Qualifications Explained: Awarding Bodies

Awarding bodies are the organisations that develop qualification units based on the standards set by the regulating body (Ofqual). Training companies then register with the awarding bodies to become qualified to deliver these units to learners. Some awarding bodies are very large and develop units across a wide range of sectors, while others are more specialised and only cover one specific industry.

Here is a list of some popular awarding organisations currently delivering RQF qualifications in the UK & abroad.*

		ABC Awards Established in 1998 Works with 900+ training centres in the UK Portfolio of 600+ qualifications Covers 12 industry sectors

		AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) UK's leading body for vocational accountants Awards skill-based accountancy & finance qualifications 125,000 members in 90 countries worldwide Works with 500+ approved training providers

		ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) Founded in 1904 Global body for professional accountants 170,000 members and 436,000 students in 180 countries Offers business-relevant qualifications in accountancy, finance and management

		BIFM (British Institute of Facilities Management) Founded in 1993 Professional body for facilities management (FM) Represents 14,500+ members worldwide Represents thousands more (individuals and organisations) through qualifications and training

		British Safety Council Registered Charity founded in 1957 Became a government-regulated awarding organisation in 2004 Delivers health & safety courses and qualifications at all levels Campaigns for improved health & safety legislation

		Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Registered Charity and membership body Sets standards and accredits courses and qualifications Delivers over 60 certification programmes Covers Food Safety, Health & Safety, First Aid, Fire Safety and Environmental Protection

		Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Professional body for HR and people development 130,000+ members worldwide Delivers training via its own learning delivery arm: CIPD Training Accredits externals providers to deliver CIPD qualifications in the UK and abroad

		Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Professional body for procurement and supply chain management 103,000 members worldwide Offers qualifications from Level 2 to Level 6 Works with 90 approved centres in the UK and 100 internationally

		Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) Evolved from the London Stock Exchange Largest professional body for securities and investment industry professionals in the UK 40,000 members in 110 countries Delivers qualifications and exams in 4 areas: Wealth/Retail, Compliance/Risk, Operations and Capital Markets

		City & Guilds Granted Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1900 Works with 10,000 training providers Operates in over 80 countries Qualifications span 26 industries

		Chartered Management Institute (CMI) UK's only chartered body for management, Approximately 70,000 members worldwide Delivers management and leadership qualifications at all levels Works with 600+ study centres

		Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education (CACHE) Specialist awarding body for the Care & Education Sector Develops qualifications based on workforce development strategies, or designs them jointly with employers Collaborates with 1,000 colleges and training providers to deliver the qualifications in the UK and abroad

		Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance Supplier of compliance qualifications in 23 subject areas Strong presence in the Middle East Originally a small, family-owned business Delivers 200+ qualifications

		Institute of Export (IOE) Esbalished in 1935, it is a leading authority for businesses trading globally Offers a suite of qualifications as well as short courses Only accredited body delivering training in export, import and international trade in the UK

		Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Part of the City & Guilds group Membership & awarding body offering management & leadership qualifications Around 25,000 members worldwide Works with 2,500+ training providers

		Institute of Revenues Rating & Valuation (IRRV) Professional membership body, founded in 1882 3,500+ members Serves professionals in the in the revenues, benefits and valuation field Offers qualifications, CPD training and online courses

		The Institute of Sales & Marketing Management (ISMM) Established in 1911 Serves sales and marketing professionals Regulates a range of sales and marketing qualifications, from Level 1 to Level 6

		International Association of Book-Keepers (IAB) 10,000+ members in 60 countries Not-for-profit association for professional bookkeepers Offers accredited bookkeeping and business qualifications Contributed to pioneering Payroll qualifications with CIPP

		Northern Council for Further Education (NCFE) Established in 1981 from the fusion of two existing bodies Delivers 500+ qualifications Around 340,000 learners each year Covers a range of industries and sectors

		National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) Founded in 1951 to run the newspaper industry's training scheme Sets industry standards for accredited journalism Expanding portfolio of qualifications & apprenticeships, as well as short courses

		Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR) Not-for-profit organisation Offers both general & vocational qualifications at all levels Works with 13,000+ training centres Part of the Cambridge Assessment Group

		Pearson Education Limited The UK's largest awarding organisation Offers both academic and vocational qualifications Covers a broad range of subjects and industries Owns the Edexcel and EDI brands

		Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Membership body for over 6,000 public health professionals Works with a network of centres to offer qualifications to 70,000 individuals per year A multi-disciplinary charity dedicated to public health, including medicine, environmental health and food safety