aim awards
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersUnited Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
aim awards firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- aim awards
- Legal name
- AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group
- Website
- https://aimawards.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
aim awards industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Awarding Organisation and Qualification Assessment
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies (EDADAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks (BPADAKAL), Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms (EDAFADAM), University/College Entrance & Admissions Testing Authorities (EDADAFAE), Specialized/Single-Purpose Accreditors (e.g., seminaries, arts conservatories) (EDADACAD)
Keywords
Where aim awards is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- United Kingdom
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
aim awards business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Qualification Registration and Certification Fees: Fees charged to AIM centres for learner registrations, assessments, and certification for regulated qualifications from Entry Level to Level 7
- Centre Approval and Annual Fees: Ongoing fees for centre approval, accreditation, and account management services
- End-Point Assessment Fees: Fees for apprenticeship end-point assessment services across creative, cultural, digital technologies and professional services industries
- Non-regulated Accreditation Services: AIM Approved and Quality Mark accreditation fees for non-regulated training programmes and bespoke accreditation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Centre Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
aim awards product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group is a not-for-profit UK awarding organisation that develops, regulates, and certifies vocational qualifications from Entry Level to Level 7, Access to HE Diplomas, and apprenticeship end-point assessment services. The organisation delivers its portfolio exclusively through a network of approved AIM centres (colleges, training providers, and employers) and offers non-regulated accreditation services such as AIM Approved and Quality Mark for bespoke training programmes.
Product overview
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group operates as a not-for-profit Awarding Organisation, Access Validating Agency, and Apprenticeship Assessment organisation. The portfolio consists of three core offerings: AIM Qualifications (regulated qualifications from Entry Level to Level 6), Access to HE Diplomas (one of the largest providers in England and Wales), and Apprenticeship Assessment services for creative, cultural, digital and professional sectors. Supporting these core offerings are eLearning content, non-regulated pathways including AIM Approved and Quality Mark services, and Bespoke Accreditation for custom training programmes. The group also operates student recognition programmes through the Brian May Awards and Keith Fletcher Awards. In September 2022, AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group merged with Open College Network West Midlands to form one unified organisation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AIM Qualifications Regulated, flexible, professional and technical qualifications from Entry Level to Level 6 covering sectors such as Health and Social Care, Creative Industries, Education, Employability, and Digital. Delivered through approved AIM centres.
- Access to HE Diplomas One of the largest selections of regulated Access to Higher Education Diploma titles in England and Wales, providing pathways into university for adult learners. 3,149 full Diplomas awarded across 57 titles in 2024-25.
- Apprenticeship Assessment End-point assessment services for apprenticeship standards in creative, cultural, digital technologies, and professional services industries.
- AIM eLearning High-quality eLearning content supporting AIM approved centres in delivering qualifications, including auto-assessed modules and free interactive resources developed with partners such as Capital Tutorials and LearningPlus.
- AIM Approved Non-regulated qualification structure following the same format as regulated qualifications (including units, learning outcomes, and assessments) but outside Ofqual regulation.
- Quality Mark Quality kitemark service for organisations and employers seeking quality assurance for their own internally created training programmes.
- Bespoke Accreditation Customised accreditation service for organisations with specialised training programmes tailored to their unique needs, including partnerships such as Peeple for parents/carers and children's outcomes support.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,149 full Access to HE Diplomas awarded across 57 Diplomas
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use aim awards
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
aim awards technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
aim awards partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Retrofit Academy (TRA)coreChampions of Competence partnership strengthening with AIM bringing all of TRA's regulated qualifications under one awarding organisation. Part of an ambitious strategy to set the benchmark for competence, capability and career progression across the UK retrofit profession.
- The Sustainability AcademycoreStrategic partnership to develop accredited training programs that help learners of all ages understand sustainability and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- Power Up AgencyminorFlexi-job apprenticeship agency partnership - Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce project specialising in supporting the creative and cultural sectors
- ScreenSkills, Netflix, WarnerMediacoreScreenSkills, Netflix and WarnerMedia apprenticeship pilot programme for apprenticeships in the UK's booming screen industries using AIM Assessment as end-point assessment organisation
- Anglia Greater ChinaminorInternational centre for the full range of ESOL International qualifications
- Anglia Ibero-American NetworkminorInternational centre for the full range of ESOL International qualifications covering Latin America and Iberia
- Capital TutorialsminoreLearning content partnership delivering free interactive modules for learners including 'Exploring Careers', 'Find Your Healthier You', AI introduction, Recycling and Waste Management, and Safer Internet Day content
- Home GroupminorPartnership with UK social housing, health and social care provider to help improve lives of tenants through the Home Achievement Academy
- PeepleminorPeeple uses AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group customised accreditation to support parents/carers and children to improve children's outcomes
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
aim awards competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pearson (Edexcel / BTEC): Global awarding body and one of the largest regulated qualification providers in the UK including BTECs and Edexcel; directly comparable to AIM's regulated qualifications, Access-equivalent provision, and end-point assessment services.
- City & Guilds: Major UK awarding organisation with extensive vocational qualifications and end-point assessment services; overlaps with AIM's regulated qualifications portfolio and apprenticeship EPA services.
- Open University: UK higher education institution awarding its own degrees and providing Access-equivalent pathways - relevant comparison for AIM's Access to HE Diplomas serving adult learners seeking university entry.
Direct peers
- NCFE: Not-for-profit awarding organisation and End-Point Assessment Organisation operating across regulated qualifications, Access to HE, and apprenticeship assessment - the closest direct peer to AIM.
- NOCN: UK awarding organisation offering regulated qualifications, NVQs, and apprenticeship end-point assessment services across construction, digital, and creative sectors - comparable in scale and mission.
- ProQual: Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation providing vocational qualifications and apprenticeship end-point assessment; overlaps with AIM's regulated qualifications and EPA services portfolio.
- Training Qualifications UK (TQUK): Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation providing vocational qualifications, regulated End-Point Assessment, and regulated certifications - directly comparable to AIM's portfolio.
- Highfield Qualifications: UK awarding organisation and End-Point Assessment Organisation delivering regulated qualifications, apprenticeship assessments, and eLearning - directly comparable in scope and delivery model.
Emerging players
- CACHE (NCFE CACHE): Specialist awarding body focused on care, education, and childcare qualifications - competes with AIM in regulated vocational qualifications and is now part of NCFE.
- Qualsafe Awards: Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation offering first-aid, pre-hospital care, and vocational qualifications - adjacent competitor in regulated qualification space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
aim awards social profiles
Digital presenceaim awards compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
aim awards financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
aim awards leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
aim awards subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
aim awards funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
aim awards 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 aim awards
What does aim awards do?
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group is a not-for-profit UK awarding organisation that develops, regulates, and certifies vocational qualifications from Entry Level to Level 7, Access to HE Diplomas, and apprenticeship end-point assessment services. The organisation delivers its portfolio exclusively through a network of approved AIM centres (colleges, training providers, and employers) and offers non-regulated accreditation services such as AIM Approved and Quality Mark for bespoke training programmes.
Is aim awards a public or private company?
aim awards is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was aim awards founded?
aim awards was founded in 2001.
Where is aim awards based?
aim awards is headquartered in United Kingdom, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does aim awards make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Qualification Registration and Certification Fees are the primary driver. The others are centre Approval and Annual Fees, end-Point Assessment Fees and non-regulated Accreditation Services.
Who are aim awards's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pearson (Edexcel / BTEC), City & Guilds and Open University. Direct peers are NCFE, NOCN, ProQual, Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) and Highfield Qualifications. Emerging players are CACHE (NCFE CACHE) and Qualsafe Awards.
Does aim awards have an API?
No public API is recorded for aim awards.
What industry is aim awards in?
aim awards's product category is Awarding Organisation and Qualification Assessment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADAFAA, National/State Examination Boards & Testing Agencies, with a secondary code of BPADAKAL, Assessment, Certification & Qualifications Frameworks. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.