FAO guides organisations through every stage of gaining approval to deliver regulated UK qualifications — from selecting the right awarding body to quality assurance readiness and programme launch.
Becoming an approved centre for a UK awarding body is a structured process. FAO provides expert support at every step — helping you navigate the requirements, prepare the right documentation, and build the quality systems that awarding bodies require.
Centre approval is an organisational process — not a learner registration. FAO works with organisations that want to deliver UK qualifications, not individuals seeking to study.
Training providers seeking approval to deliver regulated UK qualifications to their students.
Further and higher education institutions expanding their regulated qualification portfolio.
Employers and corporate training functions building UK-regulated workforce development programmes.
National and regional workforce development agencies seeking UK-recognised qualification delivery capability.
FAO supports your organisation through each stage. Awarding body approval decisions are made by the relevant UK awarding organisation — FAO’s role is to prepare you thoroughly at every step so your application is as strong as it can be.
We begin with an in-depth conversation about your organisation, your sector, your learner base and your qualification objectives. This enables us to understand your needs before making any recommendations — not every awarding body or qualification is the right fit for every organisation.
Based on your organisation’s context, we help you identify the most appropriate regulated qualifications from within the FAO awarding partner network. We consider sector alignment, level, recognition requirements and commercial fit.
We match your organisation to the UK awarding body whose qualifications and approval requirements best fit your context. You gain a clear understanding of what that specific awarding body requires from an approved centre before you commit to the process.
We work with you to prepare your centre application — supporting you through the documentation requirements, evidence gathering and submission process. Awarding bodies typically require evidence of staffing, physical resources, management systems and financial stability.
We support you through the awarding body’s approval process, including any pre-approval visits or assessments. The formal approval decision rests with the awarding organisation; FAO’s role is to ensure you are as well-prepared as possible.
Once approval is granted, you need to be ready for internal and external quality assurance processes. We help you build the IQA systems, assessment documentation and quality management processes that qualification delivery requires on an ongoing basis.
We support your first cohort delivery and remain available for ongoing guidance as your centre matures — including support with centre expansion, additional qualifications and continuous quality improvement.
FAO is a gateway and support organisation — not an awarding body and not a regulator. Formal centre approval decisions are made by the relevant UK awarding organisation (EAL, VTCT, Innovate Awarding, SFJ Awards or SIAS), each of which holds its own regulatory recognition from Ofqual or equivalent.
FAO’s role is to help your organisation access those awarding bodies, prepare thoroughly for the approval process, and build the quality systems that sustained qualification delivery requires.
Ofqual-regulated technical and engineering qualifications for professional and industrial workforces.
Learn more →World-recognised qualifications for hair, beauty, wellness and fitness professionals.
Learn more →Employer-led regulated qualifications across multiple sectors, with strong industry validation.
Learn more →Professional qualifications for justice, fire & rescue and community safety sectors.
Learn more →End-Point Assessment and technical qualifications for science and industrial roles.
Learn more →Tell us your sector and objectives and we’ll recommend the right awarding body and qualification.
Discuss your options →The first step is a conversation. Tell us about your organisation, your sector and your qualification objectives — we’ll advise on the right path forward.