National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS)

What National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) does

National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) is a UK-registered charity (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, charity number SC046575) headquartered in Stirling, Scotland, that delivers a national framework for navigation skills training and certification. Founded in 1994, NNAS has issued more than 50,000 awards over three decades through a network of more than 300 approved course providers operating across the UK. Its core product is a three-tier Navigator Award — Bronze, Silver and Gold — all accredited on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (Bronze at Level 4, Silver at Level 5, Gold at Level 6). It also runs the Outdoor Discovery Award (ODA, rebranded in 2024 from the Young Navigator Star Awards), a Night Owl award, and a Tutor Award for instructor certification. The scheme is widely embedded in UK outdoor and youth pathways, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award, RAF Air Cadets, the Scouts, the Guides and SportsLeaders UK, with Harvey Maps as a sponsor.

NNAS generates income through a fee-based model: approved providers pay a first-time registration fee of £130–£160 and purchase NNAS-branded handbooks (Bronze/Silver/Gold at approximately £17.50 each) and candidate certificates/badges. Course delivery, assessment and instructor training are run by the 300+ approved providers rather than NNAS directly, giving the organisation a B2B2C structure in which the charity is the standards body, awarding organisation and product owner. Course bookings and provider administration are routed through the nnas.justgo.com platform. NNAS itself operates with a small core staff of around 11 employees and is governed by a board of trustees.

Name

National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS)

Legal name

National Navigation Award Scheme

Website

https://nnas.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NNAS is a UK charity that runs the national navigation skills award scheme through 300+ approved providers, awarding SCQF-accredited Bronze, Silver and Gold Navigator certifications plus the Outdoor Discovery Award, Night Owl and Tutor qualifications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stirling

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

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. Provider Registration Fees: NNAS charges course providers an annual registration fee for accreditation. First registration fees are £150 for Bronze Navigator only, or £160 for Bronze & Silver Navigator. Combined Navigator + ODA registration costs £130 (Bronze + ODA) or £140 (Bronze & Silver + ODA).
2. Handbook Sales: Sale of Outdoor Navigation Handbook for Tutors at £17.50 and ODA handbook at £15 to registered providers.
3. Certificate and Badge Sales: Digital Navigator certificates are produced for all successful candidates. Physical A4 quality card certificates and metal pin badges may be purchased by registered course providers or by candidates via the candidate management system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NNAS operates a portfolio of accredited navigation skills awards (Bronze, Silver, Gold Navigator Awards; Outdoor Discovery Award; Night Owl Award; Tutor Award) delivered through a network of over 300 approved course providers across the UK. The scheme provides structured training and assessment frameworks for outdoor navigation skills, with awards accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Levels 4, 5, and 6. Course providers pay registration fees to NNAS to become accredited, while individual candidates book and pay for courses through providers.

Product overview

The National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) operates a portfolio of four navigation awards: the Navigator Award (Bronze, Silver, Gold levels), the Outdoor Discovery Award (ODA with 1-3 Star levels), the NNAS Night Owl Award, and the Navigation Tutor Award. The Navigator Award is a three-tier progression from absolute beginner to expert navigator, each level accredited by the Scottish Credit & Qualifications Framework (SCQF). The ODA provides a gentler entry point for all ages, while the Night Owl targets night navigation skills. The Tutor Award trains instructors. All awards are delivered through over 300 registered course providers across the UK via an online booking system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Outdoor Discovery Award (ODA): An award for people of all ages who wish to learn basic navigation skills at a gentle rate, previously known as Young Navigator Star Awards (YNSA). Features three levels (1 Star, 2 Star, 3 Star).
• NNAS Night Owl
• NNAS Tutor Award

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 people have gained NNAS awards since 1994
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• HARVEY MAPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHARVEY MAPS is the sponsor of the National Navigation Award Scheme. As sponsor, HARVEY MAPS supports the scheme's operations and mission to provide navigation training across the UK.
• SportsLeaders UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSportsLeaders UK uses the NNAS Silver Navigator award as part of their Basic Expedition Leader (Level 3) Scheme. After discussion, SportsLeaders UK integrated the award into their qualification framework for assessing navigational competence of leaders.
• British OrienteeringmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish Orienteering recognises NNAS award schemes as part of the broader navigation training ecosystem in the UK.
• Mountain TrainingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMountain Training recognises NNAS award schemes as part of their navigation competency framework for mountain and hill walking leaders.
• Royal Institute of NavigationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NNAS was launched in 1994 at the Royal Institute of Navigation in London. The RIN recognises NNAS award schemes within its broader navigation standards framework.
• Ramblers UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRamblers UK recognises NNAS award schemes as part of the outdoor walking community's navigation training standards.
• RAF Air CadetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAF Air Cadets recognises and uses NNAS award schemes as part of its outdoor training programme for cadets.
• Plas y BreninminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlas y Brenin (National Mountain Sports Centre) recognises NNAS award schemes as part of its navigation training and outdoor education provision.
• Glenmore LodgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlenmore Lodge (National Outdoor Training Centre) recognises NNAS award schemes as part of its outdoor training curriculum.
• Adventure Smart UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdventure Smart UK is featured on the NNAS website footer as a partner organisation promoting safe outdoor adventure.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nnas_uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalNavigationAwardScheme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-navigation-award-scheme
• Instagraminstagram.com/nnas_award_scheme

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS)