How advisers meet the Standard
The same Business Support Standard, more than one way to meet it. The flagship route is SFEDI Awards’ updated Level 5 Certificate in Business and Enterprise Support. Proven foundations, rebuilt for the modern adviser, and the route mapped to the levy-funded apprenticeship.
Meeting the Business Support Standard is primarily evidenced through SFEDI Awards’ Level 5 Certificate in Professional Business and Enterprise Support. A ground-up redevelopment of a qualification SFEDI has delivered for years, co-developed and reviewed, and rebuilt around one question: what does a business adviser actually need to be good at today? It covers professional practice, client service and needs analysis, and adds the dedicated finance and project-management units the modern role demands.
Direct qualification
For new advisers or those seeking formal recognition; delivered by any SFEDI Awards centre.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Experienced advisers evidence competence through a portfolio; your track record becomes your evidence.
Levy-funded apprenticeship
The qualification embedded in the Level 4 Junior Management Consultant standard, delivered with ALM; funded through the apprenticeship levy.
Earn Specialist Credentials as you qualify
The Level 5 carries specialism units, so advisers can qualify with Specialist Credentials - verified recognition in named areas of advisory practice - in the areas most relevant to their role, once their foundation skills are secure.
About Specialist CredentialsOther routes to the same Standard
The Business Support Standard is one benchmark. The flagship Level 5 is the lead route; these meet the same Standard at a different level or for a different context.
Level 5 (flagship)
RQF Level 5
Level 5 Certificate in Professional Business and Enterprise SupportRQF Level 5. The lead route, tied to the levy-funded apprenticeship.
Social enterprise (context)
RQF Level 5
The same Standard for advisers working with social enterprises.
Coming Soon
Level 7 (advanced)
RQF Level 7
The same Standard at an advanced level, for senior and lead practitioners.
Coming Soon
Join the first pilot cohorts
Ahead of the official September launch, a first group of combined and local authorities are being invited to put cohorts of advisers through the new qualification and accreditation, by the levy-funded apprenticeship route delivered with ALM. The cohorts test the delivery model, prove the new qualification in practice, and help shape the updated national Standard before it is formally set.
Taking part now means your advisers are among the first on the register when it launches, and your authority helps decide what the national Standard becomes.
Founding membership of the Alliance opens with the full launch later in 2026. Pilot authorities are the first invited.