CPD Standards Office

What CPD Standards Office does

CPD Standards Office (CPDSO) is a UK-based independent accreditation body founded in 2012 by Amanda Rosewarne following a multi-year academic research partnership with Kingston Business School. The organisation assesses and certifies Continuing Professional Development activities delivered by training providers, professional coaches, public speakers, event organizers and educators. Its services are sector-agnostic, covering 60+ industries and operating in 72 countries including the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and the Middle East. The legal entity is The Professional Development Consortium t/a The CPD Standards Office Limited, registered in England and Wales (company number 08293321), with headquarters in Staines-upon-Thames and a regional office in Dubai established in 2023.

The product portfolio spans a core CPD Accreditation service with specialised tracks for face-to-face training courses, digital learning (e-learning, webinars, podcasts), events and conferences, and public speakers. Supporting programmes include the tiered Coach of Excellence accreditation (Qualified, Professional, Expert), Provider of Training Excellence for organisation-level verification, and a Dual Accreditation combining the two. Each accredited organisation receives a unique membership number and digital community badge for display across its materials. Assessment follows a standard 30-day review with a 14-day Fast Track option, an optional blockchain-based digital certificate service delivered through a partnership with Certifier.io, and a searchable CPD Directory marketplace that surfaces accredited providers to professionals seeking CPD hours.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring annual membership fees for accredited providers (with a 15% loyalty discount from the second year), one-time assessment fees that vary by certification type and activity count, ticketed revenue from the British Certified Trainer Masterclass (£695-£995 in London; $399-$699 in MENA), and reduced-rate access to blockchain certificate issuance. Distribution combines consultative direct sales via free advisor consultations, online application portals, the CPD Directory marketplace, and content marketing through the Friday Fresh newsletter and CPD Research publications. The business is bootstrapped with no external funding rounds disclosed, supporting an 11-50 employee headcount across the UK headquarters, MENA office and registered Preston office.

Name

CPD Standards Office

Legal name

The Professional Development Consortium t/a The CPD Standards Office Limited

Website

https://cpdstandards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CPD Standards Office is a UK-based independent accreditation body founded in 2012 that certifies continuing professional development training providers, coaches, speakers, and event organizers, serving 1,000+ active accredited providers across 72 countries through annual memberships, assessment fees, and trainer masterclasses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Development Accreditation Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• CPD accreditation services
• Training provider certification
• Professional development accreditation
• Coach excellence programme
• Continuing education verification

Headquarters

HQ city

Staines-upon-thames

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CPD Accreditation Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for accredited providers. First year fee paid upon application, second year billed at renewal (13 months later) with 15% loyalty discount. Membership runs minimum two years then continues on one-year rolling basis.
2. Accreditation Assessment Fees: One-time assessment fees varying by certification type and number of learning activities submitted for accreditation. Standard 30-day assessment included; expedited 14-day Fast Track assessment available for additional fee. Prices confirmed during free consultation call.
3. British Certified Trainer Masterclass: Revenue from in-person masterclass programs for trainers. London sessions priced at £995 (non-members) / £695 (members). MENA region sessions priced at $699 (non-members) / $399 (members). Programs include 2 days face-to-face training plus online follow-up.
4. Digital Certificate Services: Discounted access to Certifier.io workspace for issuing CPD certificates. Blockchain-based certificate verification services provided at discounted rates for accredited members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The CPD Standards Office provides independent CPD accreditation for training providers, coaches, public speakers, digital learning creators, and event organizers across 60+ industries and 72 countries. The accreditation process evaluates learning activities against evidence-based standards developed with Kingston Business School, granting members a verifiable trustmark, digital badges, and access to the CPD Directory. Supporting offerings include the British Certified Trainer Masterclass training programme, discounted blockchain-based digital certificate services via Certifier.io, and tiered specializations such as Coach of Excellence and Provider of Training Excellence.

Product overview

The CPD Standards Office operates as an independent CPD accreditation organisation offering a unified accreditation platform with multiple certification pathways. The core offering includes CPD Accreditation Services for training providers, coaches, speakers, and educators, with specialised accreditations for face-to-face training, digital learning, events/conferences, and public speakers. Supporting programmes include Coach of Excellence (tiered coach accreditation), Provider of Training Excellence, and Dual Accreditation combining both. The portfolio also includes the British Certified Trainer Masterclass (a training programme), the CPD Directory (searchable provider database), the Friday Fresh Newsletter (weekly industry communications), and the CPD Research Project (academic publications). Optional blockchain-based digital certificates are available as an add-on service. The ecosystem is supported by a global community of over 1,000 accredited providers across 72 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coach of Excellence: International accreditation programme for professional coaches awarded across three categories - Qualified, Professional and Expert - based on individual experience, qualifications and achievements.
• Provider of Training Excellence
• British Certified Trainer Masterclass
• Digital Learning Accreditation
• Events & Conferences Accreditation
• Public Speaker Accreditation

Products and services

• CPD Accreditation Services Independent CPD accreditation for training providers, coaches, speakers, and educators. Evaluates training activities against CPD standards and grants accreditation status with a trustmark and certificate.
• Face-to-Face Training Accreditation CPD accreditation for training courses delivered face-to-face with a set topic or syllabus. Attracts delegates and enables expansion into new markets.
• Digital Learning Accreditation CPD accreditation for e-learning courses, webinars, podcasts, gamified resources, and structured reading materials delivered online.
• Events & Conferences Accreditation CPD accreditation for conferences, seminars, lectures, forums, roadshows, and networking events. Assessment is built around how events are structured and delivered.
• Public Speaker Accreditation CPD accreditation for professional speakers delivering seminars and presentations to groups, enabling audiences to count time as CPD hours.
• Coach of Excellence International accreditation for professional coaches awarded in three tiers (Qualified, Professional, Expert) based on experience, qualifications and achievements. Assessment examines four pillars: Presence, Impact, Provision, and Focus.
• Provider of Training Excellence Quality symbol accreditation recognising professional training and learning providers that offer high-quality training provisions, verified through a three-stage process: Registration, Assessment, and Accreditation.
• Dual Accreditation Combined CPD accreditation with Provider of Training Excellence accreditation, providing both organisation verification and portfolio accreditation for comprehensive quality assurance.
• British Certified Trainer Masterclass A CPD Standards Office-endorsed 3-day masterclass (2 in-person days + 1 online) focused on practical high-impact training techniques for virtual and face-to-face settings. Available in London and MENA region (Riyadh).

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of CPD research respondents achieved career growth through CPD activities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kingston Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Academic research partnership with Kingston Business School for the foundational CPD Research Project conducted over two years. Research was rooted in industrial and occupational psychology examining CPD from perspectives of learning providers, professional bodies, and individual professionals. Partnership generated evidence-based methodology for accreditation services.
• MemberWise NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with MemberWise Network to QA and verify the comprehensive CPD Across Industries resource listing professional bodies, institutes, and regulators with CPD policies. MemberWise is an independent professional network providing practical help to circa 8,000+ membership and association professionals in UK and overseas. Jointly developed and delivered project ensuring accurate industry coverage.
• Professional Development ConsortiumcoreOthersThe CPD Standards Office operates as part of the Professional Development Consortium, a research organization that works to build bridges between CPD stakeholders including individuals, employers, professional bodies, and providers. The Consortium encourages spread of best practices and sharing of support across the professional development ecosystem.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• City & Guilds: Major UK awarding body providing accreditation, qualifications, and certification across vocational and professional training. Overlaps with CPDSO as a quality assurance provider but serves a much broader range of regulated qualifications and institutional clients.
• Highfield Qualifications: UK awarding body providing regulated qualifications and certified CPD courses across multiple sectors. Comparable in accreditation-as-a-service mechanics but with a wider regulated-qualifications portfolio and established exam centre network.
• Training Qualification UK (TQUK): UK awarding body with Ofqual recognition, serving training providers with regulated qualifications and CPD-certified endorsements — competes with CPDSO for training-provider accreditation budgets but on a broader regulated-qualifications basis.
• NCFE: Large UK awarding organisation offering vocational and technical qualifications, with end-point assessment and CPD-adjacent services. A broader, more established incumbent with deeper institutional relationships than CPDSO.
• Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM): A larger, well-established UK professional body (part of the City & Guilds group) offering accreditations, qualifications, and CPD pathways. Operates in overlapping provider-quality space but with a broader portfolio including leadership qualifications and chartered status.

Direct peers

• Quality Licence Scheme: UK-based accreditation body issuing CPD and quality marks to training providers, professional bodies, and educational organisations — competes head-to-head with CPD Standards Office in the same accreditation-as-a-service market with overlapping target customers.
• The CPD Certification Service: The leading UK-based CPD accreditation body, offering independent CPD certification across a wide range of industries — directly comparable to CPD Standards Office in product, target customer (training providers, coaches, speakers), and value proposition (independent third-party trustmark).
• Gatehouse Awards: UK awarding organisation offering regulated accreditation and certification services for training providers, with comparable CPD and quality assurance offerings to CPD Standards Office members.

Others

• MemberWise Network: Partner and ecosystem participant — an independent network of 8,000+ membership and association professionals. Functions as a partner (not competitor) for CPDSO delivering the CPD Across Industries resource, but is implicitly comparable as a CPD-adjacent community/resource provider for membership organisations.

Emerging players

• Centre for CPD Excellence: An Australian CPD accreditation provider with international reach — comparable in independent third-party CPD accreditation model but with a smaller, regional-centric footprint relative to CPD Standards Office.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CPDStandards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CPD Standards Office