FDQ

What FDQ does

FDQ (Food and Drink Qualifications) is a UK-based not-for-profit awarding organisation and end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) specialising exclusively in the food and drink industry. Operating under the FTC group parent entity, FDQ is regulated by CCEA Regulation, Ofqual, and Qualification Wales, and is the only food-and-drink-specialist EPAO in the UK. The company delivers accredited qualifications and end-point assessments (EPAs) across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, serving apprentices, food and drink employers, training providers, FE institutions, and approved centres. Its roots trace to the 1946 Institute of Meat (IoM), with FDQ itself developing accredited qualifications for approximately 25 years (founded circa 1999-2001).

The company's core technology stack consists of three interconnected digital platforms: FDQAssess (an online assessment management system for booking, portfolio submission, and result tracking), FDQ Certification (a certification processing service), and the FDQ Hub (a central resource portal integrating assessments, certifications, events, webinars, and qualification information). FDQ is approved to deliver over 100 food and drink qualifications, spanning 14 apprenticeship standards at Levels 2-5 across trades including Butcher, Baker, Fishmonger, Brewer, Dairy Technologist, and Food Industry Technologist. Approved centres access services through a web-based portal, with onboarding via formal Centre Approval, Qualification Application, and Credit Application forms.

FDQ operates a two-pronged revenue model: (1) transaction-based EPA fees, charged at 15-20% of the IfATE/Skills England maximum funding rate per apprenticeship standard, billed on a pay-as-you-go basis; and (2) recurring centre and qualification fees paid by training providers for approval and ongoing qualification delivery. The go-to-market is sales-led, acquiring new approved centres through a structured approval process and engaging apprentices via employer and training-provider partnerships. Pricing is transparent with no hidden or upfront fees, and pre-EPA site visits are provided free of charge. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed, and as a not-for-profit the organisation prioritises sector reinvestment over profit maximisation.

Name

FDQ

Legal name

FDQ Ltd

Website

https://fdq.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FDQ is a UK not-for-profit awarding and end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) that delivers accredited qualifications and apprenticeship assessments exclusively for the food and drink industry across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Qualifications and End-point Assessment Services

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFALACAC

Certification Program Administration & Scheme Management (Standard Owners)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Safety Certification Bodies (ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRCGS, SQF)

SECONDARYAFALANAF

Training & Competency Programs (Food Safety, HACCP, PCQI, Internal Auditor)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS)

Keywords

• End-point assessment
• Awarding organisation
• Apprenticeship qualifications
• Vocational certification
• Food industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. End-point Assessment Fees: FDQ charges for EPA services at 15-20% of the Skills England maximum funding rate for apprenticeship end-point assessments
2. Centre & Qualification Fees: Fees charged to training centres for qualification approval and delivery

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FDQ is a UK Awarding Organisation and End-point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) that delivers apprenticeship end-point assessments and accredited qualifications for the food and drink industry. It operates across 14 apprenticeship standards (Level 2 to Level 5) covering trades such as Butcher, Baker, Fishmonger, Brewer, Dairy Technologist, and Food & Drink Process Operator, and offers qualifications in food safety, food technology, bakery, and butchery through approved centres in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Product overview

FDQ (Food and Drink Qualifications) is an awarding and end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) for the UK food and drink industry. The company offers a portfolio of products and services including: FDQ Hub as the central resource portal providing access to FDQAssess (online assessment management platform) and FDQ Certification services; a comprehensive range of apprenticeship end-point assessments spanning 14 standards from Level 2 to Level 5 covering trades including Butcher, Baker, Fishmonger, Food & Drink Process Operator, Lead Baker, Abattoir Worker, Food & Drink Technical Operator, Food Industry Technologist, Advanced Butcher, Food & Drink Maintenance Engineer, Drinks Dispense Technician, Metal Fabricator, Brewer, and Dairy Technologist; accredited qualifications in areas such as Butchery, Food Industry Skills, Food Safety/HACCP/Allergen Awareness, Supporting the Food Industry, Animal Welfare & Meat Inspection, Bakery & Cake Decoration, and Food Technology; and Endorsed Programmes providing non-regulated professional development including language-specific food safety certificates. FDQ is the only Food and Drink specialist EPAO in the UK and operates as part of the not-for-profit FTC group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Apprenticeship End-point Assessments End-point assessment and qualification services for food and drink apprenticeships across 14 standards at Levels 2-5 for food and drink employers, training providers, and apprentices.
• Accredited Qualifications (Wales & Northern Ireland) Accredited qualifications across Wales and Northern Ireland covering Butchery, Food Industry Skills, Food Safety/HACCP/Allergen Awareness, Supporting the Food Industry, Animal Welfare & Meat Inspection, Bakery & Cake Decoration, and Food Technology, delivered through approved centres.
• FDQAssess Web-based online assessment management platform for booking, portfolio submission, and result tracking of food and drink apprenticeship end-point assessments, for use by apprentices, centres, and EPA staff.
• FDQ Certification Certification processing and management service for apprentices and learners completing food and drink qualifications, issuing formal certificates on behalf of the awarding body.
• Level 4 Brewer Apprenticeship (ST0580) Level 4 apprenticeship standard (ST0580) for brewers covering practical brewing assessment, professional discussion underpinned by portfolio of evidence, and written knowledge test, for brewing industry employers and apprentices.
• Level 4 Brewing Diploma An advanced Level 4 Brewing Diploma covering brewing science, quality control, process optimisation, and sustainability, developed in partnership with the Welsh Government Drinks Cluster for the Welsh and English brewing industry.
• Endorsed Programmes Non-regulated courses and accreditations officially recognised and approved by relevant UK authorities, providing quality training and skills development including foreign-language food safety certificates.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Welsh Government Drinks ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2026Partnership to deliver a new Level 4 Brewing Diploma for Wales' brewing industry. The qualification focuses on brewing science, quality control, process optimisation, and sustainability. This is the first advanced brewing qualification deliverable through an awarding organisation operating in both Wales and England.
• Medr CymrucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2026Medr Cymru (Welsh education and skills body) partnered with FDQ and the Welsh Government Drinks Cluster to secure funding for the Level 4 Brewing Diploma, providing skills investment for Wales' brewing sector.
• Five Welsh Breweries (Felinfoel, Monty's, Magic Dragon, Purple Moose, Wild Horse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive Welsh breweries provided input and shaping for the Level 4 Brewing Diploma qualification, ensuring it meets industry needs for brewing science, quality control, process optimisation, and sustainability.
• Institute of Meat (IoM)minorOthersThe Institute of Meat, established in 1946, remains a sister organisation and valuable source of meat industry expertise to FDQ.
• FTC GroupcoreOthersFDQ is part of the FTC group, a not-for-profit organisation which enables focus on doing the right thing rather than driving the bottom line.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• City & Guilds: One of the UK's largest and longest-established awarding organisations, offering vocational qualifications and end-point assessment across multiple sectors including food and drink. Comparable to FDQ because it operates in the same UK EPA/awarding market, but at much greater scale and breadth.
• Pearson (Edexcel/BTEC): Global education company with significant UK awarding activity through Edexcel and BTEC. Comparable as a UK awarding organisation with vocational and apprenticeship assessment capabilities, though its food and drink exposure is a small part of a much broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• NCFE: UK awarding organisation and end-point assessment organisation operating across multiple sectors including vocational qualifications. Highly comparable to FDQ as a similarly sized English-focused awarding body delivering regulated qualifications and EPA services.
• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH): Professional body offering accredited food safety, HACCP and allergen awareness qualifications in the UK. Comparable to FDQ because it competes directly for food safety/HACCP qualification volumes that overlap with FDQ's endorsed programmes and accredited qualifications portfolio.
• SFJ Awards: UK awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, offering vocational qualifications and end-point assessment across several sectors. Comparable to FDQ as a similarly structured EPAO competing for apprenticeship assessment volumes from training providers and employers.
• Highfield Qualifications: UK-based awarding organisation offering regulated qualifications and end-point assessment, including food safety and compliance programmes. Closely comparable to FDQ as a mid-sized specialist awarding body serving employers and training providers.
• British Institute of Innkeeping (BII): Sector-specific awarding and membership body for the UK drinks and hospitality industry. Highly comparable to FDQ because it offers specialised qualifications and accreditation overlapping with FDQ's brewing, drinks dispense and food service apprenticeship standards.
• Training Qualifications UK (TQUK): UK awarding organisation and EPAO offering regulated qualifications and end-point assessment across multiple sectors. Comparable to FDQ because it operates the same EPA business model for UK apprenticeships, with overlapping food and drink standard coverage.
• Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH): UK awarding organisation offering food safety, hygiene and public health qualifications. Comparable to FDQ as a regulated awarding body competing in overlapping food safety and HACCP qualification categories used by food and drink employers.

Regional players

• Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): Scotland's national awarding body responsible for qualifications and end-point assessment in the Scottish market. Comparable to FDQ as a national-scale awarding/EPAO, but operates in a different UK jurisdiction that FDQ does not currently serve.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fdq-ltd-company
• Xx.com/FDQ1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 FDQ