueprint for Apprenticeship Delivery

Throughout the day, one point came through repeatedly: as apprenticeship reforms land, the sector would benefit from a common blueprint for high-quality delivery and assessment.

The work emerging from the UVAC QA Knowledge Network, led by Dr Nicky Westwood and Julie Stone, continues to develop useful guidance and examples of best practice. Alongside this, efforts led by Dr Phil Power-Mason and Dr Helen Charlton to clarify and strengthen the role of the Tripartite / Skills Coach are gaining traction.

If these resources can be consolidated and widely adopted, they have the potential to provide the kind of shared foundation the sector urgently needs.

A Positive, Reflective Day for a Sector in Transition

The UVAC Conference remains a valuable space for reconnecting with colleagues who are determined to make apprenticeships work better for learners, employers and providers. This year’s discussions were reflective, forward-looking and, in many ways, pragmatic - acknowledging the challenges ahead while offering realistic ways forward.

At PS edtech, we left with renewed clarity about the kinds of support institutions will need in the coming months, particularly around operating-model design, system optimisation and organisational readiness for assessment reform.

If You Are Reviewing Your AMS or Student Records Capability

If you’d like a conversation about Apprenticeship Management System or Student Records System procurement, optimisation, integration or readiness for assessment reform, the PS edtech team would be happy to share insights. Contact us today!