COLLEGE OF OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONERS

What COLLEGE OF OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONERS does

The College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) is the UK professional body for Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs), an Allied Health Professional group forming part of the NHS's third-largest workforce. Founded in 1945 and incorporated in Scotland as College of Operating Department Practitioners Limited (Company Number 06028631), CODP represents ODPs across NHS England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Northern Ireland in professional, educational, and workforce matters. The organization holds seats on national committees and advisory groups, responds to government and HCPC consultations, and develops or reviews undergraduate ODP curriculum in collaboration with 20+ endorsed UK universities. Its products center on four membership tiers (Full at £60/yr, Learner at £10/yr, Retired at £20/yr, Associate at £30/yr) plus a dedicated ODP Career Website (odpcareers.codp.uk).

The underlying technology stack is modest and operational rather than productized: membership management runs on the VeryConnect platform powering codp.org.uk, while Continuing Professional Development (CPD) recording is delivered through a partnership with CPDme (online platform and mobile app), with Single Sign-On under development and LinkedIn available as a social login. The VeryConnect site hosts news, blogs, events, jobs, file repository, and member-only content. Strategic technology partnerships extend to NHS England (on the funded ODP Workforce Reform Project), Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Leeds, and University of East Anglia, alongside cross-professional bodies including CPOC, OneTogether, and PCC.

The business model is membership subscription-led, supplemented by conference and CPD event revenue with sponsorship from partner organizations. Membership acquisition runs direct-to-consumer through the website and via NHS England partnerships and university-endorsed ODP programmes, with conferences and CPD events functioning as acquisition and engagement touchpoints. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization is lean, governed by a volunteer Professional Council (President Mike Donnellon, Treasurer Bill Killvington, plus committee chairs and leads), and operates without external shareholders or institutional investment.

Name

COLLEGE OF OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONERS

Legal name

College of Operating Department Practitioners Limited

Website

https://codp.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The College of Operating Department Practitioners is the UK professional body for Operating Department Practitioners, providing membership, CPD recording, and representation to NHS, HCPC, and government bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Healthcare Membership Body

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Professional membership body
• Healthcare standards
• Continuing professional development
• Perioperative education
• Allied health professionals

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: CODP generates revenue through annual and six-monthly membership fees from Full, Learner, Retired, and Associate members. Full membership costs £60 per annum or £30 per six months. Learner membership is £10 per annum, Retired membership is £20 per annum, and Associate membership is £30 per annum.
2. Conference and CPD Events: The organization generates revenue through discounted rates for Conference and Continuing Professional Development Events available to members, with sponsorship and exhibitor participation from partner organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The College of Operating Department Practitioners (CODP) is the UK professional body for Operating Department Practitioners, selling membership subscriptions in four tiers (Full, Learner, Retired, and Associate). Membership includes professional representation to government and regulatory bodies, access to the CPDme CPD recording platform and mobile app, confidential professional advice, bursaries and research grants, special interest group networking, and discounted rates for conferences and CPD events.

Product overview

The College of Operating Department Practitioners operates as a professional membership organization offering four membership tiers (Full, Learner, Retired, and Associate) to Operating Department Practitioners. The primary offering is membership access, which includes representation to government and regulatory bodies, access to the CPDme online CPD recording platform and mobile app, professional advice services, networking opportunities, bursaries and research grants, and discounted rates for conferences and CPD events. The organization also maintains an ODP Career Website for prospective practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CPDme: Online platform and mobile app for recording Continuing Professional Development activities, offered as a benefit to CODP members through a partnership with CPDme.

Products and services

• CODP Full Membership Primary annual membership tier for Operating Department Practitioners currently registered with the HCPC, priced at £60.00 per annum or £30.00 per six months. Includes CPDme access, professional advice, networking, bursaries, conference discounts, and newsletter.
• CODP Learner Membership Annual membership tier for learners and apprentices studying an HCPC-approved pre-registration ODP programme, priced at £10.00 per annum, with access to professional support and the ODP Career Website.
• CODP Retired Membership Annual membership tier for former ODPs who have relinquished their HCPC registration following retirement and who previously held CODP membership, priced at £20.00 per annum.
• CODP Associate Membership Annual membership tier open to anyone supporting the aims of CODP, including members of other professions, perioperative support workers, and members of the public, priced at £30.00 per annum.
• ODP Career Website An online resource providing information on how to become an Operating Department Practitioner, accessible at odpcareers.codp.uk.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of professional council membership representation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• OneTogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe College is a member of the OneTogether collaborative, dedicated to reducing the risk of infection on the patient's surgical pathway. The partnership provides access to annual conferences, clinical guidelines, and other resources for members.
• Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPOC is a cross-specialty collaboration dedicated to the promotion, advancement and development of perioperative care. CODP is a member of the CPOC Board and contributes to National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs2).
• Perioperative Care Collaborative (PCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in October 2002 to explore perioperative issues and reach consensus. Membership includes professional organisations representing those delivering care in the perioperative environment.
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)coreOthersHCPC is the regulatory body for the ODP profession, setting standards for practice, education, training, and continuing professional development. CODP works with HCPC on education standards and council representation.
• CPDmecoreTechnology or IntegrationCODP has partnered with CPDme to provide members with access to an online platform and mobile app for recording CPD activities, reflections, and evidence. Single Sign-On facility is being developed for seamless member access.
• VeryConnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationVeryConnect provides the membership management software platform for CODP's website, handling membership applications, renewals, communications, and member-only content delivery.
• Canterbury Christ Church UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the NHS England Operating Department Practitioner Workforce Reform Project, led by Canterbury Christ Church University alongside University of Leeds and University of East Anglia. Also hosts the ODP SURGE Project and ODP SURGE Project News.
• University of LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner in the NHS England Operating Department Practitioner Workforce Reform Project focused on strengthening the impact of the ODP profession across the NHS.
• University of East AngliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner in the NHS England Operating Department Practitioner Workforce Reform Project focused on strengthening the impact of the ODP profession across the NHS.
• NHS EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the Operating Department Practitioner Workforce Reform Project. CODP works closely with NHS England on this collaborative initiative bringing together academic partners to strengthen the ODP profession across the NHS.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• College of Paramedics: UK professional body and trade union for paramedics — directly comparable as a similarly-sized, single-profession AHP membership body with CPD, advocacy, and HCPC-aligned regulatory engagement.
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: UK professional body and trade union for physiotherapists — a closely analogous AHP membership organization with CPD, education endorsement, and HCPC-aligned standards work.
• Royal College of Occupational Therapists: UK professional body for occupational therapists — analogous AHP membership organization with education accreditation, CPD, and HCPC regulatory interface.
• Society of Radiographers: UK professional body and trade union for radiographers — comparable as another AHP membership organization delivering CPD, professional standards, and university programme engagement.
• British Dietetic Association: UK professional body and trade union for dietitians — comparable as a smaller AHP membership organization focused on CPD, education standards and HCPC regulatory engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Royal College of Surgeons of England: Major UK medical Royal College with overlapping perioperative interests — comparable in providing professional standards, education, and conferences but at far greater scale and with statutory Royal College status.
• Royal College of Nursing: Larger UK professional body and trade union for the nursing workforce — comparable business model (membership, CPD, advocacy) but operating at materially greater scale across a much larger profession.
• Royal College of Anaesthetists: UK medical Royal College for anaesthetists — directly relevant given ODPs work alongside anaesthetists; comparable in delivering professional standards, education, and policy advocacy but at significantly larger scale.

Others

• Health and Care Professions Council: UK statutory regulator of ODPs (and 15 other AHP professions) — not a peer in business model but a core counterparty: CODP works with HCPC on education standards and Council representation.
• Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC): Cross-specialty collaborative for perioperative care of which CODP is a Board member — a thematically adjacent organization with overlapping stakeholders and shared standards work (NatSSIPs2).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about COLLEGE OF OPERATING DEPARTMENT PRACTITIONERS