British Association For Supported Employment

What British Association For Supported Employment does

British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) is the UK's national membership body for the supported employment sector, registered in England and Wales as company no. 05794990 and charity no. 1136395, and headquartered in Aldershot. It serves supported employment providers, employers, job coaches, job seekers (particularly disabled, neurodivergent and disadvantaged individuals), and government commissioners, with a stated community of 350-500+ member organisations and 15,000+ people trained through its national network. Its core products include BASE Membership (annual subscriptions starting from £125), accredited training and consultancy (Level 3 Certificate for Practitioners, TSI Certificate, SEQF workshops), the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Model Fidelity tool, the annual European Conference and BASE Awards, the free Learning.BASE digital training platform, National Occupational Standards, the Internships Work programme, and a Sector Vacancies Board.

BASE monetises through four primary revenue streams: recurring membership subscriptions, professional services training and consultancy (delivered in partnership with Inclusive Trading CIC), transactional conference and event income (tickets, sponsorship, exhibitions), and fidelity assessment services for SEQF certification. Pricing is transparent at the training level (£195+VAT for members, £234+VAT for non-members on the SEQF Managers Workshop), while membership and Level 3 Certificate pricing varies. Its go-to-market is community-led, combining digital channels (website, Learning.BASE, social media, newsletters, webinars) with in-person events (annual European conference, regional meetings in the North East, Midlands, and Scotland). Operationally, BASE runs no consumer-facing software product; its technical estate is a website portal plus a PowerApps-based booking system, and it holds no patents. The organisation is structured as a charity with no parent company, no external investors, and no disclosed funding rounds; it is governed by a National Executive Committee and managed by a small executive team.

Name

British Association For Supported Employment

Legal name

British Association for Supported Employment

Website

https://base-uk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BASE is the UK's leading national membership body for the supported employment sector, connecting 350+ provider organisations, employers, job coaches, and commissioners through training, quality frameworks, and the annual European Conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Employment Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

Keywords

• Supported employment services
• Membership association
• Vocational rehabilitation training
• Disability employment advocacy
• Quality assurance frameworks

Headquarters

HQ city

Aldershot

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees providing access to resources, regional networking, sector vacancies, advocacy support, and training discounts (20%).
2. Training and Consultancy Services: Accredited training programmes including Level 3 Certificate for Practitioners, SEQF workshops, TSI Certificate, and bespoke consultancy packages. Delivered in partnership with Inclusive Trading CIC.
3. Conference and Events: Annual European Conference with ticket sales, sponsorship packages, and exhibition opportunities. Includes BASE Awards ceremony.
4. Fidelity Assessment Services: External assessment services for SEQF Model Fidelity certification of supported employment providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BASE is a UK membership charity that delivers training, accreditation, a quality framework (SEQF), conferences, awards, and policy leadership to the supported employment sector. It serves as the national voice connecting 350+ provider organisations, employers, commissioners, and practitioners who help disabled, neurodivergent, and disadvantaged people access real paid employment through the internationally recognised five-stage supported employment model.

Product overview

BASE (British Association for Supported Employment) is the UK's leading membership body for supported employment, offering a unified portfolio of membership services, professional training, quality frameworks, conferences, awards, and sector resources. The core offering centres on BASE Membership (connecting 350+ organisations) combined with Training and Consultancy Services (including Level 3 Certificates and SEQF programmes), the Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) for quality assurance, the annual European Conference and BASE Awards, National Occupational Standards, Learning.BASE digital training platform, Internships Work programmes, a Sector Vacancies Board, and Policy and Research Resources. The organisation does not operate a software product but provides advocacy, standards, training, networking, and policy leadership for the supported employment sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BASE Membership Annual membership programme connecting 350+ UK supported employment organisations with access to resources, regional networking, sector vacancies, advocacy support, and a 20% training discount on accredited courses.
• Training and Consultancy Services Accredited training programmes and specialist consultancy including the Level 3 Certificate for Supported Employment Practitioners, Supported Employment Techniques Course, TSI Certificate Course, Vocational Profiling and Action Planning, Disability Awareness for Job Coaches, Progressing the Relationship with Employers, and Understanding Access to Work Employment Pathways.
• Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) Model Fidelity tool that helps supported employment agencies embed robust, evidence-based practice across the five-stage supported employment model, including external assessment capability for certifying provider fidelity to the SEQF.
• European Supported Employment Conference Annual conference bringing together supported employment professionals from across the UK and Europe for networking, learning, and recognition, with ticketed attendance, sponsorship packages, and exhibition opportunities.
• BASE Awards Annual awards programme celebrating achievement in supported employment across categories including David Grainger Award, Innovation Award, Jurgen Donaldson Award, Large Employer Award, Small/Micro Employer Award, Practitioner of the Year, Small Supported Employment Team, Social Value Award, and Supported Employment Leader.
• National Occupational Standards Professional benchmark standards for Job Coaches and Supported Employment practitioners across the UK, aligned with the internationally agreed five-stage supported employment model.
• Learning.BASE Free community digital training platform offering accessibility training, disability awareness, and professional development resources for supported employment practitioners and the wider community.
• Internships Work Supported Internships programme giving young people with SEND valuable experience in real workplace settings, complemented by funded Job Coach Training for eligible participants.
• Sector Vacancies Board Job board connecting supported employment professionals with employment opportunities across the UK sector, including roles for Employment Consultants, Supported Employment Officers, and Job Coaches.
• Supported Employment Model Resources Educational resources explaining the five-stage supported employment model (engagement, vocational profiling, employer engagement, job matching, in-work support and career progression) and how providers apply it in practice.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported Employment focuses on real paid jobs, not work readiness, aiming for independence and career development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Strathclyde (Dr. Adam Whitworth)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2025NIHR applied research project collaboration on Supported Employment beyond severe mental health. Dr. Whitworth leads webinars helping local Connect to Work commissioners build effective services.
• West Yorkshire Combined AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2025Market engagement partnership to develop work, skills, and health systems to reduce barriers to employment. BASE participates in events to shape regional initiatives addressing long-term ill health.
• Outshine Telephone Training SpecialistsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - David Grainger Award category.
• Wilson PartnersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - Jurgen Donaldson Award category.
• iDiversity Consulting LtdminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - Large Employer Award category.
• Manchester Airports GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - Practitioner of the Year category.
• Coca-Cola Europacific PartnersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - Small/Micro Employer category.
• MedequipminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - Small Supported Employment Team category.
• IconiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - Social Value Award category.
• King's College LondonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Award sponsor for the 2025 BASE Awards - Supported Employment Leader category.
• Inclusive Trading CICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for delivery of accredited training programmes including the Level 3 Certificate for Supported Employment Practitioners. Also collaborates on bespoke training and consultancy packages with 15 years of specialist experience.
• European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASE participates in the European Supported Employment network and provides access to the European Supported Employment Toolkit aligned with internationally agreed five-stage model.
• West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Thrive At Work ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMCA-funded free Neurodiversity Awareness and Workplace Inclusion training sessions delivered by BASE and Inclusive Trading CIC for employers and support staff in the Midlands area.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Scope: UK disability equality charity with employment-focused programmes and employer engagement. Comparable in serving disabled job seekers and shaping disability employment policy.
• Mencap: Major UK learning disability charity that includes employment support among its services. Operates in the same end-beneficiary market but with a wider advocacy and care portfolio.
• The Prince's Trust: UK youth charity supporting NEET young people into employment and training. Comparable on the disadvantaged-youth employment segment that BASE also targets through Supported Internships.
• Leonard Cheshire: Large UK disability charity offering employment support alongside broader disability services. Comparable in mission and audience, though broader in scope than supported employment specifically.
• European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE): Pan-European membership body for supported employment, of which BASE is a member. EUSE develops the international toolkit and standards BASE adopts, making it an upstream peer and partner.

Direct peers

• Shaw Trust: One of the UK's largest disability employment charities, delivering supported employment and employability services with national reach and government programme delivery. Highly comparable to BASE's provider-side mission.
• Remploy: UK provider of employment services for disabled people, including supported employment programmes funded by DWP. Direct peer in the same customer segment and service model.

Emerging players

• National Autistic Society: UK autism charity running employment programmes (e.g. Employment Gap). Overlaps with BASE's neurodivergent job-seeker segment and engages similar employer members.

Others

• U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP): US federal body setting supported employment (SE) policy and funding. Relevant as a comparable institutional model for national SE leadership, though not a commercial peer.

Regional players

• Inclusion Australia: Australian disability and supported employment advocacy body. Functions as a regional equivalent of BASE, comparable in mission but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/base_tweets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@base-uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/base.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/base-uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/base_org.uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 British Association For Supported Employment