Simply Academy
Simply Academy is a UK-based accredited training provider delivering CeMAP, CeRER, DipFA, and DipPFS qualifications plus Financial Services apprenticeship programmes, serving individual career entrants and corporate FS employers including RBS and Sesame Bankhall Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBishops Strotford, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Simply Academy does
Simply Academy Ltd. is a UK-based, privately held training provider founded in 2006 in Bishop's Stortford, delivering accredited Financial Services professional qualifications and apprenticeship programmes. Its core portfolio covers CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice & Practice, delivered via Fast Track, E-Learning, and live webinar formats), CeRER (regulated equity release), DipFA (LIBF diploma for Financial Advisers) and DipPFS (CII diploma in Regulated Financial Planning), together with three apprenticeship pathways at Levels 3 and 4 covering FS Administrator, Mortgage Adviser, and Paraplanner & Financial Planner. Programmes are accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and recognised by the FCA; delivery occurs across six UK training venues (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh) plus remote e-learning and live webinar channels. The company holds Ofsted 'Good' rating (2024), LIBF Trusted Partner status (2020, one of only four worldwide), FSQS registration, and approved-provider status on the ESFA apprenticeship register.
The business is monetised through three streams: individual course fees (one-time, self-pay with a Buy Now Pay Later option at 0% APR over 6–24 months from £25/month), apprenticeship programme fees (funded via employer access to government-backed apprenticeship funding), and bespoke corporate training solutions for FS employers. Go-to-market is hybrid: sales-led conversion for individual learners (website enquiry, freephone 0808 208 0002, student support follow-up), channel-partner-led growth via employer referrals and the Sesame Bankhall Group distribution partnership, and a product-led self-serve motion through website enrolment. Named enterprise customers include RBS (preferred CeMAP provider since 2008, 1,250+ qualifiers), Santander, London & Country, Sesame Bankhall Group, and smaller advisory firms such as Gertski Wealth Management.
Operationally the company sits between 51 and 100 employees under co-founder-led management (Peter Lingley, COO; Mark Fenwick, Executive Director of Apprenticeships), with additional senior leadership across apprenticeships, curriculum, and partnerships. No parent company, subsidiary, or external funding round is disclosed; ownership is concentrated with the founders. The cumulative student base exceeds 25,000 people trained since inception.
Simply Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Simply Academy
- Legal name
- Simply Academy Ltd.
- Website
- https://simplyacademy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Simply Academy is a UK-based accredited training provider delivering CeMAP, CeRER, DipFA, and DipPFS qualifications plus Financial Services apprenticeship programmes, serving individual career entrants and corporate FS employers including RBS and Sesame Bankhall Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Simply Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Financial Services Training
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Finance, Banking & Capital Markets (EDAAAPAG), Financial Services (Non-Banking) (EDABALAK), Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ), Real Estate, Appraisal & Mortgage (Agent/Broker CE, Appraiser CE) (EDAAALAI)
Keywords
Where Simply Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bishops Strotford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Simply Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Course Fees: Revenue is generated from individual students purchasing professional qualification courses including CeMAP, CeRER, DipFA, and DipPFS. Students pay course fees directly, with options to spread payments via Buy Now Pay Later finance (0% APR, 6-24 month terms, from £25/month).
- Apprenticeship Programme Fees: Revenue from employer-funded apprenticeship programmes including Level 3 Financial Administrator, Level 3 Mortgage Adviser, and Level 4 Paraplanner & Financial Planner apprenticeships. Employers access government-backed funding to cover programme costs, with Simply Academy acting as the training provider.
- Corporate Training Solutions: Bespoke corporate training programmes delivered to financial services organisations for workforce development, regulatory compliance, and professional qualification pathways. Programmes are tailored to employer needs and delivered in-person, virtually, or via blended learning.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Buy Now Pay Later financing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Simply Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Simply Academy delivers accredited Financial Services professional qualifications (CeMAP, CeRER, DipFA, DipPFS) and apprenticeship programmes for both individual learners and corporate clients in the UK. Training is delivered through multiple formats including self-paced e-learning, live instructor-led webinars, and in-person classroom training at six UK venues (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh). All qualifications are accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) or the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Product overview
Simply Academy is a leading provider of financial educational services offering a portfolio of professional qualifications and apprenticeship programmes. The core offerings include CeMAP (Certificate in Mortgage Advice & Practice) as the primary mortgage adviser qualification available in Fast Track and E-Learning formats, CeRER as an add-on equity release qualification, and both DipFA and DipPFS diplomas for financial advisers. The company also delivers three Financial Services apprenticeship programmes at Levels 3 and 4 (FS Administrator, Mortgage Adviser, and Paraplanner & Financial Planner), corporate training solutions with flexible delivery modes, and provides TOTUM student discount cards. All qualifications are accredited by either the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) or the CII and recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Certificate in Mortgage Advice & Practice (CeMAP)
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 25,000 people have studied with Simply Academy
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Simply Academy
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Simply Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Simply Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)coreIn 2008, RBS selected Simply Academy as their preferred CeMAP provider. This partnership has resulted in over 1,250 RBS staff members successfully gaining their CeMAP qualification. The relationship has continued to the present day and represents one of Simply Academy's largest corporate training partnerships.
- SantandercoreSimply Academy entered into a long-term partnership with Santander at their Belfast HQ in 2012, delivering regulatory qualifications to bank staff. Over 150 Santander employees achieved various regulatory qualifications through this programme.
- London & CountrycoreIn 2016, Simply Academy was selected by London & Country (the UK's largest mortgage broker) as their go-to training provider, delivering CeMAP and other mortgage adviser qualifications to their workforce.
- Sesame Bankhall GroupcoreIn 2018, Sesame Bankhall Group (the largest financial distributor in the UK) selected Simply Academy as their preferred apprenticeship provider. This strategic partnership opened access to Simply Academy's high-quality apprenticeship programmes for hundreds of Sesame member firms across the UK.
- The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF)coreSimply Academy holds 'Trusted Partner' status awarded by the London Institute of Banking & Finance in 2020. LIBF acts as the awarding body for CeMAP, CeRER, and DipFA qualifications delivered by Simply Academy. Only four organisations worldwide hold this prestigious Trusted Partner designation.
- Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)coreSimply Academy is registered on the Education Skills Funding Agency's register of apprenticeship training providers (since 2017 upon its inception), enabling access to government funding for apprenticeship programmes delivered to employers across England.
- Chartered Insurance Institute (CII)coreSimply Academy is an accredited CII provider delivering qualifications including the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (DipPFS) and R0 suite qualifications, aligning with CII professional standards for financial advisers.
- Gertski Wealth ManagementminorGertski Wealth Management is an employer client using Simply Academy's apprenticeship programme to develop their workforce. Their testimonial highlights the value of apprenticeships for sourcing new talent and upskilling teams, with the free recruitment service being particularly valued.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Simply Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BPP Professional Education Group: BPP is one of the largest UK private training providers offering CeMAP, CII, and financial adviser qualifications alongside professional apprenticeships. It directly competes with Simply Academy across the same qualification catalogue and corporate training segment, serving many of the same UK financial institutions.
- Kaplan UK (Kaplan Financial): Kaplan UK delivers CeMAP, CII, and LIBF qualifications, including apprenticeship pathways for the financial services sector. It is a direct competitor in mortgage and financial adviser training, with overlapping enterprise customers in UK banking and distribution.
- ICS Learn: ICS Learn offers distance-learning and online financial services qualifications including CII and CeMAP-style certifications. It competes directly for self-paced individual learners seeking flexible study formats — overlapping Simply Academy's e-learning CeMAP proposition.
- Lifetime Training: Lifetime Training is a major UK apprenticeship provider with established financial services and paraplanner apprenticeship programmes. It competes head-to-head with Simply Academy for employer-funded apprenticeship contracts and apprenticeship levy spend.
- Paragon Skills: Paragon Skills is an ESFA-registered apprenticeship training provider delivering financial services and business apprenticeships to UK employers. It directly competes in the Level 3-4 Financial Services apprenticeship space Simply Academy targets.
- QA Apprenticeships: QA is a large UK training and apprenticeship provider with a financial services practice delivering technology and business apprenticeships. It competes for employer apprenticeship levy funding with overlapping employer relationships in financial services.
- Babington: Babington is a UK apprenticeship and professional training provider with strong financial services, accountancy, and business apprenticeship programmes. It directly competes in the same apprenticeship categories Simply Academy delivers, including financial services administration.
Broad incumbents
- Reed Learning: Reed operates a broad training division spanning professional qualifications, apprenticeships, and compliance training across many sectors including financial services. It is a broader incumbent with overlapping capability but does not specialise as deeply in mortgage/financial adviser qualifications.
Others
- The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF): LIBF is the awarding body for CeMAP, CeRER, and DipFA qualifications Simply Academy delivers, and has awarded Simply Academy 'Trusted Partner' status. While primarily an awarding body, LIBF also runs some direct programmes, placing it in an ecosystem/partnership role rather than a head-to-head competitor.
- Chartered Insurance Institute (CII): The CII is the awarding body for DipPFS and other financial planning qualifications Simply Academy delivers. Like LIBF, CII also offers some direct learning pathways, but is primarily a professional body and accreditor rather than a competing training provider.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights1 record
Customer concentration
Simply Academy social profiles
Digital presenceSimply Academy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Simply Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Simply Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Simply Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Simply Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Simply Academy
What does Simply Academy do?
Simply Academy delivers accredited Financial Services professional qualifications (CeMAP, CeRER, DipFA, DipPFS) and apprenticeship programmes for both individual learners and corporate clients in the UK. Training is delivered through multiple formats including self-paced e-learning, live instructor-led webinars, and in-person classroom training at six UK venues (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Edinburgh). All qualifications are accredited by the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) or the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Is Simply Academy a public or private company?
Simply Academy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Simply Academy founded?
Simply Academy was founded in 2006. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Simply Academy based?
Simply Academy is headquartered in Bishops Strotford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Simply Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Course Fees are the primary driver. The others are apprenticeship Programme Fees and corporate Training Solutions.
Who are Simply Academy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BPP Professional Education Group, Kaplan UK (Kaplan Financial), ICS Learn, Lifetime Training, Paragon Skills, QA Apprenticeships and Babington. Reed Learning is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) and Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
Does Simply Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Simply Academy.
What industry is Simply Academy in?
Simply Academy's product category is Professional Financial Services Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAJ, Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE), with a secondary code of EDAAAPAG, Finance, Banking & Capital Markets. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.