EP/AO Conference 2026 Highlights
Notebook Assessment were at the Apprenticeships & Skills Group EP/AO Conference 2026 in Birmingham this September.
Notebook Assessment attended the EP/AO Conference 2026 with a stand, Roll the Dice competition and plenty of conversations about End-Point Assessment.
The EP/AO Conference 2026 brought together professionals from across the apprenticeship assessment sector at Millennium Point, Birmingham, on Thursday 10th September. But before the serious conversations, insightful sessions and plenty of coffee, there was time to relax, catch up and enjoy a drink or two at the Pre-Drinks Reception (sponsored by Notebook).
It started with pre-drinks at The Alchemist…
There’s something to be said for easing into a conference before the name lanyards go on and the notebooks come out.
On Wednesday evening, 9th September, conference attendees had the opportunity to meet at The Alchemist on Colmore Row, Birmingham, for an evening of drinks, conversation and good company ahead of the main event.
And this year, Notebook Assessment was proud to sponsor the EP/AO Conference pre-conference drinks.
The evening provided a relaxed opportunity for assessment professionals to catch up, make new connections and, importantly, enjoy themselves before the busy conference day ahead.
The Notebook Assessment team
Representing Notebook Assessment at the pre-drinks were Andrea Hill, Paul Headford, Paul Morrison and Lucy Hedges.
With familiar faces from across the sector in the room, it was a great chance for the Notebook team to catch up with existing contacts and meet new people working across apprenticeship assessment.
And while networking was firmly on the agenda, there was no PowerPoint presentation in sight!
For Notebook Assessment, sponsoring the evening was about more than simply putting our name to an event. It was about supporting the sector we work in and creating an opportunity for people to connect in a more informal setting.
“It was great to see everyone…” – Paul Headford
“The pre-conference drinks was a brilliant way to kick things off. Conferences are always about learning and sharing ideas, but they’re also about the people you meet along the way. It was great to see so many familiar faces, meet new people and have a proper catch-up before heading into the conference the following day. And, of course, it would have been rude not to enjoy a drink or two while we were there!”
- Paul Headford, Business Development Manager at Notebook Assessment
The relaxed atmosphere made it easy to start conversations that might otherwise have waited until the conference floor the following morning. From discussing the latest developments in assessment to simply catching up with colleagues, the evening was a reminder that good conversations often start away from the conference.
And with the drinks flowing, the networking well underway and the Notebook team enjoying the evening, there was only one thing left to do…
Get some sleep and get ready for the EP/AO Conference 2026.
Some photo highlights of the evening below.
“I had a great time as always, such a good bunch of people x” - Liz Furness
EP/AO Conference 2026: Conversations, Connections and a Little Bit of Luck!
After a relaxed evening of pre-conference drinks at The Alchemist, it was time for the main event.
On Thursday 10th September, the Notebook Assessment team headed to the EP/AO Conference ready for a busy day of conversations, networking and all things End-Point Assessment.
And we certainly weren’t hard to find!
The Notebook Stand
Notebook Assessment had its own stand at the conference, giving us the perfect opportunity to meet people from across the assessment and apprenticeship sector. Throughout the day, the stand was a hive of activity, with plenty of familiar faces stopping by and lots of new connections being made. Whether people already knew Notebook Assessment or were discovering us for the first time, it was fantastic to have the chance to chat, share ideas and find out more about what’s happening across the sector.
Of course, we also wanted to make sure there was a little fun involved…
Roll the Dice!
Conferences can involve a lot of standing, talking and taking in information, so we decided to add a bit of chance to the day with our Roll the Dice feature.
Visitors to the Notebook stand could take a break from the conference schedule, roll the dice and see whether luck was on their side.
The dice certainly got people talking, with plenty of visitors stopping by to have a go and compete for some Notebook goodies. It was a simple idea, but it proved to be a great conversation starter - and perhaps a reminder that not everything at a conference needs to be serious!
The Two Pauls Were on Hand
While the dice provided the fun, Paul Headford and Paul Morrison were on hand to tackle the more serious questions.
As representatives of the Notebook Assessment team, the two Pauls spent the day chatting with delegates about all things EPA – from the challenges facing assessment professionals to the role technology can play in supporting the assessment process.
Having those conversations face-to-face was one of the real highlights of the day.
The conference provided a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from people working within the sector, understand what matters to them and discuss some of the opportunities and challenges facing EPAOs and assessment professionals.
For Notebook Assessment, having a stand at the EP/AO Conference was about much more than simply showcasing what we do.
It was about being part of the conversation.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand, had a chat with the team, rolled the dice, asked a question or simply said hello.
We really enjoyed meeting you - and we hope you enjoyed the goodies!
Find out more about us…
To continue the conversation, get in touch with the team at enquiries@notebook-epa.co.uk or contact Paul Headford directly paul.headford@notebook-epa.co.uk and visit our website: www.notebook-assessment.co.uk
