LearnPlay Foundation
LearnPlay Foundation is a Wolverhampton-based not-for-profit creative digital media organisation delivering games-based learning, film production, and community youth programmes to schools, councils, and disadvantaged young people across the West Midlands, funded primarily by grants and public sector contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersWolverhampton, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What LearnPlay Foundation does
LearnPlay Foundation is a not-for-profit creative digital media organisation founded in 2007 and headquartered in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. The organisation delivers four core service lines: film production, educational game development, schools and community learning programmes (including Maths Booster, English Booster, Family Learning, and apprenticeship delivery up to Level 4), and holiday/community programmes such as HAF (Holiday Activities and Food), City of Youth Culture, and Girls in Tech. Its technology stack centres on console-based games-based learning (PlayStation hardware for maths interventions), participatory video production with young people, and emerging use of VR/AR/3D printing for school delivery. The organisation is a registered apprenticeship training provider, an accredited ASDAN centre, and a recognised ESFA delivery body.
The business model combines grant-funded programme delivery with public sector contracts and modest fee-for-service income. Revenue streams include grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (£34,900 for B4: Gaming), Arts Council, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA cultural internships), UK Shared Prosperity Fund / Levelling Up Fund (City Champions), EU Social Fund, and central government HAF programme funding; commissioned contracts with local authorities, councils, police forces, and schools; apprenticeship delivery funded via Levy contributions (recently discontinued); and unit-priced summer activities at £5 per hour. Customer concentration sits heavily in West Midlands public sector bodies, with named clients including Wolverhampton Council, Walsall Council, Sandwell Council, West Midlands Police, Princes Trust, Heart Research UK, Black Country Impact, and multiple primary schools and PRUs. Marketing is relationship-driven, relying on direct referrals and partnership networks rather than paid acquisition. Geographic reach is concentrated in Wolverhampton and Walsall, with recent expansion via WMCA into Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry, and pan-European reach through the 2014–2017 Erasmus+ InnoWork project.
Operationally, the organisation runs on a small 1–10 employee base led by an unusually long-tenured management team (MD Ro Hands, Director of Learning Rachel Gull at 10+ years, Sales Lead Simon Gull at 11 years, Business Development Lead Justin Rutherford at ~10 years). In 2024 the organisation made a defensive restructuring decision to discontinue apprenticeship delivery after nearly a decade, refocusing on community-based work, short courses, and creative/digital upskilling — a pivot that reduces a previously substantial revenue stream while aligning with the asset-locked non-profit member structure.
LearnPlay Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LearnPlay Foundation
- Legal name
- LearnPlay Foundation
- Website
- https://learnplayfoundation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- LearnPlay Foundation is a Wolverhampton-based not-for-profit creative digital media organisation delivering games-based learning, film production, and community youth programmes to schools, councils, and disadvantaged young people across the West Midlands, funded primarily by grants and public sector contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LearnPlay Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth & Community Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual Tutoring & Academic Intervention (K–12) (EDAJADAH), Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D) (EDAMACAE), Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL), Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios (MPAFAAAI)
Keywords
Where LearnPlay Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wolverhampton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
LearnPlay Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Grant Funding: Primary revenue from government grants and lottery funding including National Lottery Heritage Fund, EU Social Fund, and central government HAF programme funding.
- Public Sector Contracts: Commissioned contracts with local authorities, councils, police forces, and educational institutions for specific programmes and projects.
- Apprenticeship Delivery: Delivery of apprenticeship programmes to Levy-paying and non-Levy paying employers, funded through apprenticeship Levy contributions.
- Fee-for-Service Programmes: Summer activities and holiday programmes offered at £5 per hour for individual activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Summer Activities Programme |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
LearnPlay Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LearnPlay Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation delivering creative digital media services and youth/community education programmes across the West Midlands. Its core offerings include film production, game development, games-based school curriculum enrichment, apprenticeship training, holiday activity programmes, and community engagement for NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training). Services are delivered directly to schools, councils, public sector bodies, employers, and community groups through commissioned contracts, grants, and fee-for-service programmes.
Product overview
LearnPlay Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2007 offering a portfolio of creative digital media products and services. The core offerings include Film Production, Game Development, Holiday Programmes, NEETS & Communities, Schools & Services, Summer Activities, Apprenticeships, and Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG). These services are delivered to schools, community organisations, statutory bodies, and employers across the West Midlands. The organisation also participates in European projects such as InnoWork and delivers government-funded programmes including HAF (Holiday Activities & Food). The product architecture follows a service-based model where programmes are tailored to client needs using games-based technologies and video production as the primary delivery mechanisms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- InnoWork: A European project aimed at creating a more innovation-friendly environment for EU micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through training support for organisational innovation. Awarded 'Success Story' and 'Good Practice Example' by European Commission.
- 3DNative
- Scribble 2 Screen
Products and services
- Film Production
- Game Development
- Holiday Programmes
- NEETS & Communities
- Schools & Services
- Summer Activities
- Apprenticeships Accredited training delivery for apprenticeship standards in digital media, IT, Business Administration, and more. The organisation has completed over 750 apprenticeships with a 93% completion rate against an ESFA benchmark of 53%. (Note: programme has since been discontinued in favour of community-based work.)
- Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG) Support service for staff, placements, work experience, short course attendees, and partners covering vacancies, learning opportunities, promotion pathways, and pastoral support.
- Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) Programme Central government-funded programme providing school holiday provision to young people on free school meals up to age 16, including technology activities, VR, AR, 3D printing, and healthy lunch options. Over 350 young people attended in 2023.
Quantifiable outcome
- 89% SATs attainment (up from 69%) after 5 sessions of maths games-based learning on PlayStation consoles
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use LearnPlay Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
LearnPlay Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
LearnPlay Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)coreAwarded grant by WMCA to manage cultural internships programme matching young people with cultural organisations for 16-week internships. Managing internships across Black Country, Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry.
- Newhampton Arts Centre (NAC)flagshipLead partner in Arts Council-funded three-year City of Youth Culture project. Partnership includes Gazebo, Wolverhampton Music Service, Wolverhampton CEP, and University of Wolverhampton to deliver creative digital sessions to 11-16 year olds.
- InnoWork Consortium (ECQ, AidLearn, MERIG, KTU, VAMK)coreEuropean multinational partnership under Erasmus+ programme led by Bulgaria to develop tools for improving creativity and innovation in the workplace. UK partner alongside Finland, Portugal, Austria, and Lithuania. Project concluded with success awards from European Commission.
- The Crossing at St. Pauls (Walsall)minorHAF programme venue partner providing accessible, safe space for holiday activities delivery in Walsall.
- Parish Church of Saint Matthew (Wolverhampton)minorHAF programme venue partner providing space for holiday activities delivery in Wolverhampton.
- Curiosity ProductionsminorCultural organisation participating in WMCA cultural internships scheme in Wolverhampton.
- GazebominorArts organisation participating in WMCA cultural internships scheme in Wolverhampton.
- Urban HAXminorCreative agency participating in WMCA cultural internships scheme in Walsall.
- National Sport Governing Body (Partnership for Girls in Tech)corePartnership to deliver tech sessions to young girls in school settings across three counties around the West Midlands. Targeting female underrepresentation in tech careers.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
LearnPlay Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Media Trust: UK charity connecting charities and communities with media production expertise for social impact campaigns. Directly comparable to LearnPlay's video production work for councils, police (knife crime, CSE awareness) and charities like Heart Research UK.
- Movement to Work: UK coalition of employers and providers offering quality work experience and employment pathways for NEETs. Directly comparable on the NEET and disadvantaged-young-people engagement mission that anchors LearnPlay's primary programme line.
- Apps for Good: UK charity delivering technology and digital-making courses to young people in schools. Comparable on audience (disengaged 11-16 year-olds), delivery mechanism (creative digital short courses), and funding mix (corporate partnerships, foundations).
- Mangahigh: Edtech platform applying gamification to maths learning for K-12 students. Closely comparable to LearnPlay's Maths Booster sub-product on outcome metrics (gamified maths attainment improvement) and target buyer (primary schools / MATs).
- Groundwork UK: Federation of community-education charities delivering skills, training and environmental programmes funded by local authorities and national grants. Comparable on funding mix (HAF-equivalent government schemes), geography (UK-wide regional footprint) and beneficiary segments.
- Into Film: UK-wide charity using film and media as a tool for young people's education and personal development. Directly comparable as a film-led education charity serving schools, local authorities and community organisations — LearnPlay's film production for councils and police mirrors Into Film's programme model.
- Kuato Studios: Game-based learning studio developing educational video games for schools and publishers. Directly comparable to LearnPlay's Game Development product line and Maths Booster intervention, both using interactive game mechanics to drive curriculum outcomes.
- FunTech: UK provider of tech and gaming courses for children and teenagers (coding, game design, robotics) delivered in school holidays and after-school settings. Directly comparable on creative/digital short courses for 8-16 year olds and holiday programme pricing model.
Emerging players
- Sported: UK charity supporting community sports organisations to deliver positive outcomes for young people, including NEETs and disadvantaged groups. Comparable on the model of using activity-based delivery (here sport, there games) to reach disengaged youth and secure local-authority contracts.
Broad incumbents
- National Youth Agency: National body supporting youth work and services across England, working with local authorities and funders on youth provision. Comparable as a broader-sector incumbent in the same commissioner ecosystem (councils, combined authorities) that LearnPlay operates in.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LearnPlay Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceLearnPlay Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LearnPlay Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
LearnPlay Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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LearnPlay Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about LearnPlay Foundation
What does LearnPlay Foundation do?
LearnPlay Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation delivering creative digital media services and youth/community education programmes across the West Midlands. Its core offerings include film production, game development, games-based school curriculum enrichment, apprenticeship training, holiday activity programmes, and community engagement for NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training). Services are delivered directly to schools, councils, public sector bodies, employers, and community groups through commissioned contracts, grants, and fee-for-service programmes.
Is LearnPlay Foundation a public or private company?
LearnPlay Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was LearnPlay Foundation founded?
LearnPlay Foundation was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is LearnPlay Foundation based?
LearnPlay Foundation is headquartered in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does LearnPlay Foundation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are public Sector Contracts, apprenticeship Delivery and fee-for-Service Programmes.
Who are LearnPlay Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Media Trust, Movement to Work, Apps for Good, Mangahigh, Groundwork UK, Into Film, Kuato Studios and FunTech. Sported is listed as an emerging player. National Youth Agency is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does LearnPlay Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for LearnPlay Foundation.
What industry is LearnPlay Foundation in?
LearnPlay Foundation's product category is Youth & Community Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAFAN, Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills), with a secondary code of EDAJADAH, Virtual Tutoring & Academic Intervention (K–12). Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.