What ProQual Awarding Body does

ProQual AB Limited, trading as ProQual Awarding Body, is a UK-regulated vocational awarding organisation founded in 2010 and headquartered in Newport, Brough, East Yorkshire. The company develops and awards Ofqual- and CCEA-regulated qualifications across sectors including Construction, Health & Social Care, Hair & Beauty, Justice and Public Services, Fire Safety, Energy Management and several other verticals, with a catalogue of 300+ qualifications spanning Entry Level through Level 7. ProQual distributes exclusively through a UK-only network of approved training centres ("ProQual Centres"), which must be ICO-registered, hold a UKPRN, and employ qualified assessors and internal quality assurers; the company does not sell direct to learners.

The core technology is the ProQual Platinum System (PPS), an electronic platform used by approved centres for candidate registration, certification processing, invoicing, and certificate dispatch (15 working days post-payment). Supporting tooling includes a Print Certificate Verification system and a QR-code-enabled E-Certificate Verification system, plus a CSCS Card Finder linking qualifications to construction industry card requirements. Qualifications are built on National Occupational Standards developed with Sector Skills Councils and are designed to deliver clear progression pathways from Entry Level to Level 7.

Revenue is generated through three mechanisms: a one-off £950 centre approval fee per new centre (covering initial approval and two EQA activities), transactional registration and certification fees billed per candidate via PPS, and ongoing External Quality Assurance (EQA) services scheduled on a risk basis. The pricing structure is publicly disclosed with no annual renewals and no minimum registration thresholds. The GTM is channel-led: prospective centres apply, undergo review, receive an EQA approval visit, and begin delivering qualifications, supported by an in-house Operations Team and EQAs. ProQual is independently owned with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or external investors.

Name

ProQual Awarding Body

Legal name

ProQual AB Limited

Website

https://proqualab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ProQual AB Limited is a UK-based, Ofqual- and CCEA-regulated vocational awarding body founded in 2010, offering 300+ qualifications across sectors such as Construction, Health & Social Care, Hair & Beauty and Justice, delivered exclusively through a network of approved training centres using its ProQual Platinum System.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport, Brough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Centre Approval Fee: One-off fee of £950 for new centres joining ProQual AB, which includes an initial approval visit and two External Quality Assurance (EQA) activities focused on completed portfolio sampling
2. Registration and Certification Fees: Fees for candidate registrations and certifications processed electronically through the ProQual Platinum System (PPS). Invoices and certification requests are processed within 5 working days, and certificates are dispatched within 15 working days of payment
3. EQA Services: External Quality Assurance activities included in initial centre approval; additional visits scheduled based on risk assessment for ongoing compliance and consistency

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ProQual AB is a UK-based Ofqual and CCEA-regulated awarding organisation that develops, awards, and certifies vocational qualifications spanning Entry Level to Level 7 across sectors including Construction, Health & Social Care, Hair & Beauty, Justice and Public Services, Fire Safety, and Energy Management. The qualifications are delivered through a UK-only network of approved training centres, with candidate registrations and certificate processing handled electronically through the proprietary ProQual Platinum System (PPS).

Product overview

ProQual Awarding Body operates as a regulated awarding organisation offering a comprehensive portfolio of Ofqual and CCEA regulated vocational qualifications across multiple sectors. The offering consists of qualification programmes spanning Construction (NVQs and occupational skills), Health & Social Care (including safeguarding and mental health), Hair & Beauty (from Level 1 to Level 7 aesthetics), Justice Sector (crime prevention and intelligence), Fire Safety, Business Administration, and various other industry-specific areas. The core product is the qualification portfolio, supplemented by the ProQual Platinum System (PPS) for electronic candidate registration and certification management, Certificate Verification tools (both print and e-certificate QR-based systems), and the CSCS Card Finder service. Training providers can become approved centres through a structured centre approval programme with EQA visits and quality assurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Construction NVQ Diplomas (Levels 2-7) National Vocational Qualifications in construction covering plant operations, brickwork, plastering, roofing, carpentry, and specialist trades from Level 2 to Level 7. Designed for training providers and colleges delivering trade qualifications to construction learners.
• Health & Social Care Qualifications Regulated qualifications covering safeguarding, healthcare skills, mental health, cyber safety, and managing risk behaviour for health and social care professionals. Delivered to candidates via approved centres across the UK.
• Hair & Beauty Qualifications Comprehensive qualifications from Level 1 to Level 7 covering hairdressing, barbering, beauty therapy, aesthetics, advanced nail services, micropigmentation, laser/IPL, phlebotomy and plasma rich therapy. Targeted at training providers, salons, and aesthetics centres.
• Justice Sector Qualifications Regulated qualifications covering crime prevention, intelligence analysis, investigation, and legal services for justice sector professionals. Delivered via approved centres to candidates working in or entering the justice field.
• Fire Safety Qualifications Regulated qualifications in fire risk assessment, fire engineering design, and fire safety management from Level 2 to Level 6. Used by training providers and employers for fire safety professionals.
• Assessing & Quality Assurance Qualifications Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications covering assessing competence in the work environment, assessing vocationally related achievement, and internal quality assurance of assessment processes. For assessors and IQA staff at training centres.
• Education & Training Qualifications Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training and Level 5 Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) for instructors delivering vocational education and training.
• Centre Approval Programme Structured 4-step approval programme for UK-based training providers to become approved ProQual Centres, including application, review and support, EQA approval visit, and ongoing quality assurance. One-off £950 fee covers initial approval visit and two EQA activities.
• Certificate Verification System Online tools for verifying ProQual-issued certificates, including Print Certificate Verification and E-Certificate Verification with QR Code support. Used by employers, training providers, and the public to authenticate certificates.
• CSCS Card Finder Online tool linking ProQual construction qualifications to CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) cards, helping candidates and employers identify which qualification maps to specific CSCS card requirements.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• OfqualcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partner - Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) regulates ProQual as an awarding body, ensuring qualifications meet national standards and regulatory requirements
• CCEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partner - CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examination and Assessment) regulates ProQual in Northern Ireland context
• Training ProviderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProQual works in close partnership with training providers to develop and deliver qualifications that are relevant, practical, and impactful. Training providers become approved centres to deliver ProQual qualifications
• EmployersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProQual works with employers to ensure qualifications meet industry needs and reflect real job roles and workplace performance. Employers contribute to qualification development to ensure practical relevance
• Subject SpecialistsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProQual collaborates with subject specialists across sectors including Construction, Health & Social Care, Hair & Beauty, and Justice to develop qualifications based on National Occupational Standards
• National Occupational StandardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProQual qualifications are based on National Occupational Standards developed by Skills for Justice and other Sector Skills Councils, ensuring industry relevance and recognition
• Energy Managers Association (EMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy Management qualifications enable candidates to apply for membership of energy management professional bodies such as EMA

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• City & Guilds: City & Guilds is one of the UK's largest and most established Ofqual-regulated awarding bodies, offering vocational qualifications across construction, health and social care, hair and beauty, and many of the same sectors as ProQual. It is the most direct competitor for training providers selecting an awarding body for regulated qualifications.
• TQUK (Training Qualifications UK): TQUK is an Ofqual-regulated awarding body offering vocational qualifications across a wide range of sectors. It is comparable to ProQual in scale tier, business model, and range of qualification offerings, often competing head-to-head for training provider approvals.
• AIM Awards: AIM Awards is an Ofqual-regulated awarding body offering vocational qualifications across multiple sectors. It is a comparable peer with a similar centre approval model and portfolio breadth, competing for the same pool of training providers.
• NCFE: NCFE is a major UK awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, offering vocational qualifications and endorsements across education, care, and commercial sectors. It directly competes with ProQual for training provider partnerships and sits in a similar scale tier of the UK awarding body market.
• Highfield Qualifications: Highfield Qualifications is an Ofqual-regulated awarding body offering vocational qualifications particularly in compliance, health and safety, security, and food safety. It is a direct competitor with a similar business model of approving centres and charging per-candidate certification fees.
• EAL (Excellence, Achievement & Learning): EAL is a specialist UK awarding body focused on engineering, manufacturing, and related industrial sectors, regulated by Ofqual. It is a direct peer in the awarding body model and directly competes with ProQual's construction and occupational qualifications for training provider share.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson Edexcel: Pearson, through Edexcel, is a global education and qualifications company with a broad UK awarding body division offering vocational and academic qualifications. It competes with ProQual onregulated vocational qualifications but operates at much greater scale and portfolio breadth alongside its core publishing and assessment businesses.

Regional players

• SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority): SQA is Scotland's national awarding body, regulated separately from Ofqual, providing qualifications primarily for the Scottish market. It is comparable in function to ProQual's CCEA-regulated Northern Ireland operation but operates in a distinct UK regulatory jurisdiction.

Others

• CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment): CCEA is the regulatory body that oversees qualifications in Northern Ireland and is one of ProQual's regulators. While not a direct competitor, it is a key ecosystem partner that defines the regulatory framework under which ProQual operates in Northern Ireland.

Emerging players

• FAQ Awards: FAQ Awards is a smaller Ofqual-regulated awarding body offering vocational qualifications, particularly in health and social care and related sectors. It represents a smaller-scale direct competitor in a similar niche of the regulated awarding body market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/proqual-awarding-body

Compliance3 records

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 ProQual Awarding Body