What Corndel does

Corndel Limited is a UK-based private training provider founded in 2016 and headquartered in London, operating three integrated academies — the AI Academy, Data Academy, and Leadership Academy — that deliver apprenticeships, degree programmes, and professional diplomas to enterprise clients, the public sector, and third-sector organisations. Its core technology is not a software product but a delivery model: structured, multi-modal programmes combining in-person workshops, virtual sessions, and guided project work, augmented by a 250+ coach workforce each averaging nearly two decades of real-world leadership experience. Curriculum content is co-designed with Imperial College London (#1 university in Europe per QS 2026), incorporates Microsoft AI tooling (Copilot, Power Automate), and is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Corndel also partners with Kingston University London for degree apprenticeships. The company derives the vast majority of its revenue from programmes funded through the UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy (a 0.5% payroll tax on employers with pay bills above £3 million), with multi-year contract cadences and zero direct cost to participating employers. A secondary revenue mechanism is the Corndel Levy Pledge, which facilitates gifting of up to 50% of unspent levy from large enterprises (a flagship case being Capita's £1 million gift) to charities and smaller organisations, extending Corndel's reach into the third sector. Corndel is approved by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as the provider of the first AI Apprenticeship Unit, holds 400+ enterprise client relationships spanning retail, finance, healthcare, energy, and government, and serves FTSE-grade organisations including BP, John Lewis Partnership, Marks & Spencer, Visa, Hiscox, Zurich, NHS, SAP, and Microsoft, with 40,000+ learners cumulatively trained.

Name

Corndel

Legal name

Corndel Limited

Website

https://corndel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Corndel is a UK-based training provider delivering AI, data, and leadership apprenticeship programmes to large enterprises, the public sector, and charities, funded primarily through the UK Apprenticeship Levy. It operates three academies co-designed with Imperial College London and Microsoft, supported by 250+ coaches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training & Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Agriculture & Food Production (EDABALAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)

Keywords

• Professional training services
• Apprenticeship programmes
• Leadership development
• Data analytics training
• AI workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship Levy-Funded Programmes: Corndel's primary revenue model is delivery of apprenticeship and professional development programmes funded through the UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy. Large employers (payroll over £3 million) contribute 0.5% of their payroll into a digital levy account, which must be used within 24 months exclusively for approved training. Corndel's programmes are fully funded through this mechanism at zero cost to the employer's training budget. This creates a predictable, recurring revenue flow tied to levy allocation cycles.
2. Corndel Levy Pledge / Levy Gifting Administration: Corndel facilitates the gifting of unused Apprenticeship Levy from large employers to charities and smaller organisations. Large employers can transfer up to 50% of their unspent Levy to fund Corndel's professional development programmes for third-sector beneficiaries. Corndel matches pledges with apprenticeship programmes aligned to the gifting organisation's values and manages the process end-to-end, including connecting with charity partners and reporting impact.
3. Degree Apprenticeships and Professional Diplomas: Corndel delivers degree apprenticeships and professional diplomas (e.g. Level 4 Project Management, Level 5 People Professional Diploma) at no direct cost to learners or employers when funded via levy. These programmes are delivered in partnership with universities such as Kingston University London and include accredited qualifications through the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Corndel is a UK specialist training provider that designs and delivers apprenticeship, degree, and professional development programmes for enterprise workforces, organised into three academies covering AI, Data, and Leadership. Its programmes are predominantly funded via the UK Apprenticeship Levy and are sold to large employers, with additional bespoke leadership coaching and accredited qualifications (delivered with Imperial College London, Microsoft, and CMI).

Product overview

Corndel is a UK-based professional development and training company offering a portfolio of academies and programmes focused on AI, data, and leadership skills for enterprise organisations. The core offering consists of three academies: AI Academy, Data Academy, and Leadership Academy, which can be accessed through Apprenticeship Levy funding (evolving to Growth and Skills Levy), Degree Apprenticeships, or direct programme enrolment. Programmes are delivered through a combination of digital content, live coaching sessions, and partner-provided masterclasses. Corndel pairs every learner with a personal coach averaging nearly 20 years of leadership experience. Additional offerings include specialised programmes for the NHS, third sector (fundraising), project management, people & HR, and the Corndel Levy Pledge for gifting unused apprenticeship funds to charities. Partnerships with Imperial College London, Microsoft, and CMI (Chartered Management Institute) provide academic credibility and accredited qualifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AI Academy: Hands-on, role-relevant AI and data training that drives AI adoption across teams for immediate business impact. Developed with Imperial and supported by Microsoft.
• Data Academy
• Leadership Academy

Products and services

• AI Academy A structured training programme focused on applied artificial intelligence skills for working professionals, delivered to enterprise cohorts and designed to be funded via the UK Apprenticeship Levy. It targets large UK employers seeking to build AI capability across their workforce.
• Data Academy A structured data and analytics training programme for enterprise employees, delivered as apprenticeship cohorts (with a specialist hospice data variant) and co-developed with Imperial College London. It is aimed at large UK employers looking to upskill staff in data-driven decision making.
• Leadership Academy A leadership and management apprenticeship programme for mid-career professionals, accredited via the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), delivered to enterprise cohorts and designed to be funded via the UK Apprenticeship Levy.
• Degree Apprenticeships Higher-level degree apprenticeship pathways combining academic study with workplace application, offered to enterprise customers and typically funded via the UK Apprenticeship Levy with employer co-investment.
• One-to-One Coaching Individual coaching engagements for learners on Corndel's apprenticeship and leadership programmes, providing personalised progression support alongside cohort-based training delivery.
• Corndel Levy Pledge A Levy-utilisation service that helps large UK employers plan, commit to, and draw down Apprenticeship Levy funds by channelling them into Corndel-delivered training programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ learners transformed through Corndel programmes
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Imperial College LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImperial College London is Corndel's primary academic partner for the AI Academy, Data Academy, and Data-Driven Professional Programme. Imperial is ranked #1 university in Europe and #2 globally (QS 2026). Corndel co-designs programmes with Imperial Executive & Professional Education, integrating world-class academic insight, leading research on ethical AI and innovation, and exclusive masterclasses from world-class academics. Imperial credentials enhance the academic rigour and prestige of Corndel's qualifications.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationCorndel is an official Microsoft Training Service Partner. Microsoft's technical expertise and AI tools (including Microsoft Copilot and Power Automate) are integrated into Corndel's AI Academy curriculum. Microsoft experts co-deliver webinars and events with Corndel, showcasing responsible AI foundations and practical Copilot applications. The partnership provides Corndel with technology integration, credibility, and co-marketing leverage in the enterprise AI training market.
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMI is the UK's foremost authority on management and leadership, and the accrediting body for Corndel's Leadership Academy. Corndel's leadership programmes award graduates with globally recognised CMI qualifications. CMI accreditation ensures that Corndel's leadership content meets professional standards and provides learners with recognised credentials that enhance their career prospects.
• CapitaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCapita gifted £1 million of its Apprenticeship Levy to Corndel through the Corndel Levy Pledge, enabling charities and smaller organisations to access fully funded professional development programmes. This is the largest levy gifting initiative facilitated by Corndel and serves as a flagship case study for the Levy Pledge programme, demonstrating how large employers can redirect unused levy funds to create significant social impact.
• Hospice UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorndel and Hospice UK partnered to create the Hospice Data Academy, bringing together Corndel's professional development expertise with Hospice UK's commitment to sector-wide progress. The initiative helps hospices unlock data potential to improve patient care, strengthen services, and support staff. Over £1 million in gifted levy from Corndel's corporate partners funded 96 learners from 64 hospices through the Imperial College and Corndel Data-Driven Professional Programme.
• MitiecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMitie partnered with Corndel for AI adoption transformation, equipping its workforce with AI skills and confidence. Mitie's Chief People Officer publicly endorsed Corndel's impact, with measurable outcomes in productivity and engagement. The partnership is featured as a flagship case study demonstrating AI workforce transformation in the facilities management sector.
• Kingston University LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKingston University London is Corndel's university partner for degree apprenticeships. Corndel publishes Degree Apprenticeship Regulations in partnership with Kingston University, and its degree apprenticeship policies align with Kingston's academic framework. This provides the university accreditation pathway for Corndel's degree-level programmes.
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorndel was approved by the DWP as a provider of the first AI Apprenticeship Unit, marking an important milestone in the evolution of employer-led skills development. This government approval positions Corndel as a pioneer in AI apprenticeship provision under the Growth and Skills Levy framework.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Multiverse: London-based apprenticeship provider focused on AI, data, and tech skills for UK enterprises, funded through the same Apprenticeship Levy mechanism. Most direct competitor given similar target customer (large UK employers), GTM (levy-funded enterprise sales), and curriculum focus on data/AI upskilling.
• WhiteHat: UK apprenticeship provider focused on technology and digital skills, primarily serving large employers via the Apprenticeship Levy. Directly comparable as a levy-funded digital skills training company targeting enterprise HR/L&D buyers.
• Avado: UK professional apprenticeship and online learning provider offering data, leadership, and management programmes to enterprises and individuals. Comparable in apprenticeship-led delivery model and breadth across AI/data/leadership subject areas.
• Firebrand Training: UK-based accelerated IT and tech training provider offering apprenticeships and certifications to enterprises. Directly comparable in the AI/data technical upskilling segment and in serving enterprise customers with apprenticeship-funded programmes.

Broad incumbents

• QA Ltd: One of the UK's largest training providers, offering a broad portfolio of technology, data, leadership, and apprenticeship programmes to enterprise customers. A larger, more diversified incumbent competing across many of the same categories Corndel operates in, including AI/data apprenticeships.
• BPP Professional Education: Large UK professional training and apprenticeship provider covering accountancy, law, banking, leadership and management. Comparable as a levy-funded enterprise training provider with strong brand in professional development, although more skewed toward regulated professions.
• Kaplan UK: Major UK professional training and apprenticeship provider with a wide portfolio across financial services, leadership, and management programmes. Larger incumbent competing for the same apprenticeship-levy enterprise budget Corndel targets.
• Pearson (UK): Global education and qualifications company with significant UK apprenticeship, vocational, and professional training operations. A very broad incumbent that controls much of the assessment/qualifications infrastructure Corndel depends on (e.g., apprenticeship standards).
• City & Guilds: UK vocational awarding body and training provider with broad apprenticeship and management programmes. Comparable as a large incumbent in the levy-funded training ecosystem and a potential infrastructure partner/competitor depending on curriculum direction.

Emerging players

• General Assembly: Global provider of training in tech, data, and digital skills with UK operations. Comparable in the data and AI skills training category, though typically delivered as short courses/bootcamps rather than apprenticeships; emerging threat in adjacent upskilling budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corndel-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Corndel