Why SFEDI?

We are the government recognised body for enterprise and enterprise support. Since 1996 we've provided a quality-assured and trusted approach to business support accreditation.

Whether you're seeking to develop new skills and knowledge or looking for recognition and validation for a lifetime of experience – we have the right pathway for you.

Our approach

Delivered remotely, with direct tutor support, we offer a straightforward approach to getting qualified.

Our tailored programmes allow you to reflect on current thinking and practices, share experiences with other business support professionals and apply learning within practice.

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Qualifications Available

The Level 3 Award in Enterprise Mentoring provides an introduction to the role of the mentor. This course ensures a new mentor has the right level of knowledge and understanding to undertake their role.

This qualification consists of two mandatory units:

  • Preparing for the role of a mentor
  • Essential enterprise know-how

Assessment

The assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on learning undertaken and demonstrate knowledge and understanding to successfully meet the assessment criteria required to achieve the qualification. Our flexible approach includes:

  • Completion of workbook activities
  • Professional discussion
  • CPD records and reflective practice

Timings

The programme is delivered as a series of four, two hour online facilitated sessions that bring to life the key skills of a mentor and allow the learner to build their confidence before putting their newly acquired skills and knowledge into practice. In addition learners will be expected to complete activities and mentoring practice outside of the facilitated workshops to achieve the qualification.

Suitability

No previous qualifications are required to undertake this qualification, however, candidates would benefit from an understanding of small businesses and a strong desire to support them.

What’s included

  • Accessible online workshops
  • Access to a dedicated online learning community
  • Flexible one to one support
  • Certification
  • Materials and resources
  • IOEE Studying membership included as well as a complimentary upgrade to Professional membership upon completion of studies including post-nominal letters.

The Level 5 Certificate in Professional Business Information Services is for those people wishing to develop the broad base of skills, knowledge and understanding needed by providers of Business Information Services.

It will equip providers of business information with the skills to deal with client enquiries, promote business information services and develop knowledge and understanding of a small business and its core functions

This qualification consists of two mandatory units:

  • Deliver Effective Business Information Services
  • Evaluate and develop own practices in the delivery of professional business and enterprise support services.

Assessment

The assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on learning undertaken and demonstrate knowledge and understanding to successfully meet the assessment criteria required to achieve the qualification, our flexible approach includes:

  • Completion of workbook activities
  • Professional discussion
  • CPD records and reflective practice
  • Observation

Timings

The programme is delivered as a series of five three-hour online facilitated sessions that bring to life the key skills required to effectively deliver business information services and allow the learner to build their confidence before putting their newly acquired skills and knowledge into practice. In addition, learners will be expected to complete activities and business support practice outside of the facilitated workshops in order to achieve the qualification.

Suitability

No previous qualifications are required to undertake this qualification, however, candidates must be employed within a capacity whereby activities can be observed providing support to small businesses.

What’s included

  • Accessible online workshops
  • Access to a dedicated online learning community
  • Flexible one to one support
  • Certification
  • Materials and resources
  • IOEE Studying membership included as well as a complimentary upgrade to Professional membership upon completion of studies including post-nominal letters.

Level 5 Certificate in Professional Business and Enterprise Support Services focuses on those who wish to develop the broad base of skills, knowledge and understanding needed by business advisers.

It is specifically for those working in the business support sector that help entrepreneurs who are starting up and developing businesses to review their progress, action plan improvements, implement changes to their existing or prospective business and develop their business skills and knowledge

This qualification consists of two mandatory units:

  • Deliver business support services to a client
  • Evaluate and develop own practices in the delivery of professional business and enterprise support services.

Assessment

The assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on learning undertaken and demonstrate knowledge and understanding to successfully meet the assessment criteria required to achieve the qualification, our flexible approach includes:

  • Completion of workbook activities
  • Professional discussion
  • CPD records and reflective practice
  • Observation

Timings

The programme is delivered as a series of four two hour online facilitated sessions that bring to life the key skills of a business support professional and allow the learner to build their confidence before putting their newly acquired skills and knowledge into practice. In addition, learners will be expected to complete activities and deliver business support services outside of the facilitated workshops in order to achieve the qualification.

Suitability

No previous qualifications are required to undertake this qualification, however, candidates would benefit from an understanding of small businesses and a strong desire to support them.

What’s included

  • Accessible online workshops
  • Access to a dedicated online learning community
  • Flexible one to one support
  • Certification
  • Materials and resources
  • IOEE Studying membership included as well as a complimentary upgrade to Professional membership upon completion of studies including post-nominal letters.

Level 7 Diploma in Professional Business and Enterprise Support Services focuses on those who wish to develop the broad base of high-level skills, knowledge and understanding needed by business advisers.

It is specifically for those working in the business support sector that help entrepreneurs who are starting up and developing businesses to review their progress, action plan improvements, implement changes to their existing or prospective business and develop their business skills and knowledge

This qualification consists of four mandatory units (M) plus one optional unit (O):

  • Develop a professional business support relationship with a client (M)
  • Analyse and support the needs of a client (M)
  • Support a client to source, access and evaluate business support opportunities to meet strategic requirements (M)
  • Evaluate and develop own practices in the delivery of professional business and enterprise support services (M)

 

  • Enterprise Coaching (O)
  • Enterprise Mentoring(O)
  • Enterprise Consultancy (O)
  • Enterprise Training (O)

Assessment

The assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on learning undertaken and demonstrate knowledge and understanding to successfully meet the assessment criteria required to achieve the qualification, our flexible approach includes:

  • Completion of workbook activities
  • Professional discussion
  • CPD records and reflective practice
  • Observation

Timings

The programme is delivered as a series of eight three hour online facilitated sessions which bring to life the key skills of a senior business support professional and allow the learner to deepen their knowledge and understanding, reflect on their own skills and experiences and gain the highest level of recognition in the field of business and enterprise support. In addition, learners will be expected to complete activities and mentoring practice outside of the facilitated workshops in order to achieve the qualification.

Suitability

Candidates should hold a Level 5 or equivalent qualification in the field of business and enterprise support. For candidates not holding this qualification, we do offer an experiential route which offers candidates with significant experience the opportunity to join at level 7.

We also offer accreditation of prior learning - please contact us to discuss this.

What’s included

  • Accessible online workshops
  • Access to a dedicated online learning community
  • Flexible one to one support
  • Certification
  • Materials and resources
  • IOEE Studying membership included as well as a complimentary upgrade to Professional membership upon completion of studies including post-nominal letters.

The Level 5 Certificate in Professional Enterprise Consultancy Services focuses on those who wish to develop the broad base of skills, knowledge and understanding needed by enterprise consultants.

It is specifically for those working in the business support sector that help entrepreneurs who are starting up and developing businesses to review their progress, action plan improvements, implement changes to their existing or prospective business and develop their business skills and knowledge.

Assessment

The assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on learning undertaken and demonstrate knowledge and understanding to successfully meet the assessment criteria required to achieve the qualification, our flexible approach includes;

  • Completion of workbook activities
  • Professional Discussion
  • CPD Records and reflective practice
  • Observation
  • Accreditation of prior learning

Timings

The programme is delivered as a series of five three-hour online facilitated sessions that bring to life the key skills require d to deliver enterprise consultancy services. In addition learners will be expected to completed activities and consultancy practice outside of the facilitated workshops in order to achieve the qualification.

Suitability

No previous qualifications are required to undertake this qualification, however, candidates must be experienced in providing business support services and able to be observed providing consultancy support to businesses as part of the assessment process.

What’s included

Accessible online workshops

Access to a dedicated online learning community

Flexible one-to-one support

Certification

Materials and resources

IOEE Studying membership included as well as a complimentary upgrade to professional membership upon completion of studies including post nominal letters

The Level 7 Certificate in Professional Enterprise Consultancy Services focuses on those who wish to further develop their skills, knowledge and understanding needed by enterprise consultants.

It is specifically for those working in the business support sector that help entrepreneurs who are starting up and developing businesses to review their progress, action plan improvements, implement changes to their existing or prospective business and develop their business skills and knowledge

Assessment

The assessment provides an opportunity to reflect on learning undertaken and demonstrate knowledge and understanding to successfully meet the assessment criteria required to achieve the qualification, our flexible approach includes;

  • Completion of workbook activities
  • Professional Discussion
  • CPD Records and reflective practice
  • Observation
  • Accreditation of prior learning

Timings

The programme is delivered as a series of five three-hour online facilitated sessions that bring to life the key skills require d to deliver enterprise consultancy services. In addition learners will be expected to completed activities and consultancy practice outside of the facilitated workshops in order to achieve the qualification.

Suitability

We recommend prior completion of the SFEDI level 5 Certificate in Professional Enterprise Consultancy Services, however, experience and relevant qualifications gained outside of the scope of SFEDI will be considered, please contact us to discuss. Candidates must have significant experience in providing business support services and able to be observed providing consultancy support to businesses as part of the assessment process.

What’s included

Accessible online workshops

Access to a dedicated online learning community

Flexible one-to-one support

Certification

Materials and resources

IOEE Studying membership included as well as a complimentary upgrade to professional membership upon completion of studies including post nominal letters

Request information

To find out more about our distance business support qualifications or to book your place, please fill in the form below and one of our team will be in touch.

  • Let us know detail of any specific requirements or questions you have and we'll get back to you with an answer.
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