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ABOUT

Philip Brain Associates Ltd have been providing education and vocational assessment to the UK mineral extraction and processing industries for over 20 years and are widely regarded as industry experts in the field of vocational assessment. In 2018, in view of the changing landscape of vocational education and the introduction of Apprenticeship Standards the decision was taken to seek Ofqual & ESFA recognition to become an Awarding Organisation and be listed on the Register of Approved End Point Assessment Organisations. Our Awarding Organisation is called EMPI Awards.

 

 

Chair of Governors - Philip Brain CEnv, IEng, FIMMM, FMES, FIQ.

 

Philip has worked in the extractive and mineral processing industry since 1969, holding a number of senior positions within the Nigerian Mining Corporation, Redland (now Tarmac) and holding several Directorships with SMEs in the industry including Board Membership of a PLC.

Widely regarded as an industry expert on training, qualification development & delivery and occupational competence, he is the regional & national recipient of the 2019/2020 Institute of Quarry Excellence Award for Most Innovative Leader.

Philip is a qualified assessor, Internal Verifier and External Verifier for VTQs. As a qualified External Verifier, he has been responsible for verifying a number of centres including commercial training providers, major employers and FE colleges in England & Northern Ireland, resulting in wide experience of regulated vocational qualification design, delivery & award. He is also a Chartered Environmentalist, Incorporated Engineer, Fellow of the Minerals Engineering Society, Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining & Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying.
 

Responsible Officer - Gavin Brain BA (Hons), FIQ, ASET.

 

Gavin has worked as a professional educator in the extractive and mineral processing industry since 1999 and in addition to his BA(Hons) in Business Studies is also a qualified assessor, Internal Verifier & External Verifier. He has previously been involved in Internal/External Verification for a number of Organisations including:

  • MPQC

  • LANTRA Awards

  • Pearson

  • Edexcel

  • ILM

  • Institute of Quarrying

 

Gavin has worked with many training organisations including commercial training providers, major employers, FE colleges, emergency services & civil engineering multi-nationals delivering VTQs in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland & the Channel Islands. Gavin is a Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying and an Associate of the Society for Education & Training.

 

Gavin has a detailed knowledge of qualification development & delivery within the sector and awarding organisation systems & procedures in relation to regulated qualifications & was previously engaged by an industry Awarding Organisation to provide consultancy on the development of a range of VTQs (QCFs). Gavin is a Fellow of the Institute of Quarrying and an Associate of the Society for Education & Training.

Our team of expert assessors have been handpicked, trained and mentored in all aspects of assessment and have many years experience, both operationally within the extractive & mineral processing industries, but also in assessment of occupational competence within this sector.

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