This initiative raises the quality and standard of business advice. For those using business advice services it offers re–assurance of the quality of that advice, and for those delivering advice it presents the opportunity to demonstrate the quality of their service and also provides a structure for ongoing development.

Business Advisers are assessed against National Standards for the Business Support Profession. Those who are successful in demonstrating competence receive a nationally recognised certificate, as proof that they have the skills and knowledge required of a high calibre business adviser.

Once accredited, Business Advisers will be required to maintain and demonstrate their expertise by undertaking professional development, monitoring and shadowing. Adviser registration expires after two years at which point they will need to demonstrate they still meet the scheme requirements. Once competence has been demonstrated, advisers apply to be awarded “the SFEDI kite mark” to use on their business stationery and their personal details entered onto the national register of accredited advisers. They are awarded a certificate and allocated a unique registration number. Business Advisers are assessed against National Standards for the Business Support Profession.