What SFJ AWARDS does

SFJ Awards is a UK regulated awarding organisation and apprenticeship end-point assessment organisation, founded operationally by 2014 and headquartered in Sheffield, England. It operates as a wholly owned entity of The Workforce Development Trust, a registered charity (England and Wales 1143246; Scotland SC045901), and is regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales and CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland. The business delivers a portfolio of over 150 regulated qualifications spanning Entry Level through Level 8 across fire and rescue, policing, private security, justice and custodial care, emergency services and integrated care, alongside end-point assessment for 15-plus apprenticeship standards covering roles such as Operational Firefighter, Police Community Support Officer, Custody and Detention Professional, and Emergency Contact Handler. Service delivery runs through a UK network of 150-plus approved centres that include training providers, colleges, universities and employers (e.g., Warwickshire Police, Ward Security, Xact Consultancy & Training, New Generation Training & Consultancy), with SFJ providing External Quality Assurance (EQA) and qualification approval oversight. Additional offerings include a custom certification service for non-regulated learning programmes, External Quality Assurance support, and the Odyssey Online platform (odyssey-online.co.uk) for certificate verification and centre management.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-learner fees: qualification registration and certification fees range from £10.50 to £210, and apprenticeship end-point assessment fees range from £520 to £1,950 depending on standard. In 2026 the company launched two new apprenticeship assessment support models — SFJ Awards Connect (collaborative delivery) and SFJ Awards Complete (fully managed) — to help providers adapt to apprenticeship assessment reform, and introduced the Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness (CTPSaP), the only qualification with dual endorsement from the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and Counter-Terrorism Policing. Distribution is channel-led via the approved centre network supplemented by direct enterprise engagement, supported by ISO27001 certification for information security management.

Name

SFJ AWARDS

Legal name

SFJ Awards

Website

https://sfjawards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Qualifications and Certification

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Safety Training Academies & Standards (Police/Fire/EMS) (BPAIAGAF), General Security Officer (Unarmed) Training & Certification (BPAKAOAA), Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL), Executive Protection (Close Protection) Training & Certification (BPAKAOAC)

Keywords

• Regulated qualifications
• Apprenticeship assessment
• Vocational certification
• Protective services training
• End-point assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Qualification Registration and Certification: Fees charged for registration and certification of learners undertaking regulated qualifications. Over 130 qualifications available with fees ranging from £10.50 to £210 per qualification.
2. Apprenticeship Assessment (End-Point Assessment): Fees for conducting apprenticeship assessments across various standards including Fire Safety, Policing, Emergency Services, and Probation. Fees range from £520 to £1,950 per assessment depending on the apprenticeship standard.
3. Custom Certification Service: Certification of non-regulated learning programmes for organisations with bespoke training needs. Quality assuring learning outcomes for custom training solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SFJ Awards is a UK awarding organisation that develops, regulates, and certificates vocational qualifications for the protective services workforce. It provides regulated qualifications across fire and rescue, policing, security, justice, and emergency services, along with apprenticeship end-point assessment (EPA) and custom certification for bespoke training programmes. Services are delivered through an approved centre network of training providers, colleges, universities, and employers operating across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Product overview

SFJ Awards is an awarding organisation and apprenticeship assessment organisation offering a portfolio of over 150 regulated qualifications across fire and rescue, policing, security, justice, community services, armed forces, and other protective services sectors. The core offering consists of regulated qualifications (ranging from Entry Level to Level 8) that provide vocational certification for workforce development, complemented by apprenticeship assessment services (including the new SFJ Awards Connect and SFJ Awards Complete models for flexible assessment delivery). Additional offerings include custom certification services for non-regulated learning programmes, quality assurance support for approved centres, and the Odyssey Online platform for certificate verification and centre management. The Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness (CTPSaP) represents a recent major product launch developed with NaCTSO endorsement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SFJ Awards Connect: A collaborative delivery model designed for providers who want to take a more active role in apprenticeship assessment delivery.
• SFJ Awards Complete

Products and services

• Regulated Qualifications Over 150 regulated qualifications from Entry Level to Level 8 spanning fire and rescue, policing, security, justice, community and social justice, armed forces, and other protective services sectors, providing vocational certification for workforce development.
• Apprenticeship Assessment (End-Point Assessment) End-Point Assessment services for apprenticeships across protective services sectors, including standards for Operational Firefighter, Emergency Contact Handler, Police Community Support Officer, Custody and Detention Professional, and more.
• SFJ Awards Connect Collaborative delivery model for apprenticeship assessment, designed for providers who want to take a more active role in assessment delivery while maintaining SFJ Awards oversight and quality assurance.
• SFJ Awards Complete Fully managed apprenticeship assessment service for providers seeking simplicity and assurance, providing end-to-end assessment management with SFJ Awards-led quality assurance.
• Custom Certification Service Certification service for non-regulated learning programmes, providing quality assurance and certification for bespoke training solutions that do not require formal regulated qualification status.
• Certificate of Achievement Custom certification product that assures and certifies learning outcomes for bespoke training solutions, verifying good practice to demonstrate quality assured learning.
• Odyssey Online Online platform for SFJ Awards services including certificate verification, centre management, and learner access, available at odyssey-online.co.uk.
• Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness (CTPSaP) Level 3 qualification designed to support organisations with counter-terrorism risk assessment and protective security preparedness in the context of Martyn's Law.
• Level 6 Diploma in Conducting Serious and Complex Investigations Qualification designed to develop knowledge and skills required by detectives and investigators to conduct serious and complex investigations.
• Level 2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation (Domestic and Residential) Qualification providing knowledge and skills required to install fire sprinkler systems in domestic and residential settings for mechanical fire protection sector professionals.
• Level 3 Award in Fire Safety Management Qualification providing knowledge, understanding and skills for individuals with responsibility for fire risk management in commercial premises and fire marshals at venues.
• Level 2 Award in Fire Safety Principles Qualification for individuals with responsibility for fire safety in the workplace, suitable for Fire Warden or Fire Marshall roles, managers, supervisors and team leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 regulated qualifications and apprenticeship assessments available
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for development of counter-terrorism qualifications. NaCTSO worked with SFJ Awards to design the Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness (CTPSaP) - the only qualification with dual endorsement from NaCTSO and Counter-Terrorism Policing.
• Counter-Terrorism Policing (CTP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorsement partner for CTPSaP qualification alongside NaCTSO. Provides official Counter-Terrorism Policing endorsement ensuring qualification meets operational requirements.
• The Workforce Development TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFJ Awards is part of The Workforce Development Trust group, a registered charity (1143246 England/Wales, SC045901 Scotland) that exists to improve people's lives by enabling effective workforce development. The group includes Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, People 1st International, and iCQ Awards.
• NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFCC Affiliate Member. Partnership supports fire and rescue sector qualification development and alignment with national fire sector standards.
• OfqualcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory recognition as an Ofqual recognised awarding organisation. Qualifications are registered on the Ofqual Register in England, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Policing and Security Sector PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership network including City of London Police, Police Federation, HM Prison & Probation Service, National Probation Service, and other law enforcement bodies for qualification development aligned to sector needs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Highfield Qualifications: UK awarding organisation offering regulated qualifications and end-point assessment across security, first aid, fire safety, and compliance sectors — directly comparable to SFJ Awards in protective services specialism and assessment delivery model.
• NCFE: UK awarding organisation offering regulated qualifications and EPA services across multiple sectors including health, social care, and education — comparable to SFJ Awards in delivery model (qualifications + EPA) and target customer base (training providers and employers).
• Skills for Justice: Sister organisation of SFJ Awards within The Workforce Development Trust, focused on workforce development across policing, fire and rescue, and justice sectors — closest sectoral peer given shared parent and overlapping protective services domain.
• AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group: UK awarding organisation providing regulated qualifications and EPA across diverse vocational sectors — directly comparable delivery model to SFJ Awards with similar target audience of training providers and employers.
• Training Qualifications UK (TQUK): Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation providing regulated qualifications and EPA services across multiple sectors including security and public services — competes directly with SFJ Awards for approved centre relationships and per-learner fees.
• ProQual: Awarding organisation offering vocational qualifications and end-point assessment across technical and service sectors including security and public services — comparable business model and customer base to SFJ Awards.
• iCQ Awards: Sister-brand awarding organisation within The Workforce Development Trust group, offering qualifications across customer service, business, and management — comparable model (regulated qualifications + EPA) and shares parent governance with SFJ Awards.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson (BTEC/Edexcel): Global education and assessment company operating Edexcel and BTEC qualifications, including vocational pathways in protective services and security — competes with SFJ in regulated qualification delivery but with vastly broader portfolio and international footprint.
• City & Guilds: One of the UK's largest and longest-established awarding organisations offering vocational qualifications across many sectors including protective services, security, and emergency response — directly comparable to SFJ Awards' regulated qualification portfolio but at significantly greater scale and broader scope.

Emerging players

• NCC Education: Awarding organisation and assessment provider operating in vocational and technical education sectors — competes with SFJ in regulated qualification delivery though with a more limited portfolio in protective services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SFJAwards
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0AgIJuIvp8SM0Vg5tFHMsw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sfj-awards

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SFJ AWARDS