We want to bring together companies that are committed to openness, interoperability, and real customer freedom. This means no penalising contracts or restrictive ties and always being fully transparent. It means fair pricing, and equitable software that encourages internal use not external consultants. It means promoting and linking together companies that are compliant, secure and in good health financially. It means bringing together public and private sector companies that share the common social aim of democratising technology so it can be used to its fullest potential where it’s needed most.

We don’t just let anyone into this community! We currently have 300+ members, growing rapidly, from 160 organisations across multiple sectors including education, local government, voluntary, charity and community interest companies. They all share two common character traits:

• A desire to make a positive impact on society

• A willingness to share knowledge for mutual benefit

Discuss any topic raised here, or get independent advice on digital credentialing.

• A smart, simple, and visual way of recognising non-accredited learning.

• An effective and inexpensive way of demonstrating your impact as an organisation.

• Accessible anywhere to anyone, using only a website link.

A useful tool for earners to proudly display on their website, email signature, LinkedIn profile, and CV.

Using a badge issuing platform of your choice, digital badges show the awarding organisation’s logo and the criteria achieved.

• They recognise and acknowledge the development of transferable skills and aptitudes that employers value, typically not recognised through exams and formal qualifications.

• They motivate learner behaviour by recognising achievement.

• They help earners better tell the story of their participation with you.

On the surface it can feel like both the US and Europe have a much better developed infrastructure to support digital credentialing. However, when you dig a bit deeper we think that there are some key structural flaws in how both systems are set up. The UK might not be the first to the party when it comes to national policy or support infrastructure but that means we have a unique opportunity to GET IT RIGHT.

The crew at Good Badges are fully supportive of the work of UFI and the RSA in driving the national commission on digital badges and ensure our members get their voices heard in the world of policy and research. For more info, visit: https://www.badgingcommission.org/

The way the majority of SaaS platforms operate leads to phenomenal waste in the UK public sector. Open badge technology is no different. Pricing structures, commercial strategies and the underlying tech culture can all lead to an environment where it's normal for 51%  of software subscriptions to go unused while nearly half of the UK government’s spend on technology goes on expensive legacy systems.