What institutions can deliver our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications?
We enjoy excellent relationships with our centres, and many have remarked on the support they receive from Head Office, the friendliness of our assessors and the positive impact that achieving our qualifications has had on their learners. Our ESOL community is comprised of a variety of UK-based institutions, and learners can access our qualifications at organisations from any of the following groups:
Further Education Colleges
We work with some of the largest FE Colleges in the country and can accommodate bookings at scale that may run over multiple days and campuses.
Local Adult Education and Skills Services
We have great working relationships with local adult learning services in major cities like London, Liverpool, and Bristol.
Charity/Community Initiatives:
Our external assessments are the simple solution for any small centre looking to get accredited qualifications for its community members for whom English is a second language.
Scalable ESOL assessment solutions
ESB International is proud to support some of the largest providers of ESOL Skills for Life qualifications in the country. Our external assessments are flexible by design, and when coupled with a responsive team and a commitment to overcoming any logistical challenges that assessing large cohorts can bring, we have a proven track record of delivering a high-quality assessment experience – no matter the scale. Furthermore, ESOL Skills for Life centres with learner registrations exceeding £10,000 per academic year will be eligible for complimentary initial tutor training, along with one free annual training update session.
“Thank you for all your hard work put in to accommodating such a huge volume of students from CoBC. You and your team have all been incredibly flexible, understanding and supportive whenever we’ve reached out for help.”
Alina Garner, ESOL Programme Manager
City of Bristol College
How would switching to English Speaking Board impact the different departments in my organisation?
If you’re part of a large ESOL provision, we understand that switching to another awarding organisation can be an undertaking that impacts on multiple areas of your organisational structure. To make the transition as seamless as possible, we have prepared guidance that details the potential impact that changing your ESOL awarding organisation to ESB International could have on the functional teams within your institution. If you would like to hear more about our onboarding process, please contact our Business Strategy Team who will provide you with a comprehensive roadmap that will guide you through every step of the journey.
What your senior leadership need to know
ESOL Skills for Life qualifications are the same size across Awarding Organisations, whether they deliver internally or externally, and are subject to the same funding rules.
What your curriculum manager needs to know
To ensure smooth implementation of ESB’s ESOL Skills for Life qualifications, a training session with our Senior Assessor will be arranged to familiarise your tutors with marking criteria and align specifications with current schemes of work. We advise your exams team on how to book assessments, plan Speaking & Listening assessment timetables and apply Reasonable Adjustments. Ensure to delegate a member of staff to manage centre registration and read and sign our Centre Agreement.
What your tutors need to know
ESB ESOL Skills for Life qualifications align with National Standards for Adult Literacy and the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, ensuring consistency in knowledge and skills. To prepare learners, review our sample papers and videos of past assessments, pair learners for Speaking & Listening assessments providing ample preparation time and assist Level 1 + Level 2 learners with preparing their presentations.
What your exams team need to know
To manage ESB assessments, register your organisation online as an ESB Centre. You will be invited to attend a webinar to learn about making a booking. Book Speaking & Listening assessments at least 28 days in advance (or earlier if you plan to book during peak months) and Reading and Writing assessments with at least 2 days’ notice. Upon confirmation, input learners’ names and details along with any Reasonable Adjustments onto your booking. You can access results on your ‘MyESB’ Hub after assessments and distribute certificates to successful learners.
What your finance team needs to know
Following discussions with the ESB Business Strategy Team and completion of registration documentation, you will be invoiced a one-time registration fee of £215 and for mandatory teacher training – both covered during initial meetings. If a supplier set-up is required, submit the necessary documentation for prompt processing. Invoices for bookings are issued the day after assessment, with full payment required before certificates are released.
How does it affect your learners?
Learners complete assessments in pairs, so practising Speaking & Listening together is essential. While they may feel apprehensive about being assessed by an ESB International assessor rather than their teacher, the assessor’s friendly and approachable nature will quickly ease their concerns. This interaction also benefits learners by preparing them for real-life communication scenarios with strangers.
Why ESB International is the right choice for Tutors
We believe that supporting tutors is key to learner success. That’s why our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications are externally assessed and marked, removing the burden of assessment away from tutors. This not only improves tutor wellbeing by reducing workload during busy exam periods but also enhances teaching and learning by freeing up valuable time to focus on high-quality lesson planning and delivery. The learner experience is further supported by our personalised assessor reports, offering tutors invaluable insights into their students’ strengths and areas for development. Our accredited, external certificates carry great value for learners as being assessed by an external assessor is ideal preparation for university or employment interviews. Our pass rates reflect the strength of our approach and our commitment to both tutors and learners.
Can ESB International accommodate learners who may be relocated at short notice?
We care passionately about supporting ESOL learners and understand the challenges they face, particularly those who may be relocated at short notice. To ensure that these learners don’t miss out on achieving their Reading and Writing qualifications, we offer a fast-track service for centres to overcome rapid changes in circumstance for any learner in your cohort. To find out more about our fast-track service, please discuss your circumstances with our Product Team in advance of your assessment date.
Our ESOL Skills for Life learners
An ESB International ESOL Skills for Life learner may be anyone who speaks English as an acquired language or is a multi-lingual learner.
Who can take an ESOL Skills for Life qualification?
- A learner enrolled at an FE College or Local Authority Learning centre
- A learner in a community ESOL programme
- A learner enrolled at university
- A learner attending a private training provider
- A Job Centre Plus learner
- A learner on a workplace learning course
- A young learner on a discreet ESOL course
Where can you enrol?
If you’re a learner looking to get a recognised qualification to demonstrate your English proficiency, you can complete an ESB International ESOL Skills for Life qualification at any of the centres below in an area near you:
| Centre | Location | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Learning Lewisham |  |  |
| Beacon Centre | | |
| Bedford College | | |
| Brighton Hove & Sussex Sixth Form | | |
| Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) | | |
| City of Bristol College | | |
| City of London Adult Skills and Education Service | | |
| Dudley College of Technology | | |
| Gateshead College | | |
| Halesowen College | | |
| Hull College UK Group | | |
| Hull Sisters | | |
| Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College | | |
What are the benefits of obtaining a regulated ESOL qualification from ESB International?
Our learners come from a wide range of diverse backgrounds but share the common goal of striving to unlock their full potential by improving their English language skills. An ESOL Skills for Life qualification can unlock many future paths, including:
Access to further and higher education
An ESOL Skills for Life qualification can serve as a gateway for pursuing lifelong ambitions at college or university. Aside from teaching the essential language skills required to study at UK educational institutions, higher level courses also serve as excellent preparation by requiring learners to research, present and write at length.
Opens up employment opportunities
One key benefit of an ESOL Skills for Life qualification is the evidence it provides to potential employers of the learner’s language competence. This allows learners to utilise qualifications or prior work experience more easily when applying for jobs in the UK.
Boosts social integration and personal progression
An ESOL Skills for Life qualification equips the learners with the necessary linguistic tools to navigate diverse or unfamiliar social settings confidently. Proficiency in English empowers individuals to actively participate in their local communities, access public services and talk with their children’s educators.
ESOL for Jobseekers
For jobseekers referred to ESOL Skills for Life courses by Job Centre Plus, achieving an ESOL Skills for Life qualification from ESB International opens new doors to employment opportunities and career growth. Employers value strong communication skills, and ESB’s accredited qualifications ensure learners have the practical English language abilities needed to succeed in the workplace.
Our assessments focus on real-world language use, helping jobseekers gain confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing—key skills for interviews, applications, and everyday workplace interactions. ESB’s external certificates carry even more value as excelling in front of an unfamiliar assessor demonstrates an ability to communicate adequately in an unfamiliar environment, whilst also ensuring quality-control and fairness, giving learners a competitive edge in the job market.
If you are a jobseeker and have been referred to a centre in the table above to complete an ESOL Skills for Life assessment, rest assured knowing that our flexible, on-demand bookings and fast resulting, support learners who need to secure qualifications quickly. Whether learners are preparing for employment, career progression, or further education, ESB’s ESOL Skills for Life qualifications provide the foundation they need to thrive.
Vocational employability qualification for ESOL Skills for Life learners
This qualification focuses on practical, real-world speaking skills that employers value most. Learners develop the ability to:
- Deliver a structured talk or pitch about a job, career or course.
- Take part in a formal interview, presenting their skills and experience clearly and confidently.
- Make professional telephone calls, giving and summarising information.
- Participate in group discussions, responding to questions asking relevant questions and sharing views effectively.
By achieving this qualification, ESOL learners can demonstrate their English proficiency and their readiness for employment and further training, and providers can evidence that they are working towards the government’s skills agenda.
Carry on reading
ESOL Skills for Life home
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Our ESOL Skills for Life qualifications
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