English Speaking Board (International) Ltd

Author: Liam Morton

  • Looking Ahead: Enhancing Your Digital Experience with ESB International

    At English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. (ESB International), we are proud to work alongside our centres in delivering high-quality qualifications that make a real difference to learners. As we continue to grow and evolve, so too does our commitment to improving the digital experience for our centres.

    Over recent months, our team has been working diligently to upgrade the digital infrastructure that supports the booking and delivery of our assessments. These enhancements will bring about a more robust, efficient, and reliable platform—particularly during peak times in the academic year.

    When these upgrades go live in the early autumn, you can expect a smoother, more stable experience across both our website and the ‘MyESB’ booking hub. For most of our centres, particularly our UK-based centres, the changes will be relatively minor. However, for some of our overseas centres, especially those offering our Oracy qualifications, the changes will be more impactful. Rest assured that our team will be on hand to guide you through any updates to the booking process, ensuring a seamless transition into the new academic year.

    We understand how important continuity and clarity are to your operations. That’s why we are committed to communicating any changes in advance and offering the support you need to adapt with confidence. We truly value your continued loyalty and the vital role you play in supporting learners across the UK and internationally. As the summer break begins, we wish you and your teams a well-earned rest and look forward to reconnecting in the new term—with an enhanced digital experience to support you every step of the way.

  • Join ESB International at NATECLA: a Smarter Approach to ESOL Assessment

    English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. (ESB International) is proud to be attending this year’s NATECLA National Conference, taking place from 27th–28th June. As a long-standing supporter of the ESOL community, we’re excited to connect with professionals across the sector to demonstrate how our approach to ESOL assessment not only enhances learner outcomes but also reduces tutor workload, improving overall wellbeing. 

    As part of our involvement, ESB International is pleased to sponsor the delegate badges at this year’s event. We will be well-represented throughout the conference at our stand in the exhibition area, where we’ll be sharing how our externally assessed ESOL Skills for Life qualifications can deliver real value to your provision. Whether you’re considering a shift from internal assessments or looking to improve your current external approach, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you. 

    Come and meet our team, including Tina Renshaw (Chief Executive) and Alan Brierley (Business Strategy Manager), and learn how we can support your organisation in delivering high-quality, meaningful assessments that work for learners and educators alike. 

    Don’t miss our practical ESOL workshop

    We’re also excited to be delivering a workshop that offers direct takeaways for classroom practice.

    This workshop is open to all interested ESOL practitioners. 

    Workshop: Assess your Learners’ Reading Skills 
    Presenter: Anthea Wilson, ESB International’s Chief Assessor
    Date & Time: Saturday 29th June, 10:45–11:45am 
    What to Expect: A hands-on CPD session that guides ESOL tutors in creating effective reading assessment materials—practical, ready-to-use content that can be applied in the classroom right away. 

    If you’re unable to attend the conference or would prefer to explore our qualifications in a more personalised setting, we also offer informal one-to-one introductions with our team. To arrange a conversation at your convenience, simply click the button below to book a meeting.

    Book a meeting

    We look forward to seeing many of you at NATECLA and continuing to support the incredible work being done across the ESOL sector. 

  • ESB Celebrates World Book Day 2025 by Promoting the Joy of Reading

    I used to see reading a book as a punishment… and now it’s one of my favourite hobbies.

    ESB learner

    Research shows that children who read for pleasure achieve higher academic success and enhanced well-being. According to the National Literacy Trust, young people who enjoy reading are three times more likely to have higher mental well-being compared to those who do not.  

    Through ESB’s unique oracy assessments, learners are encouraged to develop their speaking and listening skills by engaging with literature in meaningful ways, boosting reading for pleasure.  

    Says ESB’s Chief Executive, Tina Renshaw:

    At ESB, we believe in nurturing confident, expressive young people who find joy and connection through books. By promoting reading for pleasure, we empower learners to unlock a lifelong love of literature and self-expression. ESB’s oracy qualifications provide structured opportunities for learners to read aloud and discuss books of their choice.

    Below you can find 3 videos of learners undertaking our qualifications across primary, secondary and post 16, reading from their favourite book.

    Penelope-Rae
    (Primary level)

    Freddie
    (Secondary level)

    Siyon
    (16+)

    ESB Staff join the celebration

    To further celebrate World Book Day, ESB’s staff are also embracing this initiative. Staff members were invited to record a short video recommending a book and reading an excerpt, reinforcing the message that reading is a lifelong joy, no matter how old you are!

    Contact business@esbuk.org today and we would be delighted to discuss how our qualifications can support learners in developing their love of reading!

  • English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. puts feedback into action

    At English Speaking Board (International) Ltd. (ESB), it is our aim to equip all learners with the English Language and Oracy skills to empower them to realise their full potential and look to the future with confidence.

    In line with our commitment to this purpose, we prioritise feedback from our schools, colleges, and third sector organisations, seeing each piece as an invaluable opportunity for growth. Every suggestion, question, comment, and concern is carefully evaluated, driving our continuous improvement and enabling us to deliver the highest quality assessment services. This commitment was one of the reasons we were named Awarding Organisation of the Year in 2023.

    The 2023-24 academic year highlighted this commitment in action:

    • Supporting an impressive 49,141 learners, ESB achieved an on-time delivery rate of 99% for results and certificates.
    • Additionally, ESB has witnessed a positive downward trend in the number of enquiries relating to learner results, reflecting our proactive approach to resolving potential concerns early.
    • We focus on a close, supportive and proactive working relationship with our centres. We resolve 96.3% of all centre queries in just 48 hours. Only 3.7% of enquiries take a little longer to resolve.

    The ESB Experience: Exceptional, Efficient, Elevate

    Our experience with ESB has been exceptional. We have found that ESB is highly receptive to feedback—when we’ve highlighted issues or made suggestions, they’ve responded thoughtfully and worked with us to implement adjustments. This level of collaboration and attentiveness to educator input has made ESB a valuable and trusted partner for our ESOL programme.

    The organisation has successfully combined quality with efficiency, which has allowed us to elevate our ESOL programme. We’re pleased with the positive feedback from learners and look forward to continuing our journey with ESB.

    Michael Killin, Curriculum Manager at Dudley College, September 2024



    We want to hear from you!

    To share your feedback and contribute to ongoing improvements at ESB, please contact us directly at business@esbuk.org. We would love to hear from you. Together, we can continue to raise – and celebrate – the achievements of our learners and create a brighter future for all.

    If you have a specific query at any point during 2024/25 and wish to contact our Head Office Team directly, please find all the contact details of the relevant teams below. We are delighted to answer any questions you may have. 

    ESB Team and Function  Email Address  Telephone Number  
    Customer Experience  
    Bookings / Webinars / ‘My ESB Hub’ / Results and Certificates      		customer@esbuk.org     01695 573439  Option 2  
    Product Development  
    Further qualification guidance / Sample Materials / Resources     		product@esbuk.org  01695 573439  Option 4  
    Finance  accounts@esbuk.org  01695 573439  Option 3  
    IT  itsupport@esbuk.org   01695 573439  Option 0  
    Business Strategy Team  
    Any general enquiries / Training / CB Fund      		business@esbuk.org  01695 573439  Option 1