Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK

What Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK does

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK (FSEM) is the statutory governing body for the medical specialty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) in the United Kingdom, established in 2006 after the Department of Health recognised SEM as a specialty in February 2005. The organization operates as a registered charity (SC052221) headquartered at 1a Hill Square, Edinburgh, with 42 employees, and is led by Chief Executive Officer Kirsty Baird alongside a Board of Trustees and elected office bearers. Since April 2023, FSEM has been an independent charity following its demerger from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

FSEM's core product portfolio comprises tiered membership subscriptions (Fellow at £412/year, Member at £321/year, Diplomate at £161/year, Associate at £26/year, plus Senior and Exercise Professional tiers), two-part SEM Specialty Examinations for CCT, and three Diploma Examinations covering MSK Medicine (launched 2021), Exercise Medicine, and Team Care (both launched 2024). The Faculty delivers GMC-compliant appraisal and revalidation services, CPD accreditation for SEM-related courses, and programmes such as Out of the Blocks (supporting new consultants) and USEMS (undergraduate engagement). Its flagship non-membership product is Moving Medicine, a free, award-winning, government-backed evidence-based resource for physical activity consultation, developed with OHID, Sport England, the National Lottery, SportScotland, and Public Health Scotland, and endorsed by multiple Royal Colleges. The organization's content distribution operates through its own website (fsem.ac.uk), podcast series, monthly newsletter, annual awards ceremony at the Royal College of Physicians, and active social media channels.

The business model is subscription-recurring for membership, supplemented by examination fees and project funding for Moving Medicine. FSEM is currently in the final stages of a merger with the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM), approved by members in May 2023, to form the College of Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine (CSEM). CSEM was incorporated with Companies House in early 2026 and a charity application has been submitted to the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Until CSEM is fully operational, both FSEM and BASEM continue to operate as separate entities with staff TUPE consultations completed and a new Board of Trustees elected in August 2025.

Name

Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK

Legal name

Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK

Website

https://fsem.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK is the statutory governing body for the SEM medical specialty in the UK, providing tiered professional memberships, specialty and diploma examinations, GMC-compliant appraisal services, and the award-winning Moving Medicine physical activity initiative, currently merging with BASEM to form CSEM.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: FSEM generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions at multiple tiers: Fellow (£412/year), Member (£321/year), Diplomate (£161/year), Associate (£26/year), Senior Fellow/Member (£31/year), Exercise Professional (£80/year), and overseas rates. Membership fees provide access to professional development, appraisal services, networking, and post-nominals recognition.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FSEM is the statutory governing body for Sport and Exercise Medicine in the UK, providing professional membership (Fellow, Member, Diplomate, Associate), specialty and diploma examinations, GMC-compliant appraisal and revalidation, CPD accreditation, and the Moving Medicine initiative that delivers evidence-based physical activity resources to clinicians. The organisation sets standards, training curricula, and workforce planning guidance for the SEM specialty.

Product overview

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of membership tiers (Fellowship, Membership, Diplomate, and Associate), specialty examinations (SEM Specialty Exam), and three diploma examinations (MSK Medicine, Exercise Medicine, and Team Care). Central to its offerings is Moving Medicine, a free award-winning initiative providing evidence-based physical activity resources including consultation guides, Active Hospitals toolkit, and Active Conversations training. Additional services include CPD accreditation, appraisal and revalidation, the Out of the Blocks support program for new consultants, and USEMS for undergraduate education. The Faculty is also transitioning toward forming the College of Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine (CSEM) through merger with BASEM.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moving Medicine: A free, award-winning initiative designed to provide clinicians and allied health professionals with accessible, evidence-based, condition-specific information to help give advice on physical activity at all stages of a patient's treatment pathway. Developed by FSEM in partnership with OHID, Sport England, National Lottery, SportScotland and Public Health Scotland.

Products and services

• Fellowship (FFSEM) Prestigious fellowship status for specialists on the GMC Specialist Register in Sport and Exercise Medicine, offering post-nominals (FFSEM), voting rights, and access to appraisal and revalidation services.
• Membership (MFSEM) Full membership for practitioners who have completed all three FSEM Diploma Examinations in MSK Medicine, Exercise Medicine, and Team Care, granting post-nominals (MFSEM).
• Diplomate Membership (DFSEM) Membership category for doctors, allied health professionals, and others who have passed one of the Faculty's Diploma examinations, with post-nominals (DFSEM) and access to diplomate-specific resources.
• Associate Membership Entry-level membership for SEM Registrars, trainees, medical undergraduates, locums, and associated specialists interested in pursuing a career in Sport and Exercise Medicine.
• SEM Specialty Exam Two-part examination (Part 1 and Part 2) assessing knowledge, skills, competence, and professional attitudes required for practice as a Sport and Exercise Medicine physician in the UK.
• Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine Diploma examination for Musculoskeletal Medicine competency, part of the three-diploma pathway to full Membership.
• Diploma in Exercise Medicine Diploma examination for Exercise Medicine competency across the breadth of healthcare professionals, part of the membership pathway.
• Diploma in Team Care Diploma examination for Team Care knowledge across Sport and Exercise Medicine, completing the three-diploma pathway to Membership.
• Moving Medicine Free, award-winning initiative providing clinicians and allied health professionals with evidence-based, condition-specific consultation guides and resources for physical activity advice across patient treatment pathways.
• CPD Accreditation Continuing Professional Development credit awards for SEM-related courses, events, conferences, webinars, and distance learning programs.
• Appraisal and Revalidation Service GMC-compliant appraisal and revalidation service for Fellows and Members of FSEM, supporting doctors whose commitment in SEM exceeds 50% of their work.
• GPwER in MSK Medicine Accreditation Accreditation pathway for GPs Working in Extended Roles (GPwER) in MSK Medicine, providing formal recognition in musculoskeletal medicine.
• Moving Medicine for Everybody Free resource to support healthcare professionals and people living with long term conditions to be more active, targeting the £7.4bn cost of inactivity.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHID is a key government partner in the development of Moving Medicine, FSEM's award-winning initiative to promote physical activity in healthcare. This partnership enables the initiative to reach healthcare professionals and patients across the NHS.
• Sport EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSport England, funded by the National Lottery, co-develops Moving Medicine alongside FSEM. This partnership leverages Sport England's expertise in physical activity promotion and its national reach.
• SportScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSportScotland co-develops Moving Medicine with FSEM, ensuring the initiative has relevance and reach across Scotland's healthcare and physical activity sectors.
• Public Health ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic Health Scotland collaborates with FSEM on the Moving Medicine initiative, supporting the integration of physical activity guidance into Scottish healthcare settings.
• Royal College of PhysiciansmoderateOthersThe Royal College of Physicians has endorsed Moving Medicine resources, adding institutional credibility and supporting dissemination to physicians across the UK.
• Royal College of General PractitionersmoderateOthersThe RCGP has endorsed Moving Medicine resources, enabling reach to the GP community through RCGP channels and lending institutional credibility.
• Chartered Society of PhysiotherapistsmoderateOthersThe Chartered Society of Physiotherapists endorses Moving Medicine, supporting dissemination to physiotherapy professionals who are key users of the resource.
• Australasian College of Sport and Exercise PhysiciansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSEM works closely with the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians on Moving Medicine, sharing knowledge and best practices across international SEM organisations.
• American College of Sports MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSEM collaborates with the American College of Sports Medicine on Moving Medicine, bringing international SEM expertise to the UK initiative.
• British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASEM and FSEM are merging to form the College of Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine (CSEM). Both organisations currently operate as separate entities while collaborating on the new college. BASEM represents a significant referral pathway and is the primary professional society for SEM practitioners in the UK. The new college will unify the specialty under one organisation.
• National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSEM is listed as a useful link on the FSEM homepage, indicating a collaborative relationship in the advancement of SEM practice and research in the UK.
• British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASES is listed as a useful link on the FSEM homepage, indicating a collaborative relationship with the sport and exercise science community.
• FSEM IrelandmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSEM Ireland is listed as a useful link, representing the Faculty's sister organisation in Ireland. An Interim Dean for FSEM Ireland sits on the FSEM Council, indicating formal collaborative governance.

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FSEM_UK
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu5d39dSE2DD9aWq09o3IpA
• Facebookfacebook.com/fsemUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-faculty-of-sport-and-exercise-medicine
• Instagraminstagram.com/fsemuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK