asdan
ASDAN is a UK education charity and awarding organisation providing accredited courses and Ofqual-regulated qualifications from pre-Entry to Level 3 to schools, FE colleges, SEND providers, and alternative education settings through a B2B membership and approved centre model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What asdan does
ASDAN is an education charity and awarding organisation founded in 1990 and headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom. It provides courses, accredited programmes, and UK-regulated qualifications from pre-Entry to Level 3 to schools, further education colleges, special education needs (SEND) providers, pupil referral units, alternative provision settings, and international partners. Over 35 years the organisation has built an extensive catalogue including Personal Effectiveness Qualifications, the Extended Project Qualification, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), Short Courses, and SEND-specific programmes such as Preparing for Adulthood, Towards Independence, My Independence, and the newer New Horizons and Moving On offerings.
Its core technology is Equitas, a proprietary digital learning platform launched in October 2025 that supports the full cycle of learning including challenge assignment, evidence upload, progress tracking, and assessment workflows. Equitas replaces the legacy e-portfolio system, which is scheduled to close in August 2026, and underpins Short Course delivery with self-service registration and volume pricing. Distribution is strictly institutional: learners can only access ASDAN qualifications through approved member centres, which pay recurring annual membership fees plus per-learner registration, certification, and product fees. Pricing is unit-based for regulated qualifications (for example £40 per candidate for Personal Effectiveness Qualifications and £60 for the Extended Project Qualification) and usage-based for Equitas Short Courses (£4-£12 per registration by cohort size), supplemented by £7.50 certifications and £15.95 student books. The organisation is regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales, and CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland, holds registered charity number 1066927, and earns UCAS tariff points on certain qualifications to embed them in university progression.
asdan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- asdan
- Legal name
- ASDAN Ltd
- Website
- https://asdan.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- ASDAN is a UK education charity and awarding organisation providing accredited courses and Ofqual-regulated qualifications from pre-Entry to Level 3 to schools, FE colleges, SEND providers, and alternative education settings through a B2B membership and approved centre model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
asdan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Education and Qualifications
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Online/Hybrid ASE Programs & Virtual Classrooms (EDAAABAG), Autism Spectrum (ASD) Academic & Social-Communication Support Tutoring (EDANAFAD)
Keywords
Where asdan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
asdan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for centres to access ASDAN courses, qualifications, resources, training, and support. Membership auto-renews annually unless terminated with 30 days written notice.
- Learner Registration Fees: Per-learner registration fees for qualifications. Personal Effectiveness Qualifications: £40 per candidate. Extended Project Qualification: £60 per learner. Award of Personal Effectiveness: £34-38 depending on level.
- Certification Fees: Certification fees per learner per certificate for programme completion. Personal Development Programmes: £7.50 per learner per certificate. Replacement certificates: £15 each.
- Physical Products: Sale of student books and physical materials. Personal Development Programmes student book 2021: £15.95 per learner. Books are valid for three years from purchase date.
- Digital Learning Platform - Volume Pricing: Equitas Short Courses with volume-based pricing: 1-9 learners at £12 per registration, 10-19 at £8, 20-29 at £6, 30+ at £4 per registration.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Personal Effectiveness Qualifications - All levels and sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Extended Project Qualification Level 3 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Award of Personal Effectiveness (AoPE) - Closing to new registrations |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Personal Development Programmes |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Equitas Short Courses - Volume Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
asdan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ASDAN is a UK education charity and awarding organisation providing accredited programmes and regulated qualifications from pre-Entry to Level 3 across skills-based, personal effectiveness, SEND, and vocational areas. Centres become approved members to deliver qualifications, with learners completing portfolio-based evidence rather than exams. Programmes are delivered via the Equitas digital learning platform and supported with training, moderation, and centre resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Equitas: ASDAN's digital learning platform designed to make it easier for educators and learners to capture their work and complete courses.
- ASDAN Champions
- ASDAN Youth Council
- Cross-sector Lab
Products and services
- Personal Effectiveness Qualifications UK-regulated qualifications from Entry 3 to Level 3 (Award, Extended Award, Certificate sizes) developing transferable skills, careers education, employability, and preparation for adulthood. £40 per candidate registration. Approved for public funding in England and Northern Ireland for eligible 14-16 learners.
- Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) A Level 3 qualification regulated by Ofqual requiring 120 hours of total qualification time, supporting sixth formers and university preparation. £60 per learner registration. Carries up to 28 UCAS tariff points.
- Award of Personal Effectiveness (AoPE) Regulated qualification at Levels 1-2 (£34) and Level 3 (£38) carrying UCAS points. Now closed to new registrations in England, Northern Ireland and international settings; Wales continues until 30 September 2026.
- Personal Development Programmes (PDP) Activity-based programmes with Bronze (60 hours), Silver (120 hours), and Gold (180 hours) levels. Certification £7.50 per learner per certificate. Student book £15.95 per learner (valid 3 years).
- Preparing for Adulthood / Towards Independence / My Independence (SEND Programmes) SEND-specific programmes designed for learners with severe/profound learning difficulties, providing highly differentiated learning materials and preparation for adulthood and independence. Available from Entry level upwards.
- Equitas Short Courses Short courses (10+ hours) delivered via the Equitas digital learning platform covering skills-based topics. Volume-based pricing from £4 to £12 per learner registration depending on cohort size.
- Equitas Digital Learning Platform ASDAN's proprietary digital learning platform supporting the full cycle of learning including challenge assignment, evidence upload, progress tracking, and assessment workflows. Designed to improve access and ease of delivery for both educators and learners.
- Esports Short Course A short course delivered on the Equitas digital platform covering esports-related skills and knowledge.
- New Horizons A refreshed activity-based programme for learners with SEND providing accessible, personalised learning pathways.
- Moving On Programme A course designed to prepare young people, including care leavers, for independent living and transition to adult life.
- New Project Qualifications New project qualifications designed as a practical approach to future-ready education for learners.
Quantifiable outcome
- ASDAN qualifications carry UCAS tariff points for university entry (CoPE 16 points, AoPE 8 points, EPQ up to 28 points)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use asdan
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
asdan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
asdan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- globalbridgecoreCollaboration to empower learners and enhance employability. Joint initiative connecting ASDAN courses with globalbridge career and education platform.
- Odd ArtsminorPartnership with creative arts organisation delivering courses in justice settings, particularly prison education programmes.
- Esports industry partnersminorNew Esports programme development partnership announced January 2025 for Esports Short Course development.
- Chartered College of TeachingcorePartnership with the professional body for teachers, supporting professional development and recognition of teaching excellence in education.
- Skills Builder Partnership UKcorePartnership announced April 2024 to strengthen essential skills development. Integrates Skills Builder framework with ASDAN courses for comprehensive skills education.
- Federation of Awarding BodiescoreMembership in the federation representing UK awarding organisations, contributing to sector standards and policy development.
- Fair Education AlliancecoreCoalition working to close the gap in educational outcomes between disadvantaged and other young people.
- National Association for Advancing AutismcorePartnership supporting learners with autism through specialised resources and education approaches aligned with ASDAN SEND programmes.
- Whole EducationminorNetwork of schools working to broaden and enrich the curriculum beyond traditional academic measures.
- Youth Employment UKminorPartnership supporting young people into quality work through employability skills development.
- Foundation for Education DevelopmentminorAdvocacy coalition working towards a sustainable education system in England.
- National Education AssemblyminorPartnership contributing to national education policy development and reform discussions.
- NCVOminorPartnership with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations supporting charity sector engagement.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
asdan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- City & Guilds: City & Guilds is a major UK-regulated awarding organisation offering vocational, technical, and applied qualifications across multiple sectors. Like ASDAN, it serves FE colleges, training providers, and alternative education settings with portfolio-based and skills-focused credentials, making it the closest direct comparator in the UK awarding body landscape.
- NCFE: NCFE is a UK awarding organisation and registered charity offering vocational and technical qualifications, with particular strength in care, education, and employability pathways. It mirrors ASDAN's charity/awarding body hybrid model and overlaps directly on portfolio-based qualifications for FE and alternative education learners.
- Open Awards: Open Awards is an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation specialising in flexible, portfolio-based qualifications including extensive SEND provision (Entry Level, Preparing for Adulthood equivalents). It is the closest niche peer to ASDAN's SEND and alternative provision offering, competing for the same member centres and learners.
- AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group: AIM Qualifications is a UK-regulated awarding body offering flexible, portfolio-based qualifications across Entry to Level 3. It directly competes with ASDAN in SEND, alternative provision, and FE college segments, with a similarly relationship-led membership model.
Broad incumbents
- AQA: AQA is one of the largest UK awarding organisations, primarily known for GCSEs and A-levels but also offering a broader portfolio including Applied General qualifications. As a broad incumbent, it overlaps with ASDAN in secondary school qualification budgets and could expand into SEND/applied niches where ASDAN currently operates.
- Pearson Edexcel: Pearson Edexcel is a major UK awarding organisation and part of Pearson plc, offering GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs, and a wide vocational portfolio. As a broad incumbent with significantly greater resources, it competes for the same secondary and FE institution budgets that fund ASDAN memberships.
- OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations): OCR is a major UK awarding organisation (part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment) offering GCSEs, A-levels, and vocational qualifications including Cambridge Nationals. It operates in the same secondary school qualification market as ASDAN but with substantially broader mainstream reach.
- WJEC / Qualifications Wales: WJEC (and its qualifications division in Wales) is a UK awarding organisation regulated by Qualifications Wales. It serves secondary schools and colleges with regulated qualifications, including vocational pathways, and is a relevant incumbent comparator for ASDAN's Wales-based qualifications such as the AoPE continuing until September 2026.
Emerging players
- TQUK (Training Qualifications UK): TQUK is an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation offering a broad portfolio of regulated qualifications, particularly in education, training, and skills sectors. As a more agile challenger to larger awarding bodies, it competes for the same FE college and training provider budgets as ASDAN.
- Highfield Qualifications: Highfield Qualifications is a UK awarding organisation offering vocational and compliance-focused qualifications. It overlaps with ASDAN in FE and alternative provision segments but focuses more heavily on employer-facing and compliance-driven qualifications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
asdan social profiles
Digital presenceasdan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
asdan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
asdan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
asdan 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 asdan
What does asdan do?
ASDAN is a UK education charity and awarding organisation providing accredited programmes and regulated qualifications from pre-Entry to Level 3 across skills-based, personal effectiveness, SEND, and vocational areas. Centres become approved members to deliver qualifications, with learners completing portfolio-based evidence rather than exams. Programmes are delivered via the Equitas digital learning platform and supported with training, moderation, and centre resources.
Is asdan a public or private company?
asdan is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was asdan founded?
asdan was founded in 1990.
Where is asdan based?
asdan is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does asdan make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are learner Registration Fees, certification Fees, physical Products and digital Learning Platform - Volume Pricing.
Who are asdan's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are City & Guilds, NCFE, Open Awards and AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group. Broad incumbents are AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations) and WJEC / Qualifications Wales. Emerging players are TQUK (Training Qualifications UK) and Highfield Qualifications.
Does asdan have an API?
No public API is recorded for asdan.
What industry is asdan in?
asdan's product category is Vocational Education and Qualifications. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAFAC, Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas), with a secondary code of EDAAABAG, Online/Hybrid ASE Programs & Virtual Classrooms. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.