Novia One

What Novia One does

Novia One (legally Novia One Business School) is a South African accredited education and professional development provider focused on the financial services sector. Founded in London in 2007 as Hedge Fund Advisory and Training and relocated to Johannesburg in 2011, it is a privately held, 100% Black Female Owned QSE with B-BBEE Level 1 status. The company delivers CHE-, QCTO-, Bankseta- and CISI-accredited qualifications and CPD-accredited short courses across more than a dozen named programme tracks including management and leadership, banking and financial services, insurance, financial services technical, forex, digital, sales, and innovation & design thinking. Its flagship launch in 2026, the KYC Masterclass Series ("From Grey to Growth"), is a 3-month CPD-accredited intensive for compliance leaders.

The company's core technology stack is a Moodle-based Learning Management System at lms.noviaone.com with integrated enrolment and payment gateway (credit card and Instant EFT), Accredible-powered digital credential issuance, and Microsoft Teams for live cohort delivery. The proprietary "5 C's" engagement methodology (Communication, Collaboration, Complex problem solving, Creativity, Changeability) and a standardised Recognition of Prior Learning assessment tool achieving a 98% competency rate differentiate its instructional design. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales to financial institutions with self-service individual enrolment.

Revenue is generated across four streams: programme fees from accredited short courses and masterclasses, enterprise learnerships, B-BBEE advisory and CSI Fund Management services, and RPL assessments. Pricing is publicly disclosed, with a full 12-class KYC Masterclass package priced at R26,392.50 inclusive of VAT and individual modules available on a pay-per-session basis. Customer logos span virtually every major South African bank (ABSA, Nedbank, Standard Bank, FNB, RMB, Bidvest Bank, Citi Bank), capital markets infrastructure (JSE, Strate), regulators (SARB, FSCA), international banks (JP Morgan Chase), legal and asset managers (Webber Wentzel, Alex Forbes, Stanlib, Sesfikile Capital), and healthcare (Life Healthcare).

Name

Novia One

Legal name

Novia One Business School

Website

https://noviaone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Novia One is a South Africa-based, CHE/QCTO/CISI-accredited business school delivering qualifications, learnerships, and CPD masterclasses in financial services compliance and leadership to banks, regulators, insurers, and asset managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Services Training & Professional Education

NAICS

Business and Secretarial Schools (611410), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAHAE

Marketing, Sales & Brand Management Schools

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Business Schools & Management Institutes

SECONDARYEDAAANAF

Sales, Marketing & Digital Marketing Certifications

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Certification Programs

SECONDARYEDANAIAE

Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Professional Certification & Licensure Exam Prep

Keywords

• Financial services training
• Professional development programmes
• Accredited qualifications
• Learnerships programmes
• Compliance education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandton

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Programme Fees: Revenue from accredited short courses, masterclasses, and professional development programmes delivered online via MS Teams and Moodle LMS
2. Learnerships: Structured learnership programmes for organisations including management, financial services, and technical skills development
3. B-BBEE Advisory Services: CSI Fund Management and B-BBEE scorecard optimization consulting including enterprise and supplier development investment opportunities
4. RPL Assessment Services: Recognition of Prior Learning assessments awarding accredited qualifications based on existing competencies, knowledge, and work experience

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Novia One Business School delivers accredited qualifications, learnerships, short courses, and masterclasses focused on the financial services sector. Core offerings cover management and leadership, banking and financial services, insurance, technical financial markets, digital/forex/sales, and bespoke programmes, anchored by the KYC Masterclass Series (From Grey to Growth). Programmes are delivered online through a Moodle-based LMS and Microsoft Teams, with Recognition of Prior Learning and B-BBEE advisory services as supplementary offerings.

Product overview

Novia One Business School is an education and professional development provider offering a portfolio of QCTO-accredited and CHE-accredited qualifications and programmes. The core offering consists of named programme categories — Management and Leadership, Financial Services, Insurance, Innovation & Design Thinking, Technical Management, Digital, Forex, Sales, Bespoke Programmes, and CISI Programmes — delivered primarily online via the Moodle-powered LMS and Microsoft Teams. The portfolio is anchored by the KYC Masterclass Series (From Grey to Growth) and supplemented by Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), B-BEE Scorecard Optimisation services, Learnerships, Short Courses, and Webinars. The school positions itself as delivering 'agile disruptive learning' aligned to financial services regulation and leadership competency frameworks, with B-BEEE Level 1 status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KYC Masterclass Series (From Grey to Growth) A 3-month intensive online masterclass for financial services leaders covering KYC, FATF greylist compliance, AML/CFT enforcement, and regulatory risk management. Delivered via Microsoft Teams with CPD accreditation and led by Jacqueline Smith (Former Head of Compliance at Ninety One). Available as a full 12-class package or individual module registration.
• Management and Leadership Programme Accredited qualifications and skills development programmes focused on management, leadership, and supervisory competencies aligned with organisational leadership frameworks, targeting senior managers, first line managers, team leaders, supervisors, and function experts.
• Financial Services Programme Banking and financial services qualifications covering financial markets, instruments, and technical financial services at NQF levels, targeting professionals in banking, insurance, and asset management institutions.
• Insurance Programme Specialist Insurance Academy programmes covering insurance sector competencies, products, and regulatory requirements for the South African market.
• Critical Skills Programme Skills development programmes focused on building critical professional competencies for workforce readiness and career advancement.
• Financial Services Technical Programme Technical financial services qualifications including the Financial Markets & Instruments programme at NQF Level 6, Bankseta accredited, targeting professionals in banking and financial market infrastructure.
• Innovation & Design Thinking Programme Programmes focused on innovation, design thinking, and disruptive business methodologies to develop agile and creative leadership.
• Technical Management Programme Management qualifications tailored for technical professionals and specialists transitioning into leadership roles.
• Sales Programme Sales qualifications and skills development for financial services sales professionals and client-facing roles.
• Digital Programme Digital skills and fintech-focused programmes covering digital transformation, digital banking, and digital financial services.
• Forex Programme Foreign exchange trading qualifications and programmes covering forex markets, strategies, and regulatory requirements.
• Bespoke Programmes Custom-designed qualification programmes tailored to match specific client organisational frameworks, leadership mandates, and strategic objectives.
• CISI Programmes International qualifications aligned with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), providing globally recognised credentials for financial markets professionals to meet regulatory obligations and career aspirations.
• Leadership Programme Specialist leadership development programmes for senior managers, executives, and team leaders across financial services.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) RPL service that awards accredited qualifications based on prior learning and work experience, using Novia One's standardised RPL assessment tool (Portfolio of Evidence-based) with an overall competency rate of 98%.
• B-BEE Scorecard Optimisation Consulting service to optimise clients' B-BEE scorecard across procurement, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and CSI solutions. Includes structured CSI Fund Management for compliance targets, leveraging Novia One's B-BBEE Level 1 status as a 100% Black Female Owned QSE.
• Learnerships QCTO-accredited learnership programmes providing workplace-based qualifications across management, financial services, and technical skills development, with over 1,000 learnerships delivered to date.
• Short Courses CPD-accredited short courses and masterclass programmes covering compliance, regulatory, and professional skills topics for financial services professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% RPL competency rate achieved across client organisations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCISI accreditation provides internationally recognised qualifications in securities and investment. Novia One offers CISI programme examinations and certifications aligned with global financial markets standards, meeting regulatory obligations for financial services professionals in South Africa.
• Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQCTO accreditation enables Novia One to deliver nationally recognised occupational qualifications and skills programmes that are aligned with South African industry requirements and regulatory standards.
• Council on Higher Education (CHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHE accreditation provides a mark of quality and trust recognised globally, validating Novia One's educational standards and empowering organisational success for client institutions.
• BanksetacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBankseta accreditation enables Novia One to deliver NQF Level 6 Financial Markets and Instruments qualifications, supporting skills development in the banking and financial services sector.
• AccrediblesupportingTechnology or IntegrationAccredible provides digital credential management for Novia One's online credentials, enabling individuals to showcase certifications and professional development achievements through an online platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Henley Business School Africa: South African presence of UK-based Henley Business School, offering accredited MBAs and management development programmes. Comparable as an internationally affiliated business school serving South African financial services professionals.
• MANCOSA: Leading South African private higher education institution offering management and business programmes via distance learning. Comparable as a CHE-accredited SA business school targeting working professionals with management and leadership qualifications.
• Regent Business School: South African private higher education institution offering accredited business and management programmes, including financial services qualifications. Comparable mission and accreditation footprint (CHE-accredited, private SA business school).
• Milpark Education: South African private higher education provider with a strong focus on banking, financial services, and management qualifications. Directly comparable as a CHE-accredited business school serving working professionals in financial services.

Emerging players

• GetSmarter (a 2U brand): South African-founded online education provider offering accredited short courses and university-partnered certificates. Comparable in CPD-accredited online short courses targeting working professionals, with broader university partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB): Established South African university business school offering MBA and executive education with a strong financial services footprint. Comparable in target audience (financial services executives) but operates as a broader university-affiliated incumbent.
• Fitch Learning: Global provider of financial services training and certification, including CISI-aligned programmes and regulatory/compliance courses. Comparable in financial services compliance curriculum and CISI pathway, with broader international reach.
• BPP Professional Education: UK-headquartered professional education provider offering financial services, compliance, and professional qualifications. Comparable in regulatory and professional certification training targeting financial services professionals.
• Wits Business School (WBS): Major South African university business school offering MBA, executive education, and financial services programmes. Comparable in financial services executive education niche but operates as a broader university-affiliated incumbent.

Regional players

• Kaplan Professional: International provider of professional and financial services education, including compliance and CISI-aligned qualifications. Comparable in financial services professional education but primarily operates in Australia and Asia rather than South Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@noviaonegroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/noviaone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/noviaone
• Instagraminstagram.com/novia_one_group
• Xx.com/noviaonegroup

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Novia One