diff --git a/DigitalLearningSolutions.Data/Services/FrameworkService.cs b/DigitalLearningSolutions.Data/Services/FrameworkService.cs
index 20ccda8688..1679c4bf4d 100644
--- a/DigitalLearningSolutions.Data/Services/FrameworkService.cs
+++ b/DigitalLearningSolutions.Data/Services/FrameworkService.cs
@@ -1067,7 +1067,11 @@ public void UpdateFrameworkCompetency(int frameworkCompetencyId, string name, st
                 );
                 return;
             }
-
+            description?.Trim();
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(description))
+            {
+                description = null;
+            }
             //DO WE NEED SOMETHING IN HERE TO CHECK WHETHER IT IS USED ELSEWHERE AND WARN THE USER?
             var numberOfAffectedRows = connection.Execute(
                 @"UPDATE Competencies SET Name = @name, Description = @description, UpdatedByAdminID = @adminId