Qualification
Trusted by Industry. Designed for Impact.
We develop, deliver and award industry-recognised qualifications and assessments that underpin excellence across the sport, physical activity, equine, health and leisure sectors.
Who is 1st4Sport?
As an Industry Specialist Recognised Awarding Organisation*, we offer over 130 sector-specific qualifications and progression pathways, alongside a suite of high-performing education and workforce solutions.
Everything we do is shaped by industry need and delivered to the highest standards of quality and assurance.
Cross-sector collaboration helps us anticipate change and respond to it with qualifications to suit new priorities. Our unrivalled insight enables us to support the evolving needs of your workforce, today and tomorrow.
Why Choose 1st4sport Qualifications?
If you need recognised, quality-assured learning that delivers real outcomes, 1st4sport qualifications:
- Support progression and employability, aligned to professional and occupational standards
- Provide a clear, consistent framework for workforce development at scale
- Maintain quality and consistency across roles, regions and delivery partners
- Support both paid and voluntary roles
- Embed transferrable skills, reducing duplication across sports and employers
The result? A capable, confident and future-proofed workforce.
Our Involvement
Shaping the sector, not just serving it
We work alongside partners, centres, employers and representative bodies to guide, support and strengthen qualification journeys. Our involvement helps shape policy, develop capability and drive sector-wide improvement.
Our Mission
Education that drives value beyond qualifications
Our mission is simple and ambitious. Deliver outstanding educational solutions and value-added services that strengthen the sport, physical activity and active leisure industries.
Our Direction
Professionalising the industry for sustainable growth
We are committed to the ongoing professionalisation of our industry. We champion performance, participation, health and wellbeing to support sustainable success that aids employment and growth.
Our Core Values
Everything we deliver is grounded in five core values
1. Quality through a culture of excellence
We drive continuous improvement by monitoring performance and benchmarking against best practice. This embeds excellence across all activity.
2. Strong governance & responsible leadership
Transparent governance and ethical conduct underpin our robust processes. We act with integrity and recognise our wider responsibility to our communities.
3. Personal development & organisational learning
We succeed through people. We invest in learning, champion innovation and empower our teams to deliver expert, professional services at every level.
4. Partnership & innovation
Collaboration fuels progress. Through creative partnerships and innovative thinking, we co-create high-quality qualifications that meet end-user needs and keep us at the forefront of the industry.
5. Customer focus & results orientation
You are central to everything we do. We take a results-driven approach that delivers maximum value and outcomes that matter to you.
Who We've Helped With Qualification Development
1st4sport provides us with a range of industry-recognised qualifications that give our learners the best chance of being employed.
— Matt Burrows, Senior Sector Head for Sport,
South Devon College
Get in Touch to Start Delivering Our Qualifications
Whether you are developing individuals, strengthening organisations or shaping the future workforce, discover how 1st4sport qualifications can help.
Share your details with us and we'll arrange a chat to explore how we can support your organisation with qualifications.
These qualifications are designed for organisations responsible for developing, deploying or assuring people in coaching, leadership, instruction and workforce roles.
They support both paid and voluntary workforces, from entry-level roles through to specialist and leadership pathways. This makes them suitable for governing bodies, employers, education providers, charities and public-sector organisations.
1st4sport qualifications are industry-led and sector-designed, rather than adapted from generic education models. They are co-created with employers, governing bodies and delivery partners to ensure they reflect real-world roles, behaviours and expectations.
You’ll benefit from qualifications that are practical and aligned to occupational standards, without unnecessary complexity or duplication.
Yes. 1st4sport is an Industry Specialist Recognised Awarding Organisation, with qualifications regulated by Ofqual in England, Qualifications Wales, and CCEA Regulation in Northern Ireland.
Yes. We can work with you to contextualise qualifications to your sport, environment or workforce needs while maintaining regulatory compliance and national recognition.
This allows you to preserve consistency and quality, while ensuring learning reflects your participants, priorities and operating context.