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SFEDI
Defining good business support since 2007

Standards and recognition for the business support profession

SFEDI is the standards setting body for business support. We set the Business Support Standards for advisers, mentors, coaches, consultants and trainers, and recognise the professionals who meet them. Qualifications are the proof, and Specialist Certification (coming soon) will recognise specialist practice.

Get recognisedExplore the Standards
Refreshed for today's advisers

The Business Support Standards, refreshed

SFEDI has refreshed the Business Support Standards for the way business support works now. They keep what has stood the test of practice and add what advisers need today, including AI and digital adoption, sustainability, data protection and evidencing impact.

The new SFEDI Awards Level 5 Certificate in Professional Business and Enterprise Support is the qualification route to meeting them.

Read the StandardsAbout the Level 5

Already hold an SFEDI Awards Level 5 or Level 7 in Professional Business and Enterprise Support Services? Your qualification continues to evidence the Core Standards.

A business adviser listening as the owner of a small business talks him through a document in her office.

How it fits together

SFEDI holds the Standards, recognises the qualifications that evidence them, and certifies specialist practice.

  1. The Standards

    What good business support looks like. Eight Core Standards cover the main functions of every business support professional, and twenty-seven Specialist Standards cover areas of specialist practice.

    Browse the Standards

  2. Qualifications

    The proof that you meet them. SFEDI recognises SFEDI Awards qualifications as evidence. The Level 5 and Level 7 qualifications in Professional Business and Enterprise Support evidence the Core Standards.

    See the qualifications

  3. Specialist Certification

    Coming soon

    Recognition for specialist practice. SFEDI will certify professionals against a Specialist Standard, such as Business Finance and Funding, Enterprise Mentoring, or AI and Digital Adoption.

    About Specialist Certification

Free to read, use and share

The Business Support Standards are free and open under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives licence (CC BY-ND 4.0). Anyone can use, share and refer to them, including commercially, as long as they credit SFEDI and don't publish altered versions.

Every requirement has its own permanent code, so programmes, units and evidence can be mapped to the Standards precisely.

About the Standards
Core Standards
8
Specialist Standards
27
Business Information Standards
4
Introduction to Business Support Standards
5
professional behaviours
11

Find your route

  • Advisers and support professionals

    Get recognised for the standard of your work, and show your specialist expertise.

    For advisers

  • Commissioners

    Specify SFEDI-recognised advisers in your contracts, and check their qualifications.

    For commissioners

  • Providers and centres

    Deliver SFEDI Awards qualifications, and map your programmes to the Business Support Standards so your learners can gain Specialist Certification (coming soon).

    For providers and centres

Built on SFEDI's record

SFEDI developed the national standards for business support between 2007 and 2010: Introduction to Enterprise Support (2007), Business Information (2008) and Business Support (2010). They were updated in 2013, and have underpinned qualifications, recruitment and the contracting of business support since.

The SFEDI Business Support Standards are their evolution. Every original unit has a place in this edition, and each Standard shows what it evolved from.

How the Standards evolved

Latest resources and insights

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Start with the Standards

Browse the Standards and see which apply to your work, or talk to our Business Support Team.

Contact usBrowse the Standards