Back in 1986, Steve Skidmore helped found AssistKD with a simple philosophy:

“Do good work and work with good people.”

Forty years later, that idea still runs through everything AssistKD does.

Over the years, the company has helped shape the evolution of business analysis, service design, business architecture, and business change through its work with organisations including BCS, A4Q and professional communities internationally.

The story of AssistKD has always been about building a community of experienced, thoughtful people who care about helping organisations improve and helping others grow in their careers.

Built by practitioners, not just trainers

What has always made AssistKD different is how closely the people behind the company stay connected to the professions themselves.

• They are practitioners.
• Authors.
• Mentors.
• Facilitators.
• Conference speakers.
• People who genuinely care about professional standards and good practice.

For decades, AssistKD has contributed to professional qualifications, certifications, conferences, apprenticeship standards and professional publications that many business analysts, business architects and service designers now see as part of everyday professional life.

That includes long-standing collaboration with BCS on business analysis qualifications and industry publications that have helped shape professional practice for thousands of people across the industry, including the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis

Dr Debra Paul has been one of the most recognisable and respected voices in business analysis for more than two decades. Through her work with BCS, professional qualifications, conferences and influential BCS books including Business Analysis and Business Analysis Techniques, she has helped generations of practitioners develop their skills and careers.

More recently, alongside Jonathan Hunsley, she co-authored the BCS Service Design book, helping bring more structured, practical thinking to the growing service design profession.

Jonathan has also played a key role in AssistKD’s work around customer-centric transformation, business service architecture and enterprise service design, including the development of the A4Q Certified Service Designer qualification, the Service Design Forum and Service Design Conference Europe.

Pete Thompson’s contribution has also helped strengthen AssistKD’s expertise in digital solutions and modern business technology. His BCS books Digital Solution Architecture, Digital Solution Design and Digital Solution Development have become important practical resources for professionals working across digital transformation and solution delivery, reflecting the same focus on real-world application that has always been part of AssistKD’s approach.

Across the wider AssistKD Board and associate network, there is an enormous depth of practical experience spanning business analysis, business architecture, digital transformation, organisational change and service design.

But what people often remember most is not just the expertise, it’s the people. The encouragement, the conversations. The sense that the people involved genuinely want others to succeed.

More than qualifications

Over 40 years, AssistKD has helped thousands of professionals build skills, confidence and careers.
Some people first encountered the company through a BCS qualification. Others through a workshop, a conference, a forum discussion, a BA Brew episode or a book.

Many stayed connected because the experience felt practical, supportive and collaborative. Because while frameworks and certifications are important, successful change still comes down to people.

Today, that learning community continues to grow through professional forums, conferences, publications and specialist training across areas including Business Analysis Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses, Service Design and Business Architecture courses.

Still evolving after 40 years

The world looks very different to 1986.

Technology has transformed organisations.

AI is reshaping the way we work.

Customer expectations continue to evolve.

New professions and disciplines continue to emerge.

But some things have stayed constant: doing good work, staying curious and building strong relationships.
And perhaps that is why Steve Skidmore’s original philosophy still feels so relevant today.

AssistKD’s story is not just about reaching a 40-year milestone. It’s about the people who helped shape the profession. The people who shared ideas, supported others and contributed to change. And the people who continue to bring expertise, energy and humanity to the work every day.

Forty years on, AssistKD is still doing exactly what it set out to do in the beginning: do good work and work with good people.