Skills Federation
Skills Federation is a UK registered charity and the collective voice of 19 employer-led sector skills bodies representing 150,000+ employers. It operates the ACE360 End-Point Assessment platform in England and apprenticeship certification systems in Wales (ACW) and Scotland (MA Online), funded by member contributions and government contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Skills Federation does
Skills Federation is a registered charity (SC026655) and company limited by guarantee, headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, operating as the collective voice of 19 employer-led sector skills bodies that together represent over 150,000 UK employers across 20+ sectors of the economy. Founded in 1997 (previously known as FISSS, rebranded to Skills Federation in February 2025) and employing around 20 staff, the organization engages directly with UK and devolved government departments — notably the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions — to shape skills policy and represent the employer perspective on workforce development.
The organization's core product surface is a portfolio of three digital platforms that support apprenticeship delivery and certification across the UK. ACE360 is the 'industry-standard' End-Point Assessment platform for apprenticeships in England, providing cradle-to-grave learner journey management, document transfer to End-Point Assessment Organisations, and regulatory reporting. ACW (Apprenticeship Certificates Wales) issues apprenticeship certificates in Wales, and MA Online (Modern Apprenticeship Online) handles Modern Apprenticeship certification in Scotland. According to the organization's own metrics, ACE360 has been used by 1,000+ organizations, 2.5 million apprenticeships have been certified across the UK since 2011, and 40,000 were certified in the last year, with a stated 95.6% customer satisfaction rate.
Skills Federation is funded through membership contributions from its 19 sector skills bodies (themselves industry-funded) and through government contracts for certification services. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is primarily advocacy-led and partnership-driven rather than transactional sales, supplemented by direct enterprise sales of ACE360 to FE providers and universities. In June 2026, the organization joined a consortium led by the Association of Colleges to deliver the government-funded National Technical and Vocational Subject Teaching Professional Development Programme, expanding its role beyond certification into FE workforce upskilling. Governance is provided by a Board chaired by Dame Julie Mellor, with CEO Dr Fiona Aldridge (appointed September 2024) and Commercial Director David Burgess leading the executive team.
Skills Federation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skills Federation
- Legal name
- Skills Federation
- Website
- https://skillsfederation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Skills Federation is a UK registered charity and the collective voice of 19 employer-led sector skills bodies representing 150,000+ employers. It operates the ACE360 End-Point Assessment platform in England and apprenticeship certification systems in Wales (ACW) and Scotland (MA Online), funded by member contributions and government contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skills Federation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Apprenticeship Assessment and Certification Software
- NAICS
- All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms (EDAFADAM), Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL), Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL)
Keywords
Where Skills Federation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Skills Federation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- ACE360 Platform Services: Industry-standard End-Point Assessment platform services for apprenticeship assessment in England, supporting organizations through the EPA process
- Certification Systems: Apprenticeship certification systems in Wales (ACW) and Scotland (MA Online) providing certification services for apprentices
- Sector Skills Body Membership/Industry Funding: Skills Federation is funded by its industry members (sector skills bodies) who are funded by their respective industries to provide sectoral voices and vital support on skills issues
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Skills Federation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skills Federation operates three apprenticeship assessment and certification platforms across the UK: ACE360 (the industry-standard End-Point Assessment platform for apprenticeships in England), ACW (Apprenticeship Certificates Wales), and MA Online (Modern Apprenticeship Online for Scotland). The organisation also acts as the collective advocacy voice for 19 employer-led sector skills bodies representing over 150,000 UK employers across 20+ sectors, supporting skills policy, workforce planning, and the National Technical and Vocational Subject Teaching Professional Development Programme.
Product overview
Skills Federation operates a portfolio of three core digital platforms for apprenticeship certification and assessment across the UK: ACE360 serves as the primary industry-standard End-Point Assessment platform for apprenticeships in England, while ACW (Apprenticeship Certificates Wales) and MA Online (Modern Apprenticeship Online) provide certification systems for Wales and Scotland respectively. These platforms collectively support apprenticeship management, assessment, and certification for over 1,000 organisations, with Skills Federation having certified nearly 2.5 million apprenticeships across the UK since 2011.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ACE360 Industry-standard End-Point Assessment platform for apprenticeships in England, providing assessment management, evidence documentation, gateway document transfer to EPAOs, reporting, and certification functionality for further education providers and training organisations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Certified 2.5 million apprenticeships since 2011
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Skills Federation
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Skills Federation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Skills Federation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Association of Colleges (AoC)coreSkills Federation is a partner in the successful tender led by the Association of Colleges (AoC) to deliver the government-funded 'National Technical and Vocational Subject Teaching Professional Development Programme.' This landmark programme aims to strengthen the capability and confidence of the FE workforce, ensuring teachers and trainers have up-to-date skills and subject expertise. Skills Federation brings its employer-led perspective, working with members and employer networks to embed real-world practice in professional development activities.
- Sector Skills Bodies (Member Network)coreSkills Federation represents 19 employer-led sector skills bodies collectively advocating for 150,000+ employers across the UK. Members include Cogent Skills (science and technology), Enginuity (engineering and manufacturing), The Workforce Development Trust, Energy & Utility Skills, and UKFT (fashion and textiles). These bodies support workforce planning, skills development, and accreditation across diverse sectors.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Skills Federation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Association of Colleges (AoC): AoC is the membership body for FE colleges and is the lead contractor on the National Technical and Vocational Subject Teaching Professional Development Programme in which Skills Federation is a partner. While not a direct competitor, it operates in the same FE/skills ecosystem and is a strategic collaborator.
Direct peers
- Highfield Qualifications: Highfield is a UK awarding organisation and EPAO that offers apprenticeship end-point assessment and vocational certifications. It directly competes with ACE360 for EPA customers and serves the same further-education and employer segments.
- NCFE: NCFE is a UK awarding organisation and End-Point Assessment Organisation active in apprenticeships and vocational qualifications. It directly competes with ACE360 for EPA contracts and serves similar further-education providers, making it one of the closest functional peers to Skills Federation.
- Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA): SQA is Scotland's national awarding body, operating in the same devolved apprenticeship certification space as Skills Federation's MA Online platform. It is the closest public-sector peer for the Scotland-specific certification system Skills Federation runs.
- Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE): IfATE is the UK government body that sets apprenticeship standards and quality criteria. While not a commercial competitor, it directly shapes the framework within which Skills Federation operates ACE360 and is a critical counterpart for any EPA platform operating in England.
- Qualifications Wales: Qualifications Wales is the regulator of qualifications in Wales, paralleling Skills Federation's ACW certification system. As the Welsh counterpart body, it is a structural peer for the certification work Skills Federation performs under ACW.
Broad incumbents
- Pearson (Edexcel): Pearson operates Edexcel and a large vocational/apprenticeship assessment business, including EPA services for UK apprenticeships. It competes for the same further-education and employer customers as ACE360 and represents a much larger commercial competitor with deeper product investment capacity.
- City & Guilds: One of the UK's largest awarding organisations, City & Guilds delivers vocational qualifications and end-point assessment services across many of the same apprenticeship standards that Skills Federation certifies through ACE360. It is a broader incumbent with a wider portfolio but overlaps directly in EPA and apprenticeship certification.
Emerging players
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD): CIPD operates as a professional body supporting HR and people development apprenticeships, with related EPA activity and thought leadership on workforce skills. It overlaps with Skills Federation's employer-side agenda and apprenticeship standards work, though its primary remit is broader HR professional standards.
- Multiverse: Multiverse is a venture-backed apprenticeship and digital skills training provider that uses technology to deliver and assess apprenticeships, increasingly competing with traditional EPA platforms like ACE360 for both provider and employer mindshare in the UK.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Skills Federation social profiles
Digital presenceSkills Federation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skills Federation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Skills Federation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Skills Federation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skills Federation 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 Skills Federation
What does Skills Federation do?
Skills Federation operates three apprenticeship assessment and certification platforms across the UK: ACE360 (the industry-standard End-Point Assessment platform for apprenticeships in England), ACW (Apprenticeship Certificates Wales), and MA Online (Modern Apprenticeship Online for Scotland). The organisation also acts as the collective advocacy voice for 19 employer-led sector skills bodies representing over 150,000 UK employers across 20+ sectors, supporting skills policy, workforce planning, and the National Technical and Vocational Subject Teaching Professional Development Programme.
Is Skills Federation a public or private company?
Skills Federation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Skills Federation founded?
Skills Federation was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Skills Federation based?
Skills Federation is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Skills Federation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. ACE360 Platform Services are the primary driver. The others are certification Systems and sector Skills Body Membership/Industry Funding.
Who are Skills Federation's main competitors?
Association of Colleges (AoC) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Highfield Qualifications, NCFE, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and Qualifications Wales. Broad incumbents are Pearson (Edexcel) and City & Guilds. Emerging players are Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and Multiverse.
Does Skills Federation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skills Federation.
What industry is Skills Federation in?
Skills Federation's product category is Apprenticeship Assessment and Certification Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAFAC, Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas), with a secondary code of EDAFADAM, Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms. Its NAICS code is 61169 and its SIC code is 8200.