FAQs
Want to know more about SFEDI and how it all works? The answers to common questions can be found below. If you don't find what you're looking for then please get in touch.
How can I make an enquiry about a SASDA delivered SFEDI Award?
SASDA is a SFEDI Centre of Excellence and can provide a number of SFEDI Awards. Click here to contact the team, or call on 01325 310 730
SASDA are a SFEDI Centre of excellence and are able to offer you the full SFEDI list of services, if you are interested in progressing or want more information - please don’t hesitate to contact us today on 01325 310730 or email: david.white@sasda.info.
What does SFEDI stand for?
SFEDI formally stands for Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative
What is SFEDI ?
SFEDI is the Government recognized UK standards setting body for business support and business enterprise.
What difference would SFEDI Accreditation mean to my business?
Client and Customer Communication
There are large number of organisations (or individuals) working in the field of business support and advice. When you factor in business start up services, training, coaching or mentoring that creates a crowded market place. Your service needs to find competitive advantage which clients and potential customers can instantly recognise and relate to. Something that tells them your commitment to quality, learning and improvement, before they even engage with you. Similar to the ISO kitemarks used in other industries.
Once you have successfully completed a SFEDI Award you will be eligible to display the SFEDI logo on your promotional materials, meaning clients and potential customers can be sure:
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The advice they receive is consistent and assessed by nationally recognised standards
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Support is of the highest standard
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You have made a commitment to the improvement and quality of your service to them
Personal and Professional Development
Putting your staff, or yourself, through one of SASDA’s SFEDI Awards also provides a range of benefits to staff or personal development:
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All of the SFEDI Awards are an excellent opportunity for ‘Career Professional Development’ meaning staff can grow their careers in the desired area.
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Undertaking a SFEDI Award show a commitment to staff that an organisation is dedicated to their improvement and quality of service.
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The SFEDI Awards provide opportunity for personal evaluation meaning best practice can be transferred throughout the business.
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Going through the process will highlight areas for learning and professional development; they are a brilliant way to introspect on your service.
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The Awards are fast becoming the benchmark for business advice and achieving them brings a sense of value and recognition in a range of job roles.
Other Reasons to Put Your Advisers through SFEDI Accreditation?
- The SFEDI Award is the recognised National Standard for Enterprise and Business Support, and increasingly becoming the benchmark for business advice throughout the UK.
- Most of the regional Business Links have already signed up to undertake accreditation for all of their front line staff and many have already begun.
- Many of Business Links’ private suppliers are also beginning to take a lead in undergoing SFEDI assessment in order to differentiate themselves from other business support organisations.
- Consultants / private businesses are now being asked to undergo SFEDI Accreditation as chosen suppliers to Funding organisations and Enterprise Agencies.
- The National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA) has thrown their weight behind the SFEDI accreditation of advisers and it is considered desirable for their member organisations to commit to this action.
What Awards are offered by SFEDI?
As the UK government recognised standards setting body for Business Enterprise and Business Support, SFEDI researches, writes and reviews the National Occupational Standards for those either starting and running a small business or supporting those who do.
- Pre- and Understanding Enterprise (for those who want to find out more about running or working in a small business)
- Business Enterprise Trainer (for those delivering training)
- Business Enterprise (for those starting, running or managing a business)
- Business Support (for those working with small businesses)
- Enterprise Coaches (those working in the community working with /coaching people to help themselves – to start up and to run their own business)
- Business Mentors (those advising / mentoring clients who run businesses)
- Business Link Broker (for Business Link staff working with small businesses)
- Business Link Gateway (for point of contact Business Link staff)
- Business Information (for point of contact staff)
What are National Occupational Standards?
National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe what an individual needs to do, know and understand in order to carry out a particular job role or function.
How does SFEDI help business owners starting or running their business?
SFEDI, is a not for profit organisation led by existing entrepreneurs and business owners, it is dedicated to finding what works best in training, learning opportunities and support to ensure prospective and existing entrepreneurs and owner managers have the very best chance of surviving and thriving. SFEDI provides no direct support to business owners but the leading practice and the standards which they develop are used by all good trainers, advisers, mentors and information providers. By continually raising the standard of the training and support prospective and existing business owners get so we improve the chances of success for everyone.
Why should I look for training products or services that carry the SFEDI logo?
The SFEDI logo means that the course, programme, qualification, website, journal, learning media (manuals, DVDs, videos book, cd roms etc) is small business friendly and is of real practical value. SFEDI found that a lot of the training that owner managers and staff in small businesses were receiving was not appropriate. SFEDI has a trained team of people who run small businesses to evaluate whether the training is useful, in the right language, value for money and meets SFEDI good practice guidelines. If it does then they recommend it for endorsement and a SFEDI committee of entrepreneurs and small business advisers award it the SFEDI logo.
What is a SFEDI Centre of Excellence and what can it do for me ?
SFEDI Centres of Excellence
SFEDI deliver their range of awards through a network of ‘Centres of Excellence’ who have been through a rigorous and continuous assessment and monitoring process. As a SFEDI Centre of Excellence SASDA are approved to deliver the range of awards to business across a wide range of industries.
SFEDI Centres of Excellence are organisations that deliver useful, focused and entrepreneur friendly support and learning to meet your business needs. SFEDI Centres of Excellence focus on assisting “you” meet “your goals” and “objectives”. They provide the 'Enterprise Know-How'
The benefits of working with a Centre of Excellence are that they;
- Focus on your objectives
- Identify what you really need
- Tailor an approach to meet your needs
- Offer solutions that really help your business
- Have staff who understand their field
- Are up to date with market changes
- Use best practice in their own planning and management
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