Standards and recognition for the business support profession
SFEDI sets the Business Support Standards for advisers, mentors, coaches, consultants and trainers, and recognises the professionals who meet them. Qualifications are the proof, and Specialist Certification (coming soon) will recognise specialist practice.
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.
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.
How it fits together
SFEDI holds the Standards, recognises the qualifications that evidence them, and certifies specialist practice.
- Browse the Standards
The Standards
What good business support looks like. Eight Core Standards cover the main functions of every business support professional, and twenty-four Specialist Standards cover areas of specialist practice.
- See the qualifications
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.
- About Specialist Certification
Specialist Certification
Coming soonRecognition for specialist practice. SFEDI will certify professionals against a Specialist Standard, such as Business Finance and Funding, Enterprise Mentoring, or AI and Digital Adoption.
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.
- Core Standards
- 8
- Specialist Standards
- 24
- Business Information Standards
- 4
- Introduction to Business Support Standards
- 5
- professional behaviours
- 11
Find your route
- For advisers
Advisers and support professionals
Get recognised for the standard of your work, and show your specialist expertise.
- For commissioners
Commissioners
Specify SFEDI-recognised advisers in your contracts, and check their qualifications.
- For providers and centres
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).
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.
Start with the Standards
Browse the Standards and see which apply to your work, or talk to our Business Support Team.