Clarity over cleverness
We explain what we build in plain language. If a busy administrator would not recognise the words, they should not be on the screen.
About Hawdren
Built for people who keep training moving
We are a UK software company focused on organisations that train, support and develop people — tired of doing it from five different places.
“Software should sound like the work it supports — not the database underneath it.”
What drives us
Who we are
A small team with sector roots
Hawdren started from practical experience supporting training delivery — and the frustration of watching good teams lose hours to admin that should have been straightforward.
Today we design and build Afanor, our training management platform for UK organisations, and the communications infrastructure that keeps learners informed when qualifications need renewing.
We stay close to the administrators, trainers and learners who use what we ship. That proximity is not a marketing line — it is how we decide what to build next.
What we stand for
Principles we will not compromise on
These ideas shape our products, our writing, and the way we work with customers.
Close to the work
Software improves when the people using it every week can reach the team behind it. We stay close enough to help when the work changes.
Built to last
Training organisations depend on accurate records and reliable communications. We design for trust, auditability and long-term operation.
Our journey
Experience that shows in the product
Hawdren did not appear overnight. Our history is rooted in training operations, product craft and the organisations we serve.
2012
The first version
The first version of our training centre management system was built to support a local business — the daily work of courses, learners and keeping a centre running.
2012–2018
In live use
That first system stayed in use for years. Supporting a real training operation is what taught us what the software had to get right.
2019–2021
Building version 2
We started building the second version in 2019, taking those years of live use and rebuilding the platform around what actually happens in a training centre.
2022
Online quizzes
We added support for online quizzes, so assessment could live in the same system as the rest of the training work. Version 2 stayed in daily use while we learned what a wider product would need.
January 2025
Version 3 and a SaaS offering
We started building version 3 from the ground up, on entirely new technology, with a focus on a SaaS offering for the wider industry.
2025–2026
Shaping the SaaS product
The rebuild continued through the year that followed — a new platform and a new technology stack, designed for training organisations beyond the original centre.
August 2026
Hawdren Ltd
Hawdren Ltd was formed, putting a company around the product and the team behind it.
September 2026
Beta interest opens
Registering interest becomes available for the beta.
Start a conversation
Whether you are exploring Afanor, planning a migration, or want to talk about a new product idea — we would like to hear from you.
Contact us