Sava
Sava School of Surveying is a UK private qualification provider delivering Ofqual-regulated, ABBE-accredited professional surveying qualifications — including a Level 6 Diploma with direct RICS entry — to career changers and social housing professionals through its Moodle-based Sava Learn platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersWolverton, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Sava does
Sava School of Surveying (legal entity: Sava Limited) is a UK-based private qualification provider founded in 1984 as Energy Advisory Services and rebranded in 2025 to its current name. The company delivers accredited professional qualifications for the residential surveying and social housing sectors, anchored by the Level 6 Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation — an Ofqual-regulated, ABBE-accredited part-time qualification that provides direct entry to RICS at Associate Level — and the Skills Builder+ suite of stackable Level 4 Awards and Certificates addressing building pathology, compliance, and construction skills gaps in social housing. Qualifications are delivered through Sava Learn, a Moodle-based proprietary LMS with e-portfolio and digital assessment functionality, and are complemented by free CPD resources including the Property EDGE webinar series, the Sava EDGE article library, and periodic Technical Bulletins.
The business operates on a per-learner fee model, with module pricing ranging from £645 to £2,495+VAT, supplemented by monthly direct debit instalment plans and third-party funding pathways (ELCAS for military service leavers, CITB for construction workers). Distribution is multi-channel: direct website enrolment, phone sales, employer partnerships with surveying firms that recruit Sava graduates (including e.surv, Landview Surveyors, and Camsure Homes), and the annual Residential Surveying Expo held in Coventry. Core customer segments are individual career changers seeking entry into residential surveying (average learner age 38) and social housing professionals seeking technical upskilling, served through a vertically segmented approach. Since launching the Diploma in 2014, Sava has produced more than 900 graduates into the UK surveying workforce.
Sava firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sava
- Legal name
- Sava Limited
- Website
- https://www.sava.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Sava School of Surveying is a UK private qualification provider delivering Ofqual-regulated, ABBE-accredited professional surveying qualifications — including a Level 6 Diploma with direct RICS entry — to career changers and social housing professionals through its Moodle-based Sava Learn platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sava industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Surveying Education and Training
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Real Estate & Property Services (EDABALAW)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)
Keywords
Where Sava is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wolverton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sava business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Professional Qualifications: Revenue from offering accredited surveying and housing qualifications including the Level 6 Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation, Level 4 Awards and Certificates. Payment options include Payment in Advance, Pay as You Learn (monthly direct debit), and Third Party Finance.
- Skills Builder+ Qualifications: Online, stackable Level 4 qualifications addressing technical skills gaps in the social housing sector.
- Course Fees: Fees collected for qualifications with various payment structures including reservation fees, deposits, and installment plans through mandatory direct debit.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Level 4 Certificate in Understanding Housing Construction - £2,495 + VAT |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Building Regulations in England Award - £645 + VAT |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Damp and Condensation in Residential Buildings Award |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Level 6 Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Sava product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sava School of Surveying provides accredited professional qualifications for the UK housing sector, principally the Level 6 Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation (a part-time, Ofqual-regulated, ABBE-accredited pathway providing direct entry to RICS at Associate Level) and the Skills Builder+ suite of Level 4 Awards and Certificates for social housing professionals covering building pathology, construction, building regulations, health and safety, and law. Training is delivered through a proprietary Moodle-based online learning platform branded Sava Learn that hosts course materials, e-portfolio systems, and digital assessments, while complementary free CPD resources include Property EDGE webinars, the Sava EDGE digital article library, and Technical Bulletins for housing professionals.
Product overview
Sava School of Surveying is a provider of professional surveying qualifications offering a unified portfolio centered on two core pathways: the Level 6 Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation (a part-time, industry-recognised route into residential surveying aligned with RICS) and the Skills Builder+ suite of Level 4 Awards and Certificates for social housing professionals. The Level 4 qualifications are modular and stackable, with mandatory core awards (Health and Safety, Law) plus optional specialised awards covering building pathology (damp, roofs, walls, foundations), construction, and building regulations. Free resources including Property EDGE webinars, Sava EDGE article library, and Technical Bulletins complement the paid qualifications. The Sava Learn LMS platform delivers all online learning content and assessment workflows. The company also organises the annual Residential Surveying Expo for networking and CPD.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation (Level 6) A part-time, industry-recognised Level 6 qualification providing a professional route into residential surveying. Aligned with the RICS Residential Survey and Valuation pathway, the diploma enables graduates to qualify as professional residential surveyors with eligibility for direct entry to RICS at Associate Level, typically completed in 24 months.
- Skills Builder+ (Level 4 Awards and Certificates) A suite of online, stackable Level 4 qualifications addressing technical skills gaps in the social housing sector. Includes mandatory awards such as Health and Safety and Introduction to Law, plus optional awards covering building pathology, construction, and compliance topics. Designed to help housing professionals upskill and build competent, technically capable teams.
- Certificate in Understanding Housing Construction (Level 4) A stackable Level 4 Certificate built from five smaller awards (two mandatory and three optional), providing comprehensive knowledge of residential construction. Delivered entirely online over 130+ learning hours; on completion, learners are eligible to apply for Technical membership with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE). Pricing is £2,495 + VAT with ELCAS and CITB funding routes.
- Understanding the Building Regulations in England as They Apply to Domestic Dwellings (Level 4 Award) A 40-hour Ofqual-recognised Level 4 Award providing knowledge of Building Regulations in domestic buildings in England, covering background, purpose, legal framework, enforcement consequences, and Approved Documents. Priced at £645 + VAT.
- Understanding Damp and Condensation in Residential Buildings (Level 4 Award) Level 4 Award covering the signs, symptoms, risks and remediation of damp and condensation in residential buildings. Includes inspection methods such as visual inspection, moisture meters, thermal imaging, and humidity measurement. Priced at £645 + VAT.
- Understanding Balconies, Terraces and Walkways on Residential Property (Level 4 Award) A 30-hour Level 4 Award covering balcony, terrace and walkway safety, structural factors, defects, and property conversion considerations for housing professionals. Priced at £645 + VAT.
- Understanding Ceilings and Internal Finishes in Residential Properties (Level 4 Award) Level 4 Award covering ceiling construction, failure modes, ceiling void hazards, asbestos duties, and management plans for housing managers.
- Introduction to the Construction of Walls and Floors for Housing Professionals (Level 4 Award) A 50-hour Level 4 Award covering wall and floor construction, deterioration mechanisms, energy efficiency, timber defects, and ground gas mitigation for housing professionals.
- Understanding Pitched Roofs for Housing Professionals (Level 4 Award) Level 4 Award covering pitched roof coverings, failure mechanisms, legislation, risk assessment, fire safety, and warm/cold roof ventilation principles for housing professionals.
- Understanding Flat Roofs for Low-rise Residential Property (Level 4 Award) Level 4 Award covering flat roof construction, components, drainage, warm/cold roof principles, Building Regulations, and inspection scope definition for housing professionals.
- Introduction to Understanding Law (Level 4 Award) A 20-hour Level 4 Award covering English law principles including characteristics of English law, sources of law, and legal rights enforcement for housing professionals.
- Understanding Site and Foundations for Housing Professionals (Level 4 Award) Level 4 Award covering foundation types, soil implications, water effects on foundations, flood risks, sloping site risks, and retaining wall issues for housing professionals.
- Principles of Health and Safety Arising from Work Activities in Residential Property (Level 4 Award) Level 4 Award covering health and safety considerations for housing professionals, risk assessment principles, and identification of primary dangers in residential properties.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 900 individuals have embarked on a new career in residential surveying through Sava since launching the diploma in 2014
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sava
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sava technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Sava partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)coreRICS is the professional body for chartered surveyors. Sava's Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation provides direct entry to RICS at Associate Level. Learners must demonstrate equivalent of 200 days' full-time experience which can be gained concurrently whilst undertaking the diploma.
- Awarding Body for the Built Environment (ABBE)coreABBE is the awarding body that accredits Sava's qualifications. The diploma is Ofqual regulated and ABBE accredited, ensuring quality and credibility of the qualifications.
- ELCASminorEnhanced Learning Credits Administration and Services. Funding option available for service leavers to access Sava's Level 4 qualifications.
- CITBminorConstruction Industry Training Board. Funding option available for learners working in construction to access Sava's Level 4 qualifications.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sava competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE): CABE is a professional body offering technical membership pathways and training relevant to housing construction professionals — overlapping with Sava's Level 4 Certificate in Understanding Housing Construction outcome (CABE Tech membership eligibility).
- University College of Estate Management (UCEM): UCEM is a UK-based online institution offering RICS-accredited surveying and built environment degree programs. It competes directly with Sava for part-time, career-changer learners seeking RICS pathways.
- BRE Academy: BRE Academy delivers built environment and property-related training, including modules used within Sava's qualifications. It is a direct competitor in CPD and technical training for housing professionals.
Others
- College of Estate Management (Linked to UCEM): The historic College of Estate Management is the predecessor institution to UCEM and remains part of the same ecosystem — adjacent to Sava's niche in surveying education.
- Knight Frank (Training & CPD Programs): Knight Frank is a major UK real estate firm offering internal CPD and training programs for surveyors. While not a direct competitor, it represents adjacent industry-led training that influences the surveyor talent market Sava serves.
Broad incumbents
- RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors): RICS is the UK chartered body for surveyors and a strategic partner for Sava's Direct Entry pathway. It also accredits competitor programs, setting the regulatory framework within which Sava operates.
- Northumbria University (Surveying Programs): Northumbria offers RICS-accredited undergraduate and postgraduate surveying degrees, competing with Sava for the same pool of aspiring residential surveyors, particularly school-leavers.
- Sheffield Hallam University (Surveying): Sheffield Hallam offers RICS-accredited surveying degrees, representing an incumbent university competitor in the UK surveying education market.
- Nottingham Trent University (Real Estate & Surveying): NTU provides RICS-accredited real estate and surveying degrees. It is a broader incumbent education provider competing for the same prospective chartered surveyor talent pool.
- University of Reading (Real Estate & Planning): The University of Reading's Henley Business School offers established RICS-accredited real estate programs, a long-standing incumbent in UK surveying higher education that competes with Sava's professional qualification pathway.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sava social profiles
Digital presenceSava compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Sava financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sava leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sava funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sava 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 Sava
What does Sava do?
Sava School of Surveying provides accredited professional qualifications for the UK housing sector, principally the Level 6 Diploma in Residential Surveying and Valuation (a part-time, Ofqual-regulated, ABBE-accredited pathway providing direct entry to RICS at Associate Level) and the Skills Builder+ suite of Level 4 Awards and Certificates for social housing professionals covering building pathology, construction, building regulations, health and safety, and law. Training is delivered through a proprietary Moodle-based online learning platform branded Sava Learn that hosts course materials, e-portfolio systems, and digital assessments, while complementary free CPD resources include Property EDGE webinars, the Sava EDGE digital article library, and Technical Bulletins for housing professionals.
Is Sava a public or private company?
Sava is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sava founded?
Sava was founded in 1983. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Sava based?
Sava is headquartered in Wolverton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Sava make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Qualifications are the primary driver. The others are skills Builder+ Qualifications and course Fees.
Who are Sava's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), University College of Estate Management (UCEM) and BRE Academy. Others are College of Estate Management (Linked to UCEM) and Knight Frank (Training & CPD Programs). Broad incumbents are RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), Northumbria University (Surveying Programs), Sheffield Hallam University (Surveying), Nottingham Trent University (Real Estate & Surveying) and University of Reading (Real Estate & Planning).
Does Sava have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sava.
What industry is Sava in?
Sava's product category is Professional Surveying Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABALAW, Real Estate & Property Services, with a secondary code of EDAAALAG, Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.