NOCN Group
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersSheffield, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
NOCN Group firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Where NOCN Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sheffield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
NOCN Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Centre Approval and Support Fees: Fees for centre approval, qualification approvals, replacement certificates, remote invigilation, and appeals processes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Net Zero and Sustainability Course - £25 registration cost |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mould Awareness Course - £29 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mental Health and Resilience Course - £27 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Manual Movement and Traversing of Loads Course - £32 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CPCS Blue Competent Operator Card Renewal CPD - £28 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels12 records
NOCN Group product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use NOCN Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NOCN Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature10 records
NOCN Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Vector EquilibriumcoreMental 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 TrainingcoreManual 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 DevelopmentflagshipMemorandum of Understanding signed with Malaysia's Department of Skills Development. NOCN Asia launched in June 2026 during strategic Malaysia visit.
- TCS iONcoreOne-year anniversary of partnership working together (as of 2026) for delivering international skills programmes.
- GlobalCertcoreGlobalCert became charitable member of NOCN Group. Partnership for European ESOL certification and international qualification support.
- GCA (Global Skills Partnership)corePartnership with GCA to transform skills development in Pakistan through NOCN endorsed programmes and qualifications.
- Masonry Association of Great BritaincoreNOCN Group as Key Skills Partner for the Masonry Association's National Academy launch.
- Bahrain Institute of Public AdministrationcoreBahrain's Institute of Public Administration received international accreditation by NOCN Group.
- NOCN India Skills FoundationflagshipSubsidiary presence in India with significant operations including £2.11M skills investment recognised by UK Prime Minister.
- Hercules Training AcademycorePartnership with Hercules Training Academy to build skills for a stronger workforce.
- Bump 2 Baby & BeyondcorePartnership supporting every stage of life through skills development.
- Wigan & Leigh CollegecoreNew partnership with Wigan & Leigh College for skills and qualification delivery.
- IOR (Institute of Refrigeration)coreIndustry Skills Alliance meeting and partnership supporting the future of refrigeration skills.
- Building Our SkillscorePartnership with Building Our Skills to deliver fenestration qualifications.
- East Midlands ChamberminorNOCN Group joined East Midlands Chamber as New Patron for business networking and regional support.
- Quantum TrainingcorePartnership with Quantum Training for new renewable energy qualifications.
- Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)coreCITB funding support for training grants referenced across assured courses. Longstanding relationship for construction skills development.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NOCN Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
NOCN Group social profiles
Digital presenceNOCN Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
NOCN Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NOCN Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
NOCN Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
NOCN Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NOCN Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NOCN Group
What does NOCN Group do?
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).
Is NOCN Group a public or private company?
NOCN Group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was NOCN Group founded?
NOCN Group was founded in 1987. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is NOCN Group based?
NOCN Group is headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does NOCN Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Qualification Certification Fees are the primary driver. The others are end Point Assessment Services, competence Card Scheme Administration, assured Course Fees and centre Approval and Support Fees.
Who are NOCN Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VTCT, City & Guilds, TQUK (Training Qualifications UK), ProQual, NCFE, Highfield Qualifications and NPORS (National Plant Operators Registration Scheme). CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) is listed as an others. Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is listed as a regional player. Pearson (BTEC / Edexcel / Pearson Qualifications) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does NOCN Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for NOCN Group.