Award of Matrix Standard Administration and Management Contract to The Growth Company Limited

About

The Department for Education awarded a contract to The Growth Company Limited for the end-to-end management, administration, and delivery of the matrix Standard, the Government's quality standard for information, advice, and guidance on learning and work.

The contract covers a nationwide assessment and accreditation service, including initial assessments, certification reviews, and annual Continuous Improvement Checks (CICs), delivered through a network of qualified independent practitioners.

The provider is responsible for managing the practitioner register, maintaining the matrix Standard website and digital services, quality assuring assessment and certification processes, providing management information and reporting, promoting the Standard, and engaging stakeholders across sectors.

The service is delivered across England and may include wider UK coverage, using on-site, remote, and hybrid assessment methods.

As of December 2025, approximately 1,380 organisations were accredited, with several hundred assessments and checks undertaken annually.

The contract is a concession valued at £3,600,000, funded through fees charged to organisations for assessments and continuous improvement checks, and registration fees paid by practitioners.