How advisers meet the Standard
The same Business Support Standard, more than one way to meet it. The flagship route is SFEDI Awards’ Level 5 regulated qualification (Ofqual recognition in progress) — proven foundations, rebuilt for the modern adviser, and the route tied to the levy-funded apprenticeship.
Meeting the Business Support Standard is evidenced through SFEDI Awards’ Level 5 Certificate in Professional Business and Enterprise Advisory Services — a ground-up redevelopment of a qualification SFEDI has delivered for years, co-developed and reviewed with the Alliance, 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 dedicated finance and project-management units the modern role demands.
The Standard is the benchmark; this is the flagship qualification that proves an adviser meets it, and the one we lead with at launch because its levy-funded apprenticeship route makes professionalising a whole team straightforward. Other qualifications meet the same Standard at different levels and for different contexts (see below).
The facts
- Qualification — SFEDI Awards Level 5 Certificate in Professional Business and Enterprise Advisory Services
- Level — RQF Level 5, foundation-degree level
- Regulation — regulated qualification (Ofqual recognition in progress)
- Awarded by — SFEDI Awards (the awarding organisation), co-developed and reviewed with the Alliance
- Proves — that an adviser meets the Business Support Standard
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 graduate 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
Professional Business and Enterprise Advisory Services. The lead route, tied to the levy-funded apprenticeship.
Social enterprise (context)
The same Standard for advisers working with social enterprises.
Details to confirm
Level 7 (advanced)
The same Standard at an advanced level, for senior and lead practitioners.
Details to confirm
Become a founding member of the Alliance
Authorities and centres joining before launch sign the founding charter, shape the Standard and the register, and are the first names on it. There’s more than one way in — put a cohort through the pilot, recognise your existing SFEDI-accredited advisers, or come in as an established centre.