Exploring Innovation in Secure Credentials

Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) 2025 was a standout year for us at Advanced Secure Technologies and for many of the delegates. The energy in the room was unmatched, and of course you couldn’t ignore the queue of people waiting for a barista-crafted coffee from our stand.

For the last 18 years, Advanced Secure Technologies has proudly been the FAB Platinum Partner for Certification and this year we were pleased to return as an exhibitor, Headline Sponsor and double Award Sponsor for the Awarding Organisation of the Year and Innovation Excellence Award categories.

We always value the conversations, insights and partnerships that continue to shape our secure credential solutions. A special thank you to everyone who visited us and joined the discussion. We look forward to continuing the conversation and seeing you again at FAB 2026!

In this blog, we explore some of the most pressing issues and opportunities facing awarding organisations today, alongside our own highlights from the event. Key topics covered include::

• Navigating a Changing Awarding Sector.
• Fraud Prevention in Focus (a sector-wide shift).
• Updates to Ofqual’s Fraud Prevention Action Plan.
• Understanding the Legal Risks of Failing to Prevent Fraud.
• Real Implications for the Awarding Sector.
• Our Role in Protecting Qualifications.
• Our Highlights from FAB – Are You a Winner?

Navigating a Changing Awarding Sector

The theme of this year’s conference, Mastering the Change, couldn’t be more relevant. The education and training sector is navigating a period of rapid changes with an increased emphasis on technology integration, education and skills policy reform, and assessment processes embracing AI and personalised learning.

Fraud Prevention in Focus (a sector-wide shift)

As the sector embraces digital transformation and personalised learning, we’ve witnessed an increasing focus on how it protects the integrity of qualifications. This shift is evident in Ofqual’s recent updates to its Fraud Prevention Action Plan and the introduction of the Failure to Prevent Fraud offence.

These changes underscore the heightened awareness of qualification fraud and the importance of maintaining trust and integrity in academic credentials. At Advanced Secure Technologies, we support this mission by delivering secure, innovative credential solutions that help organisations stop fraud, accelerate digital transformation and deliver a faster, smarter and more secure learner experience.

Updates to Ofqual’s Fraud Prevention Action Plan

• Improve collaboration with licensing organisations, regulators and government agencies to address qualification fraud.
• Guide Awarding Organisations to help them better identify and address fraud risks
• Explore methods for more effective intelligence sharing and data collaboration between organisations to better detect and prevent fraud
• Raise public awareness to help people recognise qualification fraud, understand its consequences and simplify the reporting process.

Read more about the recent updates here.

Understanding the Legal Risks of Failing to Prevent Fraud

Adding to the urgency is the new “Failure to Prevent Fraud” offence introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, 2023. From September 2025, large organisations can be prosecuted if individuals acting on their behalf commit fraud for its gain, and the business lacks the necessary procedures to prevent it.

Real Implications for the Awarding Sector

Imagine a certification department issuing qualifications to unqualified candidates to improve pass rates or secure funding. Under the new law, organisations could face criminal liability unless they can demonstrate that proportionate fraud prevention controls were in place.

Real-world case  including the issuance of fraudulent CSCS cards through compromised test centres show this is far from hypothetical. The resulting reputational damage and financial impacts can be severe for organisations that fail to adhere to fraud prevention best practices.

Our Role in Protecting Qualifications with Secure Credentials

At Advanced Secure Technologies, we stop fraud. Our mission is to deliver The Best & Most Secure Credential Technologies to help institutions stay ahead of emerging fraud risks.

Our solutions include:

• Digital Certificates®. – A secure branded certification platform for digital and printed credentials.
  • Blockchain Badges®. – Our secure branded digital badges owned by the issuing organisation instead of a 3rd party supplier.
  • Biometric ID. – Facial recognition technology to identify and authenticate users of Digital Certificates®.
• Blockchain Paper®. –Secure paper for printed documents such as certificates, transcripts, HEAR documents, letters, etc.
• Secure Print Service. – Print, production and distribution service for physical documents.

If you’re interested in protecting your valued qualifications, contact us at enquiry@advancedsecure.co.uk.

Some of our customer case studies:

• Skills and Education Group
• OTHM qualifications
• Walbrook Institute London

Highlights from FAB2025

We were pleased to return as the Headline Sponsor and Platinum Partner for Certification, showcasing our expertise in certification security and sponsoring two awards at this year’s award dinner.

Congratulations to all winners and runners-up, including RSL Awards, crowned Awarding Organisation of the Year, and OCN London, recipient of the Innovation Excellence Award🎉

Are You a Winner?

To make FAB even more memorable, we were pleased to deliver a brand-new prize draw opportunity where delegates were invited to grab a complimentary barista-crafted coffee from a premium reusable coffee cup and answer a short survey for a chance to win one of three prizes.

We are pleased to congratulate:

1. Karl Strigner for winning a De’Longhi Coffee Machine.
2. Simon Lewis for winning a Bialetti Moka Induction Hob Espresso Maker.
3. Elizabeth Pincombe-Stringer for winning a selection of Welsh Coffee Co. Ground Coffee.

Congratulations to all three of our winners, we hope you enjoy your new coffee and thank you to everyone who came to see us over the event.

If you didn’t get to speak to us, we’d love to book a meeting to discuss your secure credential requirements and strategic initiatives for 2026.

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Some of our Customers: