Realise
Realise is a Sheffield-headquartered UK training provider delivering government-funded apprenticeships (Levels 2 to 5) and adult education across five sectors — Health and Social Care, Early Years, Transport, Business Solutions, and Public Sector — training 18,300+ learners annually through 500+ specialist trainers. The firm is privately held under Enact private equity ownership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSheffield, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Realise does
Realise is a Sheffield-headquartered, England-focused training provider delivering government-funded apprenticeships (Levels 2 to 5) and adult education programmes across five primary sectors: Early Years and Childcare, Health and Social Care, Business Solutions (HR, project management, leadership, customer service), Transport (bus and coach driver apprenticeships plus CPC compliance training), and Public Sector. The company trains more than 18,300 learners per year through a network of 500+ sector-specialist trainers, supported by blended delivery that combines face-to-face teaching, remote sessions, webinars, one-to-one coaching, online learning resources and e-portfolio tracking. Realise is the trading name of Realise Learning & Employment Limited (Companies House No. 07703720), and operates additional sites including the Oldham Skills Hub. Its customer base spans large private-sector employers (DHL, Stagecoach, Greater Anglia, Lithia UK, Screwfix, Barchester, Computacenter) and public-sector bodies (NHS trusts, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, local authorities).
Revenue is generated through three principal streams: government-funded apprenticeship training (paid via employer Apprenticeship Levy for larger employers and 95% government subsidy for smaller businesses, structured as multi-year contracts), funded adult education programmes delivered under contracts with combined authorities such as GMCA, WYCA, SYMCA, Liverpool City Region, and Tees Valley, and bespoke employer-funded workforce development and professional qualifications. A free recruitment service is offered to employers as a customer-acquisition lever. The go-to-market combines field sales targeting large employers across care, NHS, transport, and retail with a direct-to-consumer apprenticeship-vacancy portal.
Realise is privately held under the ownership of Enact, an Activeline private-equity portfolio company, and has executed a buy-and-build strategy: it acquired FW Solutions in September 2022 to enter the early years training market and extend its presence into Yorkshire and the North East, and acquired Smart Gas Training and Assessment Centre in March 2025 to add regulated gas-engineering assessments. The company cites 40 years of operational experience and is regulated by Ofsted, holds Skills for Care endorsement, and maintains ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications.
Realise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Realise
- Legal name
- Realise Learning & Employment Limited
- Website
- https://realisetraining.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Realise is a Sheffield-headquartered UK training provider delivering government-funded apprenticeships (Levels 2 to 5) and adult education across five sectors — Health and Social Care, Early Years, Transport, Business Solutions, and Public Sector — training 18,300+ learners annually through 500+ specialist trainers. The firm is privately held under Enact private equity ownership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Realise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Training and Apprenticeships
- NAICS
- Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- 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), Integrated Education & Training (IET) / Contextualized ABE (Workforce-Linked) (EDAAAAAK)
Keywords
Where Realise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sheffield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Realise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government-Funded Apprenticeship Training: Apprenticeship programmes funded through the UK Government's Apprenticeship Service. Larger employers fund training through their apprenticeship levy, while smaller businesses receive 95% government coverage for training costs. Learners do not contribute financially.
- Adult Education and Funded Courses: Nationally recognised qualifications and adult education programmes funded through government schemes and combined authorities such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and others.
- Employer-Funded Workforce Development: Bespoke training programmes and professional qualifications for employers seeking to develop their workforce, funded through employer investment in staff development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Apprenticeship training for levy-paying employers |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Apprenticeship training for non-levy employers |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free adult education courses for eligible learners |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Realise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Realise delivers government-funded apprenticeship programmes (Level 2 to Level 5) and adult education courses across five core sectors: Early Years, Health and Social Care, Business Solutions, Transport, and Public Sector. Training is delivered through a blended learning model combining face-to-face teaching, remote sessions, webinars, one-to-one support, and e-portfolio tracking, with funding flowing from the UK Apprenticeship Levy and combined authorities. The company also provides a free recruitment service for employers and apprenticeship vacancy advertising for individual learners.
Product overview
Realise is a training provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of apprenticeship programmes and adult education courses across five core sectors: Early Years, Health and Social Care, Business Solutions, Transport, and Public Sector. The organisation delivers both apprenticeship programmes (spanning Level 2 to Level 5) and funded adult education courses including diplomas and certificates. Supporting services include free recruitment assistance for employers and training funded through the government's apprenticeship levy or other schemes. The company operates as a unified training platform rather than a modular software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Apprenticeships Government-funded apprenticeship programmes delivered across multiple sectors including Early Years, Health and Social Care, Business Solutions, Transport, and Public Sector, ranging from Level 2 to Level 5 qualifications. Funded via the UK Apprenticeship Levy for large employers and 95% government coverage for smaller businesses.
- Adult Education Courses Funded adult education programmes including diplomas, certificates, and short courses in care, business skills, employability, and sector-specific training, delivered through government schemes and combined authorities such as GMCA, WYCA, and SYMCA.
- Health and Social Care Training Training programmes aligned to Skills for Care frameworks supporting CQC standards, including Adult Care Worker, Lead Adult Care Worker, Senior Healthcare Support Worker, Lead Practitioner, and Leader in Adult Care apprenticeships for residential care, domiciliary care, and community services providers.
- Business Solutions Training Professional qualifications and apprenticeships in Human Resources, Project Management, Leadership, Customer Service, and Learning and Development, delivered through CIPD, ILM, CMI, and APM accredited pathways.
- Transport Training Specialist passenger transport training for bus and coach operators including bus driver apprenticeship programmes, PCV licence acquisition, CPC periodic training, driver observations, quality audits, and the Route to Success recruitment programme in partnership with the Bee Network.
- Early Years Training Early years education and training programmes meeting long-term recruitment needs, including Early Years Educator apprenticeships, nursery practitioner training, childminder qualifications, and early years SENCO training for nurseries, preschools, and childcare settings.
- Public Sector Training Training solutions for public sector organisations including Operations Manager Apprenticeship and People Professional Apprenticeship for NHS trusts, local councils, and government bodies.
- Free Recruitment Service Free vacancy advertising and candidate sourcing service for employers, including connections to major UK job platforms and dedicated recruitment experts to find suitable apprenticeship candidates.
Quantifiable outcome
- 18,300+ learners trained annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Realise
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Realise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Realise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)coreGMCA partners with Realise to deliver funded training programmes in Greater Manchester, including the Route to Success bus driver recruitment initiative and other adult education courses.
- West Yorkshire Combined AuthoritycorePartnership for delivery of funded adult education programmes in West Yorkshire including Leeds, Wakefield, Bradford, Calderdale, and Kirklees areas.
- South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)corePartnership for delivery of funded training programmes in South Yorkshire including Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, and Doncaster.
- Liverpool City Region Combined AuthoritysecondaryPartnership for delivery of adult care diplomas and training programmes in Liverpool City Region.
- Tees Valley Combined AuthoritysecondaryPartnership for delivery of care sector training programmes in Tees Valley region.
- Skills for CarecoreSkills for Care endorsed provider status. Realise delivers programmes aligned to Skills for Care frameworks for social care workforce development.
- CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development)corePartnership with CIPD for delivery of HR and people professional qualifications at Levels 3 and 5.
- ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management)coreILM approved centre for delivery of leadership and management qualifications at Level 3.
- CMI (Chartered Management Institute)coreCMI approved centre for delivery of coaching and mentoring qualifications at Level 3.
- OfstedcoreRegulated by Ofsted for delivery of education and training programmes. Subject to Ofsted inspection.
- ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency)coreGovernment agency that funds and regulates apprenticeship training delivery in England.
- Bee NetworksecondaryPartnership with the Bee Network (Greater Manchester's bus franchising scheme) for delivery of Route to Success driver training programmes.
- Department for EducationcoreDfE is a key government partner for apprenticeship delivery and funding in England.
- HighfieldsecondaryAccredited training provider for Highfield qualifications in health, safety, and compliance areas.
- ICS Learn Group (DPG, Acacia, ICS Learn)secondaryPartnership providing learners access to CIPD materials and qualification resources through DPG, Acacia and ICS Learn brands.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Realise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lifetime Training: One of the UK's largest apprenticeship and traineeship providers, focused on care, business skills, and public sector training. Direct competitor of Realise in apprenticeship delivery and free recruitment services for employers.
- Babington: UK apprenticeship and professional development provider with strong footprint in business solutions, early years, and adult education. Closely comparable to Realise on sector mix and apprenticeship-led revenue model.
- Skills Training UK: UK apprenticeships and adult education provider delivering programmes across business, digital, and care with combined authority partnerships. Competes head-to-head with Realise for funded regional training contracts.
- learndirect: One of the largest adult education providers in the UK delivering apprenticeships, traineeships, and funded courses. Comparable to Realise in adult-funded programme delivery and self-serve learning pathways.
- QA Ltd: UK-based technology and training provider offering apprenticeships in digital, IT, and business with broad employer relationships. Comparable to Realise on enterprise-led apprenticeship go-to-market and apprenticeship levy utilisation services.
Emerging players
- Estio Training: Specialist UK IT and digital apprenticeship provider. Partial overlap with Realise on the digital/business solutions side of apprenticeship delivery, serving a narrower technical segment.
Broad incumbents
- Kaplan UK: Large UK-based provider of professional training, apprenticeships, and qualifications across accountancy, financial services, and leadership. A broad incumbent where Realise's CIPD/ILM/CMI-stacked business solutions overlap with Kaplan's wider portfolio.
- BPP Professional Education Group: UK-based professional education provider offering apprenticeships (including CIPD and ACA pathways), professional development, and higher education. Broad incumbent competing on business, legal, and accountancy apprenticeship routes.
Others
- City & Guilds: UK awarding body delivering qualifications and apprenticeships, including technical and trade routes. Not a direct competitor on delivery but is the awarding partner underpinning much of the regulated content both Realise and other training providers deliver.
- AIM Group (AIM Qualifications): UK training, assessment, and apprenticeship delivery group serving care, education, and public sector customers. Adjacent peer with comparable combined authority and adult education contract exposure but smaller operating scale than Realise.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Realise social profiles
Digital presenceRealise compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Realise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Realise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Realise subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Realise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Realise M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Realise
What does Realise do?
Realise delivers government-funded apprenticeship programmes (Level 2 to Level 5) and adult education courses across five core sectors: Early Years, Health and Social Care, Business Solutions, Transport, and Public Sector. Training is delivered through a blended learning model combining face-to-face teaching, remote sessions, webinars, one-to-one support, and e-portfolio tracking, with funding flowing from the UK Apprenticeship Levy and combined authorities. The company also provides a free recruitment service for employers and apprenticeship vacancy advertising for individual learners.
Is Realise a public or private company?
Realise is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Realise founded?
Realise was founded in -1. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Realise based?
Realise is headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Realise make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government-Funded Apprenticeship Training is the primary driver. The others are adult Education and Funded Courses and employer-Funded Workforce Development.
Who are Realise's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lifetime Training, Babington, Skills Training UK, learndirect and QA Ltd. Estio Training is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Kaplan UK and BPP Professional Education Group. Others are City & Guilds and AIM Group (AIM Qualifications).
Does Realise have an API?
No public API is recorded for Realise.
What industry is Realise in?
Realise's product category is Vocational Training and Apprenticeships. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs, with a secondary code of BPACANAM, Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer). Its NAICS code is 611513 and its SIC code is 8200.