British Fencing
British Fencing is the UK National Governing Body for fencing, a non-profit company limited by guarantee delivering membership, coaching education, competition governance, and community programmes (including para, autism, and Muslim Girls Fence initiatives) to recreational and competitive fencers, schools, and partner organisations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1948
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What British Fencing does
British Fencing is the UK National Governing Body for the sport of fencing, established as a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales and tracing its institutional history to 1948 via The Sword magazine. It operates as a private non-profit membership organisation providing governance, competition structure, coaching qualifications, insurance coverage, and athlete development pathways from grassroots through to Olympic and Paralympic representation. Its membership runs through the Sport:80 platform on a tiered subscription model (Supporter, Starter, Recreational, Compete) with a free 90-day introductory period, serving recreational and competitive fencers across foil, epee, sabre, and para disciplines.
The organisation operates a diversified product and programme portfolio. Core revenue-generating offerings include coaching education (Open Core Coach at £150-250 per person, Level 2/3 qualifications), adaptive equipment sales (SwordSeat™ pattern packs at £75 and ready-made chairs at £400), Achievement Award packs (£17.50-25), and Leadership Through Fencing courses at £525 per day. The Core Coach programme is distributed through 90+ partner organisations, having trained 3,500+ coaches and reached 250,000+ annual participants. The Train the Trainer programme (formerly Licensed Partner Programme) extends coaching delivery through enterprise partners including PGL, Center Parcs, Scout Adventures, Carnival UK, and NAYC & ACUK. Technology infrastructure is built on the third-party Sport:80 platform for membership, event registration, and club finder functionality; the organisation has no proprietary AI capabilities.
Revenue is supplemented by strategic partnerships with Kukri Sports (official teamwear, distributed via dedicated e-commerce storefront) and Leon Paul (official equipment supplier with partner discounts). The organisation operates social impact programmes including Muslim Girls Fence (with Maslaha), Fencing 4 Change autism project (with The Change Foundation and University of Hertfordshire), and London Youth partnership engaging 1,300+ young people. National events include British Championships, British Youth Championships, British Open, Para Fencing Championships, and the 2026 Para Fencing European Championships in Cardiff. The organisation is governed by a board and CEO Georgina Usher, with functional leadership across partnerships, coaching, talent, safeguarding, and commercial functions.
British Fencing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- British Fencing
- Legal name
- British Fencing
- Website
- https://britishfencing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1948
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- British Fencing is the UK National Governing Body for fencing, a non-profit company limited by guarantee delivering membership, coaching education, competition governance, and community programmes (including para, autism, and Muslim Girls Fence initiatives) to recreational and competitive fencers, schools, and partner organisations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where British Fencing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
British Fencing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Tiered annual membership model with options ranging from Supporter (£12-17) for volunteers and fans to Compete tier (£43-75.50) for competitive fencers. Free 90-day introduction membership for new members at affiliated clubs.
- Coaching Education Courses: Revenue from Core Coach training (£150-250 per person for Open Core Coach), Level 2 and Level 3 coaching qualifications, and Train the Trainer partner programmes. Achieved through workforce development and partner licensing.
- Equipment Sales: Sale of SwordSeat pattern packs (£75) and ready-made SwordSeat chairs (£400). Equipment partnerships with Leon Paul for fencing gear and Kukri for teamwear.
- Achievement Awards: Sale of Achievement Award packs - MiniSword and GO/FENCE awards at £25 per pack (12 certificates and badge), Weapon-Specific Awards at £17.50 per pack (5 certificates and badge).
- Leadership Training: Leadership Through Fencing programme at £525 per day for groups of up to 12 candidates aged 11-17, delivered in partnership with Leadership Skills Foundation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Supporter membership for volunteers, fans, parents - entry level |
| Subscription | Annual | Starter membership for clubs and schools entry level |
| Subscription | Annual | Recreational fencing for members in clubs and schools |
| Subscription | Annual | Competitive fencers competing in official events |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free 90-day introduction for brand new members |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Open Core Coach training for individuals and small organisations |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Leadership Through Fencing 1-day training for 11-17 year olds |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MiniSword and GO/FENCE Achievement Award packs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Weapon-Specific Achievement Awards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SwordSeat DIY pattern pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | SwordSeat professionally made flat pack |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Explore Fencing CPD course for teachers |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
British Fencing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
British Fencing is the UK National Governing Body for fencing, providing tiered individual memberships, official rankings and competition licensing across foil, epee, sabre and para fencing. It delivers paid coach education courses (Core Coach, Level 2, Level 3, Open Core Coach), partner enablement via the Train the Trainer programme, adaptive equipment (SwordSeat), achievement award packs, and recreational competition (GB League), alongside community social impact programmes such as Muslim Girls Fence, Fencing 4 Change and Leadership Through Fencing.
Product overview
British Fencing operates as the national governing body offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and programmes spanning community participation, education, competition, and social impact. The core platform includes membership management through Sport:80, the Club Finder discovery tool, and the BF Learning Zone for coach education. Key products include the SwordSeat™ adaptive equipment, Core Coach community training programme with its Train the Trainer offshoot, Achievement Awards scheme, and the GB League recreational competition. The organisation runs major championships and events including the Para Fencing European Championships 2026 in Cardiff. Community initiatives include Muslim Girls Fence, Fencing 4 Change (autism programme), and Leadership Through Fencing. The Sword Magazine serves as the official biannual publication, with Club Digest and Coach Digest providing quarterly newsletters to the community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Sword: Official magazine of the British Fencing Association, established in 1948, published biannually with articles, reports and news from across the sport
- SwordSeat
- BF Learning Month
- Core Coach
- Train the Trainer
- Leadership Through Fencing
- Achievement Awards
- Muslim Girls Fence
- Fencing 4 Change
- Leisure Partner Programme
- GBR Pathway
Products and services
- SwordSeat™ Adaptive Fencing Chair A low-cost, DIY, adaptable wheelchair and seated fencing chair developed to make adaptive fencing accessible, reducing equipment costs from thousands to a few hundred pounds. Sold as a pattern pack (£75) or ready-made flat-pack chair (£400) to individuals and clubs in the UK.
- Core Coach Programme Entry-point coaching course equipping individuals and community organisations with skills and confidence to deliver introductory fencing sessions. Delivered as a 1-day (£150) or 2-day (£250) course. Open Core Coach variant launched June 2026 for individual delivery.
- Train the Trainer Programme Partner enablement programme (formerly Licensed Partner Programme) that allows organisations to deliver Core Coach courses to their own activity instructors. Delivered through PGL, Center Parcs, Scout Adventures, Carnival UK and NAYC & ACUK.
- Achievement Awards Scheme Motivational award scheme for young fencers with progressive stages (MiniSword £25/pack, GO/FENCE £25/pack, Weapon-Specific £17.50/pack). Each pack includes certificates and badges. 350 packs sold since April 2024.
- GB League Recreational competition league within BF affiliated clubs where fencers earn national league points for participating in club fixtures. Includes National and Mini League Leaderboards.
- BF Learning Month Annual extended online developmental event offering sessions on coaching, community development, and fencing science research. 2026 event runs 23 July to 21 August 2026 and includes the first online IFRC Conference.
- The Sword Magazine British Fencing's official biannual magazine, established in 1948, providing articles, reports and news from across the sport to members and the wider fencing community.
- Explore Fencing CPD Course for Teachers £25 Continuing Professional Development course introducing fencing to schools, providing a certificate, preferential foam equipment rates, and access to the Explore Fencing app as a first step toward the Core Coach award.
- Muslim Girls Fence Flagship social impact project delivered in collaboration with Maslaha, creating spaces for Muslim girls and women in Birmingham, Bradford, Doncaster and London to access sport, build confidence and challenge stereotypes through fencing.
- Fencing 4 Change: Autism Project Programme delivered with the Change Foundation for young people aged 11-16 with autism, using creative coaching methodology to develop motor skills and reduce social isolation. Active in 8 London schools with academic research from the University of Hertfordshire.
- Leadership Through Fencing One-day training programme delivered in partnership with the Leadership Skills Foundation for groups of up to 12 candidates aged 11-17, teaching practical leadership tools demonstrated through fencing at £525 per day.
- Club Finder Platform Discovery platform (formerly Activity Finder) hosted on the bf.sport80 platform that helps prospective fencers locate affiliated clubs across the UK, including accessibility information such as wheelchair-accessible filtering.
- Explore Fencing Mobile App Mobile application for learning fencing basics, providing coach access, fun games and content for new fencers entering the sport.
- Leisure Partner Programme 2026 programme designed to bring fencing to leisure centre operators across the UK as a new activity offering for community impact.
- BF Para Fencing Rankings Scheme (Pilot) Pilot rankings scheme launched June 2026 to support para fencers with official national rankings and the Paralympic pathway.
Quantifiable outcome
- 250,000+ unique fencing participants annually through Core Coach and partner network
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use British Fencing
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
British Fencing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
British Fencing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.
- Kukri SportscoreOfficial Teamwear Supplier providing branded fencing apparel through dedicated e-commerce shop. Partnership includes logo placement on British Fencing materials and exclusive retail relationship.
- PGL TravelcoreOfficial Have-A-Go Partner delivering fencing experiences at PGL activity centres and holiday camps. PGL co-delivers equipment training for instructors to enable fencing delivery.
- Leon PaulcoreOfficial Supplier of Fencing Equipment providing discounted equipment access for partner organisations through Train the Trainer programme. Includes equipment expertise and product development collaboration.
- Center ParcscoreOfficial Training Partner delivering fencing activities at Center Parcs holiday villages across the UK.
- Scout AdventuressecondaryOfficial Training Partner delivering fencing sessions at Scout Adventure sites across the UK.
- Carnival UKsecondaryOfficial Training Partner delivering fencing activities on P&O Cruises and Cunard ships.
- NAYC & ACUKsecondaryOfficial Training Partner for National Association of Yacht Containers and Active Yacht Crew UK.
- Crown Hills Community CollegesecondaryOfficial Training Partner hosting Leadership Through Fencing days and Core Coach training courses at their Leicester facility.
- The Epee ClubminorSupporter of British Fencing activities through charitable funding.
- The Worshipful Company of CutlersminorSupporter providing funding and support for fencing development.
- The True Athlete ProjectminorSupporter of British Fencing mental health and athlete wellbeing initiatives.
- International Physical Literacy Association (IPLA)minorSupporter promoting physical literacy through fencing.
- RMA SportsecondaryOfficial Partner supporting British Fencing activities.
- Grey PrismminorOfficial Security Partner for British Fencing events and operations.
- Leadership Skills FoundationcorePartnership delivering Leadership Through Fencing programme for 11-17 year olds. LSF provides accreditation for the leadership qualification while BF delivers the fencing-specific training.
- International Fencing Research Committee (IFRC)secondaryBF Learning Month 2026 supports the first online IFRC Conference exploring fencing science and methodology. Joint event bringing researchers and practitioners together.
- The Change FoundationcorePartnership delivering Fencing 4 Change programme for young people aged 11-16 with Autism Spectrum Disorder in London schools. Coach Mentors with lived experience deliver creative fencing sessions.
- MaslahacorePartnership delivering Muslim Girls Fence - flagship social impact project for Muslim girls and women in Birmingham, Bradford, Doncaster, and London. Uses physical and creative methods to challenge stereotypes.
- London YouthsecondaryPartnership providing youth workers with Core Coach training to deliver fencing in London youth clubs. Engaged over 1,300 young people.
- Sport:80coreTechnology platform provider for membership management, event registration, and club finder functionality. All membership and event operations run through Sport:80.
- University of HertfordshiresecondaryAcademic partner for autism pilot research, conducting physiological testing, motion capture, and interviews to prove positive impact of fencing on children with ASD.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
British Fencing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentPeers
- British Boxing: UK National Governing Body for boxing; broad incumbent combat-sport NGB with analogous membership, club affiliation, coach certification, and competitive pathway structures.
Broad incumbents
- British Gymnastics: UK National Governing Body for gymnastics; broad incumbent comparable as another UK NGB with similar membership tiers, coaching education, club affiliation, and event hosting.
- British Judo: UK National Governing Body for judo; broad incumbent combat-sport NGB with similar membership/coaching/event infrastructure and Paralympic pathway.
- England Netball: UK NGB for netball; broad incumbent with comparable membership, participation programmes, school/club partnerships, and quarterly newsletter-driven member engagement.
Direct peers
- USA Fencing: US National Governing Body for fencing; directly comparable as the largest non-European NGB with similar membership, competition, and athlete-development structure.
- Fédération Française d'Escrime: French national fencing federation; direct peer operating as NGB with membership, events, and high-performance pathways in a major European fencing market.
- Deutscher Fechterbund: German national fencing federation; direct peer with similar membership, club affiliation, and elite-competition structures in another major European fencing country.
- Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE): International fencing federation governing the sport globally; comparable in scope of rankings, competition licensing, and NGB coordination that British Fencing feeds into.
Others
- Sport England: UK public body funding grassroots sport; not a competitor but a critical funder and strategic stakeholder for British Fencing's community participation and inclusion programmes.
- Sport:80: Membership and event-management platform on which British Fencing runs its entire membership and competition infrastructure; a technology ecosystem enabler rather than competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
British Fencing social profiles
Digital presenceBritish Fencing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
British Fencing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
British Fencing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
British Fencing 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 British Fencing
What does British Fencing do?
British Fencing is the UK National Governing Body for fencing, providing tiered individual memberships, official rankings and competition licensing across foil, epee, sabre and para fencing. It delivers paid coach education courses (Core Coach, Level 2, Level 3, Open Core Coach), partner enablement via the Train the Trainer programme, adaptive equipment (SwordSeat), achievement award packs, and recreational competition (GB League), alongside community social impact programmes such as Muslim Girls Fence, Fencing 4 Change and Leadership Through Fencing.
Is British Fencing a public or private company?
British Fencing is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was British Fencing founded?
British Fencing was founded in 1948. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is British Fencing based?
British Fencing is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does British Fencing make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are coaching Education Courses, equipment Sales, achievement Awards and leadership Training.
Who are British Fencing's main competitors?
British Boxing is listed as a peer. Broad incumbents are British Gymnastics, British Judo and England Netball. Direct peers are USA Fencing, Fédération Française d'Escrime, Deutscher Fechterbund and Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE). Others are Sport England and Sport:80.
Does British Fencing have an API?
No public API is recorded for British Fencing.