What Connect2Care does

Connect2Care is a UK vocational training provider operating as the care-sector trading division of The Opportunity Provider Ltd (formerly HIT Training Ltd), an employee-owned group headquartered in Shoreham-by-Sea. Established in 2008 to extend HIT Training's hospitality training methodology into adult social care, the company delivers government-funded apprenticeship programmes (Levels 2-5) across three verticals: adult care (Connect2AdultCare), early years (Connect2EarlyYears), and funeral services (Connect2FuneralServices). Its employer base spans NHS, Barchester, Care UK, Dignity PLC, Coop Funeralcare, Cygnet Healthcare, Housing 21, Sanctuary and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, alongside regional and independent providers.

The core product is a blended apprenticeship model combining face-to-face coaching from sector-experienced trainers with online learning, supplemented by free recruitment support via a partnership with urfuture for trait-based candidate matching. Revenue flows through Apprenticeship Levy mechanisms, government co-investment, and employer contributions, with apprenticeship pathways covering Care Chef, the unique Early Years Chef programme, and specialist funeral team member, funeral director, and mortuary technician routes. Connect2Care has been the UK's only national funeral-sector apprenticeship provider since 2022 and has accumulated a dense portfolio of sector awards including the Princess Royal Training Award and consecutive British Training Awards 'Apprenticeship Provider of the Year' (2024-2025).

Go-to-market combines direct enterprise and mid-market field sales to care providers, nurseries and funeral businesses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a nationwide regional trainer network and self-serve website/phone enquiries for smaller employers. The group sits under an Employee Ownership Trust (established 2023), with HIT Training (hospitality) and the Executive Development Network (leadership) operating as sister divisions alongside Connect2Care. Leadership includes Managing Director Jill Whittaker OBE, Executive Chairman John Hyde CBE, and Operations Director Mike Worley.

Name

Connect2Care

Legal name

The Opportunity Provider Ltd

Website

https://connect2care.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Connect2Care is a UK-based apprenticeship training provider delivering vocational programmes (Levels 2-5) across adult care, early years, and funeral services to employers including NHS, Barchester, Care UK, Dignity PLC and Coop Funeralcare, operating under the employee-owned The Opportunity Provider Ltd group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Apprenticeship Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Educational Support Services (61171), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM), Caregiver Support, Coaching & Training (HLADALAG), Family Caregiver Coaching, Education & Support (HSABAIAI), Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Patient Care Technician (PCT) (EDAOAJAB)

Keywords

• Apprenticeship training
• Adult care training
• Early years training
• Funeral services training
• Vocational education

Headquarters

HQ city

Shoreham-by-sea

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 training programmes: Revenue generated through government-funded and employer-funded apprenticeship training programmes across adult care, early years, and funeral services sectors. Training is funded through Apprenticeship Levy contributions, government co-investment, and employer contributions depending on employer size and apprentice age.
2. Recruitment services: Free recruitment support provided to employers as part of apprenticeship service offering. Partnership with urfuture enables intelligent candidate matching.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Connect2Care delivers Level 2–5 apprenticeship programmes and vocational training to employers across three specialist sectors: adult care (Health & Social Care Foundation, Adult Care Worker, Lead Adult Care Worker, Lead Practitioner in Adult Care, Leader in Adult Care, Care Chef), early years (Early Years Practitioner, Early Years Educator, Lead Practitioner, Early Years Chef), and funeral services (Funeral Team Member Arranger/Operative, Funeral Director, Funeral Mortuary Technician). Training is delivered through a blended learning model combining face-to-face personalised support with online learning, funded primarily via the UK Apprenticeship Levy and government co-investment.

Product overview

Connect2Care is a specialist training provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of apprenticeship programmes across three core sectors: Adult Care (Connect2AdultCare), Early Years (Connect2EarlyYears), and Funeral Services (Connect2FuneralServices). The company operates as the trading name of The Opportunity Provider Ltd and provides vocational training and apprenticeships ranging from Level 2 to Level 5, alongside short courses and specialist services including a recruitment partnership with urfuture. Connect2Care's offering includes sector-specific training programmes with certified apprenticeship pathways, supported by resources such as a Knowledge Centre, Careers Hub, and downloadable employer guides. The company is notable for being the UK's first and only national provider of funeral sector apprenticeships, and offers unique programmes such as the Early Years Chef apprenticeship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C2C Heroes: Awards programme recognizing outstanding apprentices and employers in adult care, early years, and funeral services.

Products and services

• Adult Care Training & Apprenticeships (Connect2AdultCare) Expert-led apprenticeships and vocational training programmes (Levels 2–5) for adult care employers, including Health & Social Care Foundation, Adult Care Worker, Lead Adult Care Worker, Lead Practitioner in Adult Care, Leader in Adult Care, and Care Chef programmes. Designed for care homes, domiciliary care, and specialist adult care providers to build confident, skilled care teams.
• Early Years Training & Apprenticeships (Connect2EarlyYears) Vocational training and apprenticeship programmes (Levels 2–5) for nurseries, pre-schools and childcare providers, including Early Years Practitioner (Level 2), Early Years Educator (Level 3), Early Years Lead Practitioner (Level 5), and the unique Early Years Chef apprenticeship designed to help settings raise standards and strengthen teams.
• Funeral Services Training & Apprenticeships (Connect2FuneralServices) The UK's only national apprenticeship programmes for funeral services, offering Level 2 Funeral Team Member (Arranger and Operative) and Level 3 Funeral Director and Funeral Mortuary Technician pathways, designed to raise standards and professionalise the funeral sector workforce.
• Apprentice Recruitment Service (urfuture partnership) Trait-based apprentice recruitment service delivered in partnership with urfuture, using personality-trait matching to identify candidates naturally suited to care, early years, or funeral work. Offered free to employers as part of the apprenticeship service to reduce poor hires and improve retention.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of employers state that their apprentices are acquiring the knowledge and skills needed for their chosen next steps
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, endorsement, regulatory recognition, government supplier, accreditation, assessment and flagship.

• Scrumptious MarketingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Strategic employer branding partnership designed to help employers strengthen their employer branding and attract quality candidates for apprenticeship positions in care sectors.
• urfuturecoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic recruitment partnership using trait-based matching technology to identify candidates naturally suited to care sector work. Partnership helps reduce poor hires and improve retention for employers using Connect2Care apprenticeship programmes.
• Care EnglandendorsementOthersPartnership and endorsement from Care England, the leading representative body for care providers in England.
• The Care Workers CharityendorsementOthersEndorsed by The Care Workers Charity, supporting the welfare of care workers.
• The BridgeendorsementOthersPartnership with The Bridge organisation for additional sector support.
• Disability Confident EmployerendorsementOthersDisability Confident Employer scheme member, demonstrating commitment to inclusive employment practices.
• Ofsted Good Providerregulatory recognitionOthersRated as Ofsted Good Provider, demonstrating quality assurance in training delivery.
• Crown Commercial Servicegovernment supplierOthersApproved supplier through Crown Commercial Service for public sector training procurement.
• OCN LondonaccreditationOthersAccreditation partner through OCN London for qualification delivery.
• Professional Assessment LtdassessmentOthersPartnership for professional assessment services in apprenticeship delivery.
• GYES (Get Your Skills to Work)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with GYES programme supporting employment opportunities and skills development for young people in care sectors.
• HIT TrainingflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIT Training is the parent company and hospitality training division. Connect2Care was launched following requests from care providers who experienced HIT's quality training. Shared expertise and training methodology.
• Executive Development Network (EDN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister division under The Opportunity Provider Ltd focusing on leadership and management training, coaching and mentoring, and corporate training.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Skills for Care: UK sector skills body for adult social care, providing workforce development resources, training support, and the Centre of Excellence accreditation programme that Connect2Care holds. Comparable because it shapes the same adult care training standards and workforce pipeline Connect2Care operates in.
• City & Guilds: Major UK vocational qualification awarding body covering care, early years, and funeral services pathways. Comparable as a back-end accreditation ecosystem peer that Connect2Care's programmes ultimately route through, and a competitor for end-customer training budgets.
• QA Apprenticeships: Major UK apprenticeship provider under QA Ltd, offering programmes across digital, business, and care sectors. Comparable because it draws from the same Apprenticeship Levy pot and targets similar employer segments, particularly in adult care and early years.
• Babcock Training (Babcock International): Large UK training and apprenticeship provider operating across multiple sectors including health and social care. Comparable because it competes for the same apprenticeship funding streams and care-sector employer contracts, though with a broader multi-sector portfolio.

Direct peers

• Realise (Realise Training): UK-based apprenticeship and vocational training provider operating across care, early years, and healthcare sectors. Direct peer given shared apprenticeship-led delivery model, sector focus, and reliance on Apprenticeship Levy income.
• Lifetime Training: UK apprenticeship provider offering programmes across health and social care, childcare, and related sectors. Closest direct peer given similar apprenticeship-led model, sector overlap (adult care, early years), and government-funded revenue structure.
• Paragon Skills: UK apprenticeship training provider delivering programmes across care, early years, and health sectors. Comparable due to direct overlap in apprenticeship delivery model, target employer segments, and dependence on apprenticeship levy funding.

Emerging players

• Seetec (Seetec Business Technology Centre): UK training and employability provider operating apprenticeship and skills programmes including in care-related sectors. Comparable for its apprenticeship-led delivery model and overlap with government-funded employer training demand.

Others

• National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Training: Provides safeguarding and early years training relevant to the same employer base. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but addresses overlapping employer demand for accredited training in childcare settings.
• Childbase Partnership (in-house training): Large UK nursery operator running internal training and apprenticeship pathways for early years staff. Comparable as an in-house alternative model to Connect2Care's outsourced early years apprenticeship delivery, representing a customer-or-competitor dynamic in the same vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hittraining
• Facebookfacebook.com/hittraining
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2819495

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Connect2Care