SFEDI , a not for profit organisation, has been the UK government recognised standards setting body for business enterprise and business support since 1996.

'Standards' describe competence for the occupation – what people need to be able to do, know and understand to succeed in that role. So, SFEDI sets standards for prospective (pre-start and start up) and existing small and home business owners and all the people that provide training and support to these prospective and existing small and home business owners.

SFEDI also develops media (written and digital) based on these standards and endorses people, products and programmes that contribute to individuals gaining these competences. An example of this SFEDI media development work, to underpin the standards, is the 'How to be a Brilliant Community Based Business Adviser Guide', produced with and for ACBBA.

SFEDI is funded by the UK government to develop these standards and these standards are used to improve the quality of support and learning to pre start, start ups and small and home business owners. The SFEDI research with experts and competent practitioners is overseen by a SFEDI Standards Setting Body which comprises all the major, national small business membership organisations and business support/training organisations in the UK.

All publicly funded enterprise advisers, mentors, business information staff and brokers in the UK have to show they meet these SFEDI standards. They are assessed against the standards according to SFEDI assessment processes and receive an accredited certificate from a UK recognised Awarding Body to recognise their achievement. In addition SFEDI conducts authorative research into the learning and support needs of small business owners and this includes recent interviews with over 2,600 small business owners.

Most start up support and training to prospective and existing small and home business owners in the UK, and increasingly overseas, is based on SFEDI standards and good practice and the learning and support is provided by advisers, mentors, information staff and trainers that meet SFEDI Business Support standards. Further details on all SFEDI's work and standards can be found on www.sfedi.co.uk

Contact

TONY ROBINSON, OBE
SFEDI Founder/Executive Director

Business Incubation Centre
Durham Way South
Aycliffe Industrial Park
Durham
DL5 6XP
United Kingdom

Phone: 0845 224 5928

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.sfedi.co.uk