NOCN Group

What NOCN Group does

NOCN Group is a UK-registered charity (No: 1079785) and awarding organisation headquartered in Sheffield, founded in 1987 with 101–250 employees. It provides vocational qualifications, apprenticeship end-point assessment (EPA), and competence card schemes (CPCS for construction plant operatives and CISRS for scaffolders) to training centres, employers, and learners across five primary UK sectors: Construction and Built Environment, Health and Social Care, Engineering/Manufacturing/Green Economy, Education and Training, and Preparation for Life and Work. The group operates an international network of approved centres across India, Malaysia, the GCC, Africa, and Europe, with wholly-owned subsidiaries NOCN India Skills Foundation and NOCN Asia.

Revenue is generated through per-qualification and per-learner certification fees, transaction-based EPA fees, competence card issuance and renewal fees (e.g., CPCS renewal CPD at £28), unit-priced assured short courses (£25–£32), and centre approval/support subscriptions. Distribution is primarily via a channel network of approved training centres, complemented by direct enterprise sales for EPA services and an online self-service layer for card verification and renewals. The 2024 merger with NOCN Job Cards consolidated card management into the group.

The technology stack consists of proprietary platforms: Horizon (training management), Quartzweb (learner management and certification), Proficient and Rubric (EPA delivery and assessor workflows), the NOCN e-Assessment Platform with remote invigilation, NOCN Skills Passport (digital credentialing), CPCS Digital Logbook (replacing paper records), and the NOCN Pocketskills mobile app. These platforms form an integrated delivery infrastructure that supports qualification administration, assessment, and credential verification across the UK and international centre network.

Name

NOCN Group

Legal name

NOCN

Website

https://nocn.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NOCN Group is a UK charity and awarding organisation providing vocational qualifications, apprenticeship end-point assessments, and construction competence cards through approved training centres across the UK and international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Qualification Certification Fees: NOCN charges training centres fees for qualification approvals, certification issuance, and ongoing qualification support. Revenue generated from per-qualification and per-learner certification charges.
2. End Point Assessment Services: EPA services for apprenticeship completion across multiple sectors including Construction, Engineering, Health and Science, Education and Training, Business Administration, and Hair and Beauty.
3. Competence Card Scheme Administration: CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) and CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) card issuance, renewals, and testing fees. CPCS renewal CPD at £28.
4. Assured Course Fees: Short courses and assured training programmes with individual course fees ranging from £25-£32. Examples: Net Zero and Sustainability £25, Mould Awareness £29, Mental Health and Resilience £27, Manual Movement and Traversing of Loads £32.
5. Centre Approval and Support Fees: Fees for centre approval, qualification approvals, replacement certificates, remote invigilation, and appeals processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

NOCN Group is a UK-registered charity and awarding organisation that develops, certifies and awards vocational qualifications, delivers apprenticeship end-point assessment (EPA) services, and administers competence card schemes (CPCS and CISRS) across construction, health and social care, engineering, education, and employability sectors. The organisation sells its qualifications and assessment services to approved training centres, employers, and apprenticeship levy payers through a B2B channel network, supported by proprietary digital platforms (Horizon, Quartzweb, Proficient, Rubric).

Product overview

NOCN Group is a UK-based awarding organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of vocational qualifications, apprenticeship end-point assessments, and competence certification schemes. The portfolio includes core qualification products across Construction, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Education, Employability, Functional Skills, Digital Skills, ESOL, and Green Skills sectors. Supporting platforms include e-Assessment Platform, Quartzweb, Horizon, Proficient, and Rubric for managing assessments and learner records. Competence schemes include CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) and CISRS (Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme) providing card-based verification. Additional offerings encompass Assured Short Courses (50+ courses in health, safety, and technical skills), Green Skills qualifications (Retrofit, Solar, Energy Efficiency), NOCN Skills Passport, vLearn eLearning platform, Pocketskills mobile app, and International products including ESOL International and Safety Passports. The group also provides Consultancy & Research services and operates the NOCN Group Foundation charitable arm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NOCN Qualifications Vocational qualifications across multiple sectors including Construction, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Education, Employability, Functional Skills, Digital Skills, ESOL, and Green Skills, awarded by NOCN as an Ofqual-registered awarding organisation.
• End Point Assessment (EPA) Apprenticeship end-point assessment services covering sectors such as Construction, Health and Science, Education and Training, Business Administration, Engineering and Manufacturing.
• CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme)

Quantifiable outcome

• NOCN Group broke into EPA Top 10 for the first time
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Vector EquilibriumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental Health and Resilience course developed in association with Vector Equilibrium. Train-the-trainer programme available through Vector Equilibrium ([email protected], 020 3793 5065).
• Lead AP Group and Select TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManual Movement and Traversing of Loads course developed in conjunction with Lead AP Group and Select Training for personnel wishing to enhance knowledge around safe use of small lifting equipment.
• Malaysia Department of Skills DevelopmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding signed with Malaysia's Department of Skills Development. NOCN Asia launched in June 2026 during strategic Malaysia visit.
• TCS iONcoreTechnology or IntegrationOne-year anniversary of partnership working together (as of 2026) for delivering international skills programmes.
• GlobalCertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobalCert became charitable member of NOCN Group. Partnership for European ESOL certification and international qualification support.
• GCA (Global Skills Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with GCA to transform skills development in Pakistan through NOCN endorsed programmes and qualifications.
• Masonry Association of Great BritaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOCN Group as Key Skills Partner for the Masonry Association's National Academy launch.
• Bahrain Institute of Public AdministrationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBahrain's Institute of Public Administration received international accreditation by NOCN Group.
• NOCN India Skills FoundationflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary presence in India with significant operations including £2.11M skills investment recognised by UK Prime Minister.
• Hercules Training AcademycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Hercules Training Academy to build skills for a stronger workforce.
• Bump 2 Baby & BeyondcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership supporting every stage of life through skills development.
• Wigan & Leigh CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew partnership with Wigan & Leigh College for skills and qualification delivery.
• IOR (Institute of Refrigeration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry Skills Alliance meeting and partnership supporting the future of refrigeration skills.
• Building Our SkillscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Building Our Skills to deliver fenestration qualifications.
• East Midlands ChamberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNOCN Group joined East Midlands Chamber as New Patron for business networking and regional support.
• Quantum TrainingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Quantum Training for new renewable energy qualifications.
• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCITB funding support for training grants referenced across assured courses. Longstanding relationship for construction skills development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VTCT: UK specialist awarding organisation offering vocational and technical qualifications, with end-point assessment capability, across health, beauty, education and related sectors — overlapping with NOCN's portfolio.
• City & Guilds: UK-based awarding organisation offering vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and end-point assessment across construction, health, digital and engineering — directly comparable to NOCN's core qualification and EPA portfolio.
• TQUK (Training Qualifications UK): Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation and EPAO providing vocational qualifications and apprenticeship end-point assessment — a direct competitor in the same regulated qualification and EPA categories as NOCN.
• ProQual: UK awarding organisation offering vocational qualifications and end-point assessment services, with comparable technical and construction sector coverage to NOCN.
• NCFE: Not-for-profit UK awarding organisation and EPAO providing vocational qualifications and end-point assessment across care, education, and technical sectors — a like-for-like comparator in mission and product mix.
• Highfield Qualifications: UK awarding organisation and EPAO offering vocational qualifications, apprenticeship end-point assessment, and compliance training across multiple sectors including construction, retail and health — directly comparable in scope.
• NPORS (National Plant Operators Registration Scheme): UK plant operator competence card scheme competing directly with NOCN's CPCS cards for construction plant operative certification and renewal revenue.

Others

• CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme): Construction industry card scheme under which CPCS cards operate; while CSCS is the umbrella rather than a direct competitor, it directly influences the addressable market and competitive dynamics for NOCN's CPCS offering.

Regional players

• Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): Scotland's national awarding body offering qualifications and assessment; not a direct UK-wide competitor but a comparable regulated qualification provider with overlapping sector coverage in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson (BTEC / Edexcel / Pearson Qualifications): Global education company offering vocational BTEC qualifications, apprenticeships and assessments in the UK; a broader incumbent with deeper resources and wider content than NOCN, competing head-to-head in vocational sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NOCNGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NOCNGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/NOCNGroup
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/nocn

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 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 NOCN Group