Damar’s relationship with Pearson stretches back many years. In the last 2-3 years though, the relationship has become closer as Damar was early to make the shift from apprenticeship frameworks to apprenticeship standards, one that is now almost complete. As with all significant change, this transition has not been easy for the sector generally and a fall of 24% in apprenticeship starts between 2016-17 and 2017-18 has led to some real challenges for the sector. Damar is amongst the minority of providers to have grown over the period and it is interesting to look at why this has been the case.