This article features the University Forum for Human Resource Development (UFHRD), a voluntary network or an informal association stemming from two separate initiatives in the UK in the late 1980s. The first of these was at national government level and was the introduction of national competence based vocational qualifications (NVQs) following extensive consultation with professional bodies, providers, and potential recipients. The second was an initiative by the Institute of Training and Development (ITD), which was at that time the professional body for human resource development (HRD) practitioners. The authors discuss the history, purpose and activities of UFHRD.