National Open College Network (NOCN) is the leading credit-based awarding body in the UK, offering high quality, flexible, credit-based qualifications. We originate from the Open College Network (OCN) movement first established in 1975 to formally recognise the achievements of adult learners. We work with national and local organisations (industry, government, employers and education providers) to develop and widen access to high quality and flexible education, raining and learning.

City & Guilds offers learners over 500 qualifications in 28industry areas – so that they can learn skills that equip themto fulfil their career ambitions or enrich their leisure time.City & Guilds qualifications are valued by employers becausethey’re developed in conjunction with key industry bodies– so they’re always relevant and up to date.City & Guilds qualifications offer clear pathways to progression spanning from entry level to the equivalent of a postgraduate degree.

Edexcel is the leading provider of internationally recognised qualifications. Edexcel was formed in 1996 by the merger of the Business & Technology Education Council (BTEC), the country’s leading provider of vocational qualifications, and the University of London Examinations & Assessment Council (ULEAC), one of the major exam boards for GCSEs and A levels.

BIIAB is the wholly-owned awarding body of BII , the professional body for the licensed retail sector. It is the leading awarding body for the licensed retail sector accredited by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA) and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and has been recognised for achieving the ISO 9001:2000 quality standard.

ASET provides qualifications for its licensed centres to deliver and assesses (examines) the achievements of learners on its qualifications. ASET Qualifications are approved by QCA (England), DELLS (Wales), SQA (Scotland) and CEA (Northern Ireland) and by the Secretary State for Innovation, Universities and Skills and are part of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).

NCFE is a national awarding body. In 1981 Northern Counties merged with the Northern Advisory Council for Further Education to become the Northern Council for Further Education. However, by the early 1990s our new and independent national presence required a less regional focus, and we are now known simply as NCFE.