The Education and Training Foundation
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is the designated professional body for England's further education and skills sector. It delivers professional standards, recognised statuses (QTLS and ATS), CPD courses, SEND training, and leadership development through its MyETF Dashboard platform to 22,500+ members and partner organisations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Education and Training Foundation does
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is the designated professional body for the further education (FE) and skills sector in England, established as a registered charity (Charity number 1153859) and headquartered at 157-197 Buckingham Palace Road, London. The organisation operates with 101-250 employees and serves a community of over 22,500 members across FE colleges, independent training providers, adult learning organisations, individual educators, and governance bodies. Its statutory designation is backed by the UK Department for Education, which underwrites core offerings such as Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS), Advanced Teacher Status (ATS), and specialist statuses including SSSEND and SSESD that carry statutory protection for practitioners.
ETF's core product is the MyETF Dashboard, launched in 2025 as a unified single-login platform integrating learning, membership, communities, events, bookings and account settings, supplemented by an ePortfolio system for QTLS/ATS programme participants and a Professional Standards Self-Assessment Tool. The product portfolio extends across a CPD course catalogue (covering T Levels, digital skills, English/maths/ESOL, safeguarding, SEND, apprenticeships and leadership), the T Level Professional Development (TLPD) programme running since 2019, an award-winning Leadership Development Pathway for CEOs and managers, the ETF Partnership programme for organisational subscribers, and the InTuition member journal. Commercial operations are partly run through wholly-owned subsidiary ETF Services Ltd, which operates the ePortfolio platform.
ETF operates a diversified revenue model spanning individual membership subscriptions, recurring ETF Partnership agreements with colleges and training providers, professional development course fees, and government contracts. Material contract activity includes a £11.76 million Universal SEND Services contract, a £12 million Level 3 Early Years SENCO contract, and a UK Department for Education announcement of £200 million in SEND training investment for the current parliament. Distribution combines self-serve digital access through MyETF, direct enterprise partnerships for organisational clients, and dedicated phone/email support channels, making ETF the principal system-wide professional infrastructure for England's FE and skills workforce.
The Education and Training Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Education and Training Foundation
- Legal name
- The Education Training Foundation
- Website
- https://et-foundation.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is the designated professional body for England's further education and skills sector. It delivers professional standards, recognised statuses (QTLS and ATS), CPD courses, SEND training, and leadership development through its MyETF Dashboard platform to 22,500+ members and partner organisations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Education and Training Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Further Education Professional Body Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF), In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB)
Keywords
Where The Education and Training Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Education and Training Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees from individual educators in the FE and skills sector. Membership provides access to professional standards, recognized status, resources, and community benefits.
- ETF Partnership (Organisational): Corporate partnership agreements with colleges, training providers, and adult learning organisations for workforce development, leadership programmes, and professional development services.
- Professional Development Courses: Courses and training programmes for individuals and organisations covering topics including T Levels, digital skills, English/maths/ESOL, safeguarding, SEND, apprenticeships, and leadership.
- Government Contracts: Government-funded contracts for specific programmes including Universal SEND Services (£11.76 million) and Level 3 Early Years SENCO course (£12 million), plus £200 million SEND training investment announced for the parliament period.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual membership with career stage grades |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Education and Training Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is the designated professional body for the further education (FE) and skills sector in England, providing individual membership, recognised professional statuses (QTLS, ATS, specialist statuses), continuing professional development courses, leadership development programmes, and an organisational ETF Partnership service delivered through the MyETF Dashboard. Revenue is generated from individual and organisational membership subscriptions, course fees, and government-funded contracts for programmes such as SEND training.
Product overview
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) operates as a membership organisation and professional body for the further education and skills sector in England. The core offering is a platform-plus-services architecture centred on ETF Membership and the MyETF Dashboard, which provides unified access to professional development, recognised statuses (QTLS, ATS, Specialist Statuses), and resources. The product portfolio includes professional standards self-assessment tools, CPD courses across topics like T Levels, leadership, SEND, and digital skills, leadership development programmes, and the ETF Partnership service for organisational development. Key products include the TLPD (T Level Professional Development) programme, professional standards frameworks, and membership grades that reflect career stages from student teachers through to senior leaders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MyETF: Online dashboard bringing learning, communities, and professional support together with a single login for ETF members.
- QTLS
- ATS
- InTuition
Products and services
- ETF Membership Professional membership for further education and skills practitioners, with grades reflecting career stage from student teacher through to advanced practitioner, providing access to resources, community, professional standards, and status application routes.
- MyETF Dashboard Single-login online portal providing ETF members with access to learning modules, membership account, communities, events, bookings, and professional support resources.
- QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) Status Statutory professional status for teachers and trainers in the FE and skills sector, providing recognised standing equivalent to QTS for school teachers, with ePortfolio-based assessment.
- ATS (Advanced Teacher Status) Professional status for experienced FE and skills practitioners demonstrating advanced teaching practice and a sustained commitment to professional development.
- SSSEND (Specialist Status in SEND) Specialist professional status recognising expertise in supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities across FE and skills settings.
- SSESD (Specialist Status in Education for Sustainable Development) Specialist professional status recognising expertise in education for sustainable development for FE and skills practitioners.
- Professional Standards Self-Assessment Tool Online self-assessment tool that allows teaching staff to evaluate engagement with ETF's Professional Standards and identify development priorities across career stages.
- Professional Development Courses Continuing professional development courses for individuals and organisations covering apprenticeships, digital skills, English, maths and ESOL, safeguarding, SEND, T Levels, and leadership.
- T Level Professional Development (TLPD) Specialised CPD programme supporting teachers, trainers, leaders and organisations delivering T Levels, including an in-house delivery offer for colleges and training providers.
- Leadership Development Pathway Award-winning leadership development programmes for FE and skills CEOs, executives, senior and middle leaders, aspiring leaders, and governance professionals, delivered with world-class partners.
- ETF Partnership Annual organisational partnership programme for FE colleges, training providers, and adult learning organisations, providing workforce strategy support, leadership development, and teaching excellence resources.
- ETF Resource Library Digital library of learning resources, materials, and tools supporting professional development across the further education and skills sector.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 22,500 members in the professional community
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Education and Training Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Education and Training Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Education and Training Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- New City CollegecoreNew City College is an ETF Partner, implementing sustained CPD as an everyday part of their organisational culture. Gerry McDonald CBE, Group Principal and CEO, provides testimonial praising ETF's role in challenging the college to raise professional standards.
- FE News (Bridging the SEND Transition Collective)coreCollaborative partnership on 'Beyond the label' report - a SEND reform report developed by ETF and FE News Bridging the SEND Transition Collective. Offers practical recommendations for policymakers and providers on anticipatory systems, universal design principles, and continuing professional development culture.
- World-class Partners and System LeaderscoreLeadership development portfolio is designed and delivered with world-class partners and system leaders, combining academic insights, deep sector understanding, and focus on public good.
- ETF Services LtdETF Services Ltd (Company No. 9511877, VAT: 212116665) is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Education Training Foundation, operating the ePortfolio platform and related services.
- UK Department for EducationcoreGovernment department providing statutory backing for ETF's professional body role. Sources contracts including £200 million SEND training investment, £11.76 million Universal SEND Services, and £12 million Level 3 Early Years SENCO course.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Education and Training Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chartered College of Teaching: Chartered professional body for the teaching profession in the UK. Highly comparable to ETF as a membership-based organisation offering professional standards, chartered status recognition and CPD resources for educators.
- NCFE: National awarding organisation and educational charity offering vocational qualifications and CPD across the FE and skills sector. Comparable to ETF as a mission-driven education body delivering qualifications, training and professional development to FE practitioners and learners.
Broad incumbents
- Association of Colleges (AoC): The national membership body for FE and sixth-form colleges in England. Comparable to ETF as it serves the same FE institutional customer base with workforce, leadership and policy support, though focused on college representation rather than individual teacher professional status.
- City & Guilds: One of the UK's largest vocational qualification awarding bodies, providing certification, training and CPD across technical and FE subjects. Comparable to ETF through overlapping content areas (T Levels, apprenticeships, ESOL, leadership) and a similar institutional customer base.
- Pearson (Education division): Global education company delivering vocational qualifications, T Levels, apprenticeships and CPD resources. Comparable to ETF in its coverage of FE teaching, leadership development and curriculum reform support, though as a much larger commercial incumbent.
Emerging players
- Jisc: UK digital, data and technology body for higher education and FE. Comparable to ETF as a sector-supporting organisation providing digital infrastructure, content and guidance to FE institutions, increasingly overlapping with ETF's professional development and standards work.
- SFJ Awards: UK awarding organisation focused on policing, security, fire and FE workforce qualifications. Comparable to ETF as a sector-focused awarding and certification body delivering CPD-adjacent programmes and status recognition for practitioner workforces.
Others
- Gatsby Foundation: Charitable foundation supporting technical education, FE and skills reform in the UK. Comparable to ETF through its influence on FE policy, funding of FE sector initiatives and active programmes to strengthen FE teaching and pathways.
- University and College Union (UCU): Trade union representing staff in FE, HE and adult learning across the UK. Comparable to ETF as a sector-membership organisation engaging FE educators on professional standards, working conditions and policy advocacy.
Regional players
- Skills Development Scotland: National skills body for Scotland delivering workforce development, training and FE-related policy. Comparable to ETF in role and mission but operates in a separate devolved territory, limiting direct competition while mirroring ETF's professional body concept.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Education and Training Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Education and Training Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Education and Training Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Education and Training Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Education and Training Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Education and Training Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Education and Training Foundation
What does The Education and Training Foundation do?
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is the designated professional body for the further education (FE) and skills sector in England, providing individual membership, recognised professional statuses (QTLS, ATS, specialist statuses), continuing professional development courses, leadership development programmes, and an organisational ETF Partnership service delivered through the MyETF Dashboard. Revenue is generated from individual and organisational membership subscriptions, course fees, and government-funded contracts for programmes such as SEND training.
Is The Education and Training Foundation a public or private company?
The Education and Training Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Education and Training Foundation founded?
The Education and Training Foundation was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The Education and Training Foundation based?
The Education and Training Foundation is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Education and Training Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are ETF Partnership (Organisational), professional Development Courses and government Contracts.
Who are The Education and Training Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chartered College of Teaching and NCFE. Broad incumbents are Association of Colleges (AoC), City & Guilds and Pearson (Education division). Emerging players are Jisc and SFJ Awards. Others are Gatsby Foundation and University and College Union (UCU). Skills Development Scotland is listed as a regional player.
Does The Education and Training Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Education and Training Foundation.
What industry is The Education and Training Foundation in?
The Education and Training Foundation's product category is Further Education Professional Body Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAI, Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance, with a secondary code of BPADAKAL, Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.