CPD Global Standards

Commercial identification and contactability

Trading name engages a sensitive expression under Companies House Annex A — use may require prior government approval or supporting evidence.

CPD GS Group Ltd (Company No. 16455016, incorporated 17 May 2025) trades as CPD Global Standards. The registered company name, company number, and head office address are consistent across the Companies House record and the organisation's own Privacy Policy. The registered office address — 2 The Courtyard, Earl Road, Handforth, Cheshire, SK8 6GN — matches the address published in the website footer, which is a positive finding. A telephone number (+44 (0) 161 399 4792), email address ([email protected]), and live chat function are published on the website.

However, a material concern arises from the organisation's use of the word "Standards" in its trading name.
"Standards" — sensitive word under Companies House Annex A, Entry 122
"Standards" is listed as a sensitive expression in Companies House Annex A (updated 1 February 2026). The guidance states it may be used in a company or business name only provided its use does not imply the organisation is an established national standard-setting body for an activity, trade, business or profession. Where it does carry that implication, the applicant must provide evidence of its status as such a body, including where appropriate support from a government or other relevant body.

The trading name "CPD Global Standards" — and by extension the registered company name abbreviation "CPD GS Group Ltd," where GS almost certainly stands for Global Standards — directly engages this restriction. The question is therefore whether the manner in which the name is used implies an established standard-setting authority. The website's own marketing language makes a compelling case that it does. The homepage at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ describes the organisation as "Setting the Global Benchmark in CPD." The FAQ at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/faqs/ states the accreditation is "trusted by professionals, regulators, and employers in over 100 countries." Taken together, these claims present the organisation not merely as an accreditation provider that happens to use the word "Standards" in its name, but as an internationally authoritative standard-setter — precisely the use case that Annex A Entry 122 requires to be evidenced and supported.

No evidence of government or relevant body support for the organisation's status as a standard-setting body has been identified on the website. The organisation was incorporated on 17 May 2025 and has no filed accounts. It is not certified by The CPD Register. Whether Companies House required and received supporting evidence when the company name and trading name were adopted is not known and should be verified directly with Companies House.

Companies Act 2006 trading name disclosure
The full registered company name "CPD GS Group Ltd" does not appear prominently in the commercial pages of the website. The Privacy Policy discloses the company number (16455016) but refers to the legal entity simply as "CPD Global Standards" rather than by its full registered name. Under Companies Act 2006, sections 1200–1206, the registered company name must be disclosed on the website and in commercial correspondence.

Source URLs:
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/privacy-policy/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/contact-us/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/faqs/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016 (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/incorporation-and-names/annex-a-sensitive-words-and-expressions-or-words-that-could-imply-a-connection-with-government (accessed 27 April 2026)

Transparency of assessment framework

Framework published but undated, unversioned, and does not substantiate the standard-setting authority implied by the trading name.

CPD Global Standards publishes a CPD Framework page at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-framework/, which sets out criteria covering learning outcomes, content accuracy, professional relevance, regulatory alignment, trainer qualifications, participant feedback, and accessibility. The framework is accessible without login or payment.

However, the framework contains no version number, no publication date, and no revision history. Training providers cannot determine which version of the criteria applies to their assessment, or whether criteria have changed since a previous engagement. This is particularly significant given the organisation's trading name and marketing claims imply it operates as an authoritative global standard-setter. A dated, versioned, publicly verifiable framework with evidence of external governance or peer review would be the minimum expected evidence of genuine standard-setting status. The framework as published does not meet that threshold.

The website offers multiple accreditation routes — course accreditation, provider-level membership, individual professional membership, event accreditation, and institutional CPD consulting — but the published framework does not distinguish between these routes or make clear which criteria apply to each.

The assessment process describes review by "expert assessors" and an "Accreditation Panel," but neither the assessors nor any panel members are named, their qualifications are not published, and no information is given about how assessor independence is maintained or conflicts of interest managed. The three individuals listed on the Advisory Board are identified only by sector, without names, institutions, or verifiable credentials.

The website claims the Accreditation Panel "reviews over 12,000 activities annually." For a company incorporated on 17 May 2025 with no filed accounts, this claim cannot be substantiated and is considered further under Section 14.

Source URLs:

https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-framework/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-provider/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/how-the-process-works/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/faqs/ (accessed 27 April 2026)

Pricing transparency

Pricing not published — gated behind member dashboard login; homepage claim of "no hidden fees" is misleading.

No accreditation fees are published on the public-facing website. The FAQ page at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/faqs/ explicitly states: "Yes. We offer transparent pricing based on the type and number of courses you submit. All packages include compliance checks, legal validation, branded certificates, and access to our support team. Prices are clearly listed inside your Dashboard before purchase."

The claim of "transparent pricing" is directly contradicted by the requirement to register and log in before any pricing is visible. Training providers must create an account and navigate to the Dashboard before they can determine the cost of accreditation. This is precisely the consultative sales model identified as a concern under The CPD Register's Criterion 4: pricing is withheld until after details of the provider's organisation have been shared.

The homepage at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ additionally markets the service as involving "no vague timelines or hidden fees." This claim is materially misleading given that fees are entirely invisible to any prospective customer who has not first registered. This may engage the CAP Code on misleading advertising and the CMA's guidance on pricing transparency, and should be considered as part of any ASA referral.

Source URLs:

https://cpdglobalstandards.com/faqs/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/register/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ (accessed 27 April 2026)

Terms and conditions

No substantive terms and conditions governing the accreditation service are accessible to the public.

The footer of the website links to a page labelled "Terms of Services" at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-global-standards-assessment-policy/. This page is titled "CPD Global Standards Assessment & Feedback Policy" and contains an internal quality assurance policy covering assessment design, feedback delivery, and assessment integrity from the organisation's operational perspective. It does not constitute commercial terms and conditions governing the relationship between CPD Global Standards and a training provider customer.

The document does not address: the duration of accreditation and renewal terms; the fee schedule or payment terms; the conditions under which accreditation may be withdrawn; intellectual property provisions regarding course materials submitted for assessment; refund and cancellation rights; complaints and dispute resolution procedures; or the rights and restrictions governing use of the CPD Global Standards logo and trustmark.

The Register page at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/register/ links to a separate "Terms of Service" at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-global-standards-assessment-policy-2-3/, which returned a 404 error when accessed on 27 April 2026. This page does not exist.
There are therefore no accessible, substantive terms and conditions governing the accreditation service visible on the public website. Training providers who accredit with CPD Global Standards have no pre-contractual visibility of the legal terms governing the accreditation relationship. This is a significant concern under The CPD Register's Criterion 5, the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and CMA guidance on unfair contract terms.

Source URLs:
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-global-standards-assessment-policy/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-global-standards-assessment-policy-2-3/ (404 error — page does not exist, accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/register/ (accessed 27 April 2026)

Individual course assessment

Selective individual course model confirmed but no publicly accessible course register identified

The CPD Provider page at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-provider/ confirms that providers submit individual courses or activities for assessment. The FAQ at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/faqs/ confirms: "Do I need to accredit every course individually? No. Providers can choose which courses or activities to submit for accreditation. It's not mandatory to accredit all offerings; you can start with a single course and expand as needed." This confirms a selective individual course assessment model rather than blanket provider accreditation, which is a positive finding.

However, the organisation also offers provider-level accreditation and membership, including a "CPD Accreditation Provider" tier described on the CPD Provider Membership Benefits page, which grants "licensed use of the CPD Accreditation Logo" and a "featured listing in the Official CPD Register." The relationship between provider-level status and individual course accreditation is not clearly distinguished in the marketing.

The website references an "Official CPD Register" and a "CPD Global Register" in multiple locations. No publicly accessible, searchable register of currently accredited courses was identified on the public-facing website during this review. Consumers cannot independently verify whether a specific course they are considering has current accredited status without logging into the platform. This undermines the consumer assurance purpose of the accreditation.

Source URLs:

https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-provider/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/faqs/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-provider-membership-benefits/ (accessed 27 April 2026)

Review and renewal

CPD Global Standards publishes an annual renewal model. The CPD Provider page at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-provider/ describes Stage 5 of the accreditation process as an annual compliance-driven checkpoint involving review of course details, confirmation of trainer credentials, and completion of a one-step declaration through the MyPro CPD Portal, with automated reminders provided.

The FAQ at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/how-the-process-works/ states accreditation is valid for 12 to 24 months, and that prior to expiration the organisation initiates a renewal process including review of training materials and practices.

The renewal process as described appears to involve self-declaration and portal confirmation rather than full independent reassessment of course content against the published framework. Whether renewal triggers active re-evaluation by an assessor, or is primarily an administrative checkpoint, is not clear from the public website. Good practice requires proactive reassessment rather than mere confirmation of unchanged details. This should be clarified by the organisation.

Source URLs:

https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-provider/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/how-the-process-works/ (accessed 27 April 2026)

Sale of training courses or materials

No evidence was found on the public-facing website that CPD Global Standards sells its own training courses or learning materials in competition with the training providers it accredits. The organisation's described commercial activity is the provision of CPD accreditation services to third-party training providers and CPD recording services to individual professionals.

The MyPro CPD Portal and CPD Pro Dashboard are described as tools for accredited providers and professionals respectively, not as training content offerings. No course catalogue, learning content, or training product was identified on the website during this review.

Source URLs:

https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-provider/ (accessed 27 April 2026)

Financial relationships with third-party service providers

No affiliate, referral, or partnership arrangements with third-party service providers are disclosed on the public-facing website. The Advisory Board section on the homepage references an unnamed "Senior Insurance Specialist" described as guiding on professional indemnity and training risk exposure from an insurer's regulatory perspective. The presence of an insurance-sector adviser on the Advisory Board, without any disclosure of whether a commercial referral or affiliate arrangement exists with an insurance provider, is noted.

No affiliate disclosure page, referral policy, or commercial partnership disclosure was identified on the website. If such arrangements exist, their absence from the public website would be a concern under CAP Code transparency requirements. This should be confirmed on the live website at each quarterly review cycle.

Source URLs:

https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ (accessed 27 April 2026)

Ownership or control relationships with aligned commercial interests

CPD GS Group Ltd (Company No. 16455016) has two directors and two Persons with Significant Control, both appointed on incorporation on 17 May 2025:

Justine Bohanna (Director and PSC, b. December 1985, British, England) holds more than 25% but not more than 50% of shares and voting rights, with the right to appoint or remove directors. Companies House records show one total appointment — CPD GS Group Ltd only.

Gemma Davies (Director and PSC, b. January 1988, British, England) holds more than 25% but not more than 50% of shares and voting rights, with the right to appoint or remove directors. Companies House records show one total appointment — CPD GS Group Ltd only.

Neither director holds any other current Companies House appointment. No other corporate entities are connected to either director on the public register, and no training providers accredited by CPD Global Standards have been identified as connected to either director through Companies House cross-referencing. No structural conflict of interest has been identified at this review.

Source URLs:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016/officers (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016/persons-with-significant-control (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/OEB6_QyQ-jeHjZi8eyippMT4dEI/appointments (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/50JKLyPUk3nZzQfqo2FZQDqyhmo/appointments (accessed 27 April 2026)

Consistency of filings with advertised activity

Very recently incorporated — no accounts filed; first confirmation statement due imminently.

CPD GS Group Ltd (Company No. 16455016) was incorporated on 17 May 2025. The filing history contains only two entries: the incorporation document dated 17 May 2025, and a registered office address correction filed on 21 May 2025. No accounts have been filed, which is consistent with the company's age — first accounts are due by 17 February 2027, made up to 31 May 2026.

The first confirmation statement is due by 30 May 2026, which is approximately three weeks from the date of this review. This deadline should be monitored closely; failure to file within the required window would result in a compliance flag on the Companies House record.

The SIC codes filed at incorporation are: 70229 (Management consultancy activities other than financial management), 74909 (Other professional, scientific and technical activities not elsewhere classified), 85590 (Other education not elsewhere classified), and 85600 (Educational support services). These are broadly consistent with the commercial activity advertised on the website, though the inclusion of management consultancy (70229) is noted given the organisation presents itself as a specialist CPD accreditation body.

No dormant accounts have been filed and no inconsistency between filing status and advertised activity is recorded at this stage. This section should be revisited when the first confirmation statement and first accounts are filed.

Source URLs:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016 (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016/filing-history (accessed 27 April 2026)

Companies House status

CPD GS Group Ltd (Company No. 16455016) is registered in England and Wales with a current status of Active at Companies House as at 27 April 2026. The company was incorporated on 17 May 2025 as a private limited company. Its registered office at 2 The Courtyard, Earl Road, Handforth, Cheshire, SK8 6GN is consistent with the contact address published on the website.

The company has two directors — Justine Bohanna and Gemma Davies — both appointed on incorporation and both also Persons with Significant Control, each holding between 25% and 50% of shares and voting rights.

Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, identity verification for both directors is due by 30 May 2026. As at the date of this review both are within the statutory transition period and no non-compliance is recorded.

This is a young company — less than twelve months old at the date of this review — with no filed accounts and only two entries in its filing history. The first confirmation statement falls due by 30 May 2026 and should be monitored. The listing should be updated following the filing of the first confirmation statement and first accounts.

Source URLs:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016 (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016/filing-history (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16455016/officers (accessed 27 April 2026)

Website status

Status: Active

The website at https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ is active and serving commercial content related to CPD accreditation services. All primary navigation pages accessed during this review — including the homepage, CPD For Providers, How the Process Works, CPD Framework, Contact Us, and Privacy Policy — loaded successfully on 27 April 2026.

One broken link was identified: the "Terms of Service" link on the Register page points to https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-global-standards-assessment-policy-2-3/, which returned a 404 error. This is noted as a website maintenance concern and is recorded further under Section 4.

Source URLs:
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/ (accessed 27 April 2026)
https://cpdglobalstandards.com/cpd-global-standards-assessment-policy-2-3/ (404 error, accessed 27 April 2026)

Regulatory rulings and public enforcement records

No published regulatory rulings or formal enforcement actions by the Advertising Standards Authority, the Information Commissioner's Office, Trading Standards, or the Competition and Markets Authority against CPD GS Group Ltd or CPD Global Standards have been identified in the sources available to this review. Web searches conducted on 27 April 2026 returned no relevant results.

This finding cannot be treated as definitive until the following searches have been conducted directly against the live regulatory registers using the confirmed legal entity name "CPD GS Group Ltd":
- ASA rulings database: https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings.html
- ICO enforcement register: https://ico.org.uk/action-weve-taken/enforcement/
- CMA cases register: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases

Given the advertising concerns identified in Section 14, the ASA register should be checked at each quarterly review cycle.

Source URLs:
Web search conducted 27 April 2026 — no rulings returned
Live register checks required as noted above

Further Information about this organisation

Website

https://cpdglobalstandards.com/

Companies House Number

16455016

Companies House Incorporation Date

17th May 2025

ICO Number

Not identified — verify at register.ico.org.uk

ICO Registration Date

Not identified

Physical Office Published

Yes — 2 The Courtyard, Earl Road, Handforth, Cheshire, SK8 6GN (consistent with Companies House registered address)

Telephone

Yes — +44 (0) 161 399 4792

Yes

Live Chat

Yes — advertised on Contact page

Pricing Published

No — gated behind member dashboard login

Accreditation Criteria Published

Partial — framework published at /cpd-framework/ but no dated version, revision history, or scoring rubric

Activities Individually Accredited

Ambiguous — selective submission model per FAQ; provider-level accreditation also offered

Review Frequency

Annual — stated on /how-the-process-works/ and /cpd-provider/

Last Updated

27th April 2026

Disclaimer

We do our best to ensure that all information is accurate and up to date. If you are part of the above-mentioned organisation and some of the information, we have found is inaccurate please contact us at [email protected] so we can rectify this for you.

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CPD GS GROUP LTD t/a CPD Global Standards