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SkillsForge

Full company profile

uuid000br8u

Namestring
SkillsForge
Legal namestring
SkillsForge Ltd.
Websiteurl
skillsforge.co.uk
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2007
Descriptiontext

SkillsForge is a UK-based B2B SaaS company, operating as SkillsForge Ltd. and headquartered in Heslington, that provides postgraduate researcher (PGR), higher degree by research (HDR), and doctoral researcher management software to universities and research institutions globally. Founded around 2007, the company has accumulated 15+ years of domain specialization in the doctoral education segment, offering a configurable platform that manages the full researcher lifecycle from Admissions to Award. The platform includes configurable workflows with out-of-the-box templates, automated timeline tracking, skills development management, real-time visibility for supervisors and institutions, integrations with existing university systems, and support for established researcher development frameworks such as Vitae RDF and the European e-Competence Framework (e-CF).

The product serves three primary user constituencies: postgraduate researchers themselves (who track progress, book development activities, and self-record evidence), academic supervisors (who gain visibility into student status and deadlines), and institutional administrators (who monitor cohorts, manage compliance, and generate reports). Named customers include the University of Warwick, University of Bristol, King's College London, University of York, Anglia Ruskin University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Flinders University, University of Adelaide, University of Technology Sydney, and North West University, indicating a footprint spanning the UK, Australia, and South Africa.

The business operates on a subscription-based SaaS revenue model with annual billing and quote-based enterprise pricing. Sales are conducted through a consultative direct enterprise motion emphasizing demos and platform exploration. The company is founder-operated and privately held with 11-50 employees, led by CEO Gary Fawcett, Chairman Tony Ward, and CTO Jonathan Carr. SkillsForge has received recognition including DIT Export Champion status, Digital Enterprise TOP 100 (two consecutive years through 2022), and ISO9001 certification. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or AI capabilities are disclosed.

Short descriptiontext

SkillsForge provides a configurable SaaS platform that helps universities globally manage the full postgraduate researcher lifecycle, from admissions to award, serving doctoral students, supervisors, and research institutions across the UK, Australia, and beyond.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersYork, United Kingdom
HQ citystring
York
HQ countrystring
United Kingdom
HQ regionstring
Europe
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
postgraduate researcher management, doctoral education software, higher education SaaS, research student lifecycle, HDR management platform
Industry2 codes
PRIMARYEDAFADAM
Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms
Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Assessment, Testing, Proctoring & Credentialing Platforms
SECONDARYBPACANAB
Technical & Digital Skills Training
Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Training, Learning & Development Services
NAICS code2 codes
  • Educational Support Services61171
  • Professional and Management Development Training61143
SIC code2 codes
  • Services-Prepackaged Software7372
  • Services-Educational Services8200
Product category
Higher Education Research Management Software
Social media profiles1 record
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model1 record
1SaaS Subscription
TypeSubscription Recurring
Description

SkillsForge operates as a SaaS platform providing postgraduate researcher management solutions to research institutions. Revenue is generated through software subscriptions, likely with tiered pricing based on institution size or feature access. The platform supports the full researcher lifecycle from admissions to award.

skillsforge.com
Marketing channels4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components5 values
Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Pricing details1 tier
1Enterprise SaaS subscription - pricing not publicly disclosed
ModelSubscriptionBilling cadenceAnnual
Notes

Quote-based pricing; no public pricing available

skillsforge.com
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeSoftware
Software
Core offering1 text field

SkillsForge provides a SaaS platform that helps research institutions manage, support, and develop postgraduate researchers (PGR), Higher Degree by Research (HDR), and doctoral students across the full lifecycle from Admissions to Award. The configurable platform automates workflows, tracks progress and skills development, supports frameworks such as Vitae RDF and e-CF, and offers real-time visibility, reporting, and integration with existing institutional systems.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 of 4 values shown
  • Reduced administrative workload for both students and staff
+3 more records
Product overview1 text field

SkillsForge offers a single unified SaaS platform for postgraduate researcher management. The core SkillsForge Platform supports the entire doctoral journey—from Admissions to Award—alongside researcher development, featuring configurable workflows, end-to-end PGR management, and insight/integration/automation capabilities. The platform is modular and configurable, allowing institutions to adopt out-of-the-box processes or customize features and templates to suit their needs.

Product and service1 record
1SkillsForge Platform
Scale indicator3 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Partnership2 partners
1Department of International Trade (DIT)
Strategic tierMinorTypeGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnounced on2022-01-01
Description

Recognised as DIT Export Champion, joining a nationwide network of businesses successfully delivering software-as-a-solution internationally. Provides legitimacy and potential networking for international expansion.

2British Standards Institute (BSI)
Strategic tierMinorTypeImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAnnounced on2022-01-01
Description

SkillsForge staff completed ISO9001 Quality Management Systems Master Class training with BSI. Training focused on quality management system implementation.

Recent move6 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight5 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Market position
Strengths5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat4 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key highlights7 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Named customers11 records

Each record includes

Name, Industry, Type, Use case, Source, UUID

Segment3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
Yes
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Feature4 records

Each record includes

Title, Differentiator, Description, Source

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles3 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
Compliance1 record

Each record includes

Name, Class, Description

Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

SkillsForge

Higher Education Research Management Softwareskillsforge.co.uk

SkillsForge provides a configurable SaaS platform that helps universities globally manage the full postgraduate researcher lifecycle, from admissions to award, serving doctoral students, supervisors, and research institutions across the UK, Australia, and beyond.

What SkillsForge does

SkillsForge is a UK-based B2B SaaS company, operating as SkillsForge Ltd. and headquartered in Heslington, that provides postgraduate researcher (PGR), higher degree by research (HDR), and doctoral researcher management software to universities and research institutions globally. Founded around 2007, the company has accumulated 15+ years of domain specialization in the doctoral education segment, offering a configurable platform that manages the full researcher lifecycle from Admissions to Award. The platform includes configurable workflows with out-of-the-box templates, automated timeline tracking, skills development management, real-time visibility for supervisors and institutions, integrations with existing university systems, and support for established researcher development frameworks such as Vitae RDF and the European e-Competence Framework (e-CF).

The product serves three primary user constituencies: postgraduate researchers themselves (who track progress, book development activities, and self-record evidence), academic supervisors (who gain visibility into student status and deadlines), and institutional administrators (who monitor cohorts, manage compliance, and generate reports). Named customers include the University of Warwick, University of Bristol, King's College London, University of York, Anglia Ruskin University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Flinders University, University of Adelaide, University of Technology Sydney, and North West University, indicating a footprint spanning the UK, Australia, and South Africa.

The business operates on a subscription-based SaaS revenue model with annual billing and quote-based enterprise pricing. Sales are conducted through a consultative direct enterprise motion emphasizing demos and platform exploration. The company is founder-operated and privately held with 11-50 employees, led by CEO Gary Fawcett, Chairman Tony Ward, and CTO Jonathan Carr. SkillsForge has received recognition including DIT Export Champion status, Digital Enterprise TOP 100 (two consecutive years through 2022), and ISO9001 certification. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or AI capabilities are disclosed.

SkillsForge firmographics

Firmographics
Name
SkillsForge
Legal name
SkillsForge Ltd.
Website
https://skillsforge.co.uk
Company type
Private
Founded year
2007
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Short description
SkillsForge provides a configurable SaaS platform that helps universities globally manage the full postgraduate researcher lifecycle, from admissions to award, serving doctoral students, supervisors, and research institutions across the UK, Australia, and beyond.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

SkillsForge industry classification

Industry
Product category
Higher Education Research Management Software
NAICS
Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
SIC
Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro industry
PRIMARYEDAFADAM
Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms
Education/Education Technology (EdTech) & Digital Learning/Assessment, Testing, Proctoring & Credentialing Platforms
SECONDARYBPACANAB
Technical & Digital Skills Training
Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Training, Learning & Development Services

Keywords

  • Postgraduate researcher management
  • Doctoral education software
  • Higher education SaaS
  • Research student lifecycle
  • HDR management platform

Where SkillsForge is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
York
HQ country
United Kingdom
HQ region
Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

SkillsForge business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Software
Cost components
Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

  1. SaaS Subscription: SkillsForge operates as a SaaS platform providing postgraduate researcher management solutions to research institutions. Revenue is generated through software subscriptions, likely with tiered pricing based on institution size or feature access. The platform supports the full researcher lifecycle from admissions to award.

Pricing tiers

ModelBillingPrice
SubscriptionAnnualEnterprise SaaS subscription - pricing not publicly disclosed

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

SkillsForge product offering

Product offering

Core offering

SkillsForge provides a SaaS platform that helps research institutions manage, support, and develop postgraduate researchers (PGR), Higher Degree by Research (HDR), and doctoral students across the full lifecycle from Admissions to Award. The configurable platform automates workflows, tracks progress and skills development, supports frameworks such as Vitae RDF and e-CF, and offers real-time visibility, reporting, and integration with existing institutional systems.

Product overview

SkillsForge offers a single unified SaaS platform for postgraduate researcher management. The core SkillsForge Platform supports the entire doctoral journey—from Admissions to Award—alongside researcher development, featuring configurable workflows, end-to-end PGR management, and insight/integration/automation capabilities. The platform is modular and configurable, allowing institutions to adopt out-of-the-box processes or customize features and templates to suit their needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • SkillsForge Platform

Quantifiable outcome

  • Reduced administrative workload for both students and staff
  • +3 more outcomes

Companies that use SkillsForge

Customer profile

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

SkillsForge technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

SkillsForge partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

  • Department of International Trade (DIT)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Recognised as DIT Export Champion, joining a nationwide network of businesses successfully delivering software-as-a-solution internationally. Provides legitimacy and potential networking for international expansion.
  • British Standards Institute (BSI)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022SkillsForge staff completed ISO9001 Quality Management Systems Master Class training with BSI. Training focused on quality management system implementation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

SkillsForge competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

SkillsForge social profiles

Digital presence

SkillsForge compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

SkillsForge financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

SkillsForge leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

SkillsForge funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

SkillsForge M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SkillsForge

What does SkillsForge do?

SkillsForge provides a SaaS platform that helps research institutions manage, support, and develop postgraduate researchers (PGR), Higher Degree by Research (HDR), and doctoral students across the full lifecycle from Admissions to Award. The configurable platform automates workflows, tracks progress and skills development, supports frameworks such as Vitae RDF and e-CF, and offers real-time visibility, reporting, and integration with existing institutional systems.

Is SkillsForge a public or private company?

SkillsForge is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was SkillsForge founded?

SkillsForge was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is SkillsForge based?

SkillsForge is headquartered in York, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does SkillsForge make money?

One revenue line is on record: saaS Subscription.

Does SkillsForge have an API?

No public API is recorded for SkillsForge.

What industry is SkillsForge in?

SkillsForge's product category is Higher Education Research Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFADAM, Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms, with a secondary code of BPACANAB, Technical & Digital Skills Training. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 7372.

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