The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

How we work

SFIA is developed and maintained through a collaborative global effort, involving professionals from across industries.

The SFIA Foundation oversees the framework, ensuring it remains a practical, industry-led resource for managing skills in a digital world.

Governance and strategic direction

  • SFIA Foundation Board: Provides governance to the Foundation, overseeing the production and use of SFIA. ​
  • SFIA Council: Offers guidance, advice, and support regarding strategic direction and technical input. ​
  • SFIA Design Authority: Ensures the framework evolves in line with industry needs, balancing stability with innovation.
  • SFIA is maintained through open consultation, with a broad community of professionals contributing to its ongoing development.

Funding and reinvestment

  • The SFIA Foundation is a lean not-for-profit organisation that operates with minimal overheads.
  • All income is reinvested into maintaining and developing the framework for use by the global skills community.
  • The Foundation funds activities such as framework updates, translations, and supporting materials to ensure SFIA remains accessible and relevant to a global audience.

Use and licensing

All use of SFIA is covered by a SFIA Licence to maintain the integrity of the framework and support its ongoing development. The licence ensures that SFIA remains a trusted, industry-led resource and sustains its value for the global SFIA community.

  • SFIA is free of charge for internal use — individuals and most organisations can apply SFIA within their teams or for personal use under a free licence.
  • Larger organisations are expected to take out a licence to support the sustainability of SFIA. The licence fee is small and helps cover operational costs.
  • Commercial use requires a licence — organisations incorporating SFIA into commercial products or providing services based on, or mapped to, SFIA pay a modest annual fee. These licensees, including Accredited Consultants and Partners, play a key role in supporting SFIA adoption worldwide.

Community engagement and support

  • SFIA encourages active community participation via the SFIA User Forum and on LinkedIn.
  • The Foundation provides support through a global network of Accredited Consultants, Partners, and Training Providers.

SFIA's origins

  • SFIA was initially created in 2000, through a broad collaboration of private and public-sector employers wishing to address their workforce needs. It was initially supported by UK Government (Cabinet Office) seed-funding.
  • SFIA took an industry-led approach in response to other frameworks that did not fully reflect employers' workforce development needs.
  • To ensure SFIA remains practical and relevant, a three-year refresh cycle was introduced to keep it aligned with evolving industry requirements.