About NCFE
NCFE is a national Awarding Organisation, passionate about designing, developing and certificating diverse, nationally recognised qualifications and awards. These qualifications contribute to the success of millions of learners at all levels, bringing them closer to fulfilling their personal goals.
Dynamic and responsive
NCFE is a registered educational charity and has a strong heritage in learning, going back over 170 years. With a buzz that sets it apart, NCFE is proud to be recognised for its exceptional customer service and friendly approach.
NCFE’s extensive product catalogue includes a wide range of general and vocationally related qualifications in a variety of subject areas, as well as Competence Based qualifications/NVQs, and Functional Skills qualifications.
NCFE is recognised as an Awarding Organisation by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Welsh Government in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA Regulation) in Northern Ireland.
What does 'NCFE' stand for?
In 1981, the Northern Advisory Council for Further Education (NACFE), which was established in 1947 to co-ordinate further education provision throughout the nine LEAs, merged with the NCTEC to become the Northern Council for Further Education.
When the further education sector was incorporated (made independent of the government) in the early 1990s the company felt the old name was incompatible with our new national focus and has since then been identified simply as NCFE with the letters no longer being an acronym.
NCFE – a bright, shining light. Full stop.
Intrigued by the dot that appears in NCFE’s visual identity? Confused by the lightbulb on the side of our building at Q6, Quorum Business Park? Wonder no more.
The full stop implies a sense of playful possibility, of one thing finishing and another thing starting. It shows you that NCFE is all you need – full stop. It creates intrigue and sparks curiosity.
If you come to visit us (you’re always welcome!), you’ll see that the dot is also used throughout our home at Q6. The presence of the dot point begins at the heart of the light bulb which is placed on the front of the building and then runs seamlessly throughout the building, in a witty, fun and visually interesting way.
And why a lightbulb? Well, we wanted an image that would give the building a distinctive, almost iconic identity. We wanted an image that implied energy, light, inspiration, innovation and invention. We wanted an image that could represent both NCFE and our building neighbours, British Engines. The lightbulb fits the bill!
The image is also anchored in North East heritage as the first light bulb was demonstrated by Joseph Swann in Newcastle in 1878.
So if anyone asks you ‘what does that lightbulb stand for, the one on the building in Quorum Business Park?’ Now you know!