Firebrand Training

What Firebrand Training does

Firebrand Training Limited is a UK-headquartered accelerated IT and professional certification training provider founded in 2001 and operating as part of the BPP Professional Education Group (also known as Lyceum Education Group). The company delivers instructor-led accelerated courses across more than 600 programmes aligned with 50+ certification bodies — including AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA (Platinum Authorised Partner), ISC2, EC-Council, ISACA, IAPP, PMI/PRINCE2, BCS, Cisco, CNCF, ISO, PeopleCert, The Open Group, and PECB — to working professionals, corporate teams, and government-funded apprentices. Its stated scale is approximately £30m in revenue, 101–250 employees, more than 145,000 professionals trained cumulatively, a 97% Trustpilot score across 2,492+ reviews, and 14 consecutive years on Training Industry's Top 20 IT Training Companies list.

The training platform is delivered via four modalities — Online Live (Microsoft Teams-based remote instructor-led), Hybrid, Residential (full-immersion bootcamps with on-site accommodation and exam testing), and City Centre (London and Manchester) — and is underpinned by a proprietary Lecture | Lab | Review methodology intended to compress certification timelines to days or weeks rather than months. Exam delivery is integrated with Pearson VUE, BCS, and PSI Testing Solutions; practice preparation incorporates MeasureUp; and a Certification Guarantee allows free retraining within 12 months if a learner fails the first exam attempt. The product surface extends beyond individual certification fees into bespoke enterprise packages (Firebrand Deploy sub-brand), apprenticeships at Levels 3, 4, and 6 (Software Developer, IT Technical Salesperson, Data Analyst), and a UK government co-funded apprenticeship pipeline administered through the ESFA and DfE.

Firebrand operates from a registered London headquarters at 27 Old Gloucester Street (company number 04097204), with wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark and training venues across the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UAE (Dubai). Revenue is generated primarily through one-time course fees paid by individuals or sponsoring employers on 30-day invoice terms, supplemented by apprenticeship co-funding flows, ESFA/DfE contributions, and ancillary rebooking and certification-guarantee booking fees (currently £500 per request outside the cancellation window). The go-to-market combines a telephone-led and website self-serve motion for individual learners with a dedicated Train Your Team / Your Training Partner account-management channel for enterprise clients.

Name

Firebrand Training

Legal name

Firebrand Training Limited

Website

https://firebrand.training

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Firebrand Training is a UK-headquartered accelerated IT and professional certification training provider delivering 600+ courses across 50+ certification bodies via four study modes (Online Live, Hybrid, Residential, City Centre) to individual learners, corporate teams, and government-funded apprentices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Certification Course Fees: Primary revenue from individual and corporate course fees for accelerated certification training. Fees are quoted in pounds sterling, exclusive of VAT, and charged at the point of order placement. Course fees can be paid by individuals or by employer/Sponsor organisations. Sponsors are invoiced directly and must pay within 30 days.
2. Rebooking and Certification Guarantee Booking Fees: Rebooking Fees (currently £500 per request) charged when students rearrange or defer courses outside the Cancellation Window, including costs for exam vouchers, lab access, accommodation, and courseware. Certification Guarantee Booking Fee reflects direct consumable costs for rebooked training under the guarantee scheme.
3. Apprenticeship Programmes: Revenue from government-funded and employer-sponsored apprenticeship programmes (Levels 3 and 4), including Software Developer, IT Technical Salesperson, and Data Analyst apprenticeships. Funding from ESFA, DfE, and employer sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Firebrand Training delivers accelerated IT and management certification training courses through multiple study modes (Online Live, Hybrid, Residential, and City Centre). It offers over 600 courses across vendors such as AWS, Microsoft, and CompTIA, using a Lecture | Lab | Review teaching methodology designed to compress traditional multi-week courses into shorter, intensive formats. The company serves both individual professionals seeking certifications and enterprise teams needing custom training programs.

Product overview

Firebrand Training is an accelerated IT and professional certification training provider offering a multi-modal learning platform with four delivery formats: Online Live (remote instructor-led), Hybrid (virtual classroom join), Residential (full-immersion bootcamps with accommodation), and City Centre courses. The company provides instructor-led courses across 600+ accelerated programmes aligned with 50+ certification bodies including AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA, ISC2, EC-Council, ISACA, IAPP, PMI/PRINCE2, BCS, Cisco, CNCF, ISO, and many others. Bespoke enterprise training, apprenticeships (Level 3, 4, and 6), and a Certification Guarantee (free retake within 12 months) complement individual course offerings. The Lecture | Lab | Review methodology underpins all training, designed to deliver certification outcomes in significantly less time than traditional providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Firebrand Deploy: Bespoke enterprise IT training offering focused on team upskilling and reskilling in AI, Data, Cyber Security and more.

Products and services

• Online Live Training Courses Virtual classroom delivery of accelerated IT and management certification courses, enabling remote learners to attend instructor-led training and labs in real time. Targeted at individual professionals and remote teams.
• Residential Training Courses Immersive on-site accelerated training delivered at Firebrand's training centres, combining intensive instruction, hands-on labs, and exam preparation in a single location. Targeted at individual learners and teams wanting focused, distraction-free study.
• City Centre Training Courses Classroom-based accelerated training delivered in city centre locations, providing in-person instruction and labs for IT and management certification candidates.
• Hybrid Training Programs Blended learning programs combining online live sessions with in-person classroom or residential components, designed for flexibility while preserving hands-on lab time. Targeted at professionals and corporate teams needing mixed delivery.
• Train Your Team (Enterprise Training) Customized accelerated training delivered to corporate teams, with options for on-site, residential, online, or hybrid delivery. Targeted at organizations that need to upskill or certify multiple employees at once.
• Apprenticeship Programs Structured apprenticeship pathways combining on-the-job learning with accelerated certification training, designed to develop entry-level and early-career IT and management talent.

Quantifiable outcome

• Train certified at twice the speed of traditional courses
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft is a core technology partner delivering Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and AI certification programmes. Firebrand is a Microsoft Solution Partner with official curriculum access and certified instructors. Training covers certifications including AZ-104, AZ-305, AZ-500, SC-200, MS-102, PL-300, and AI-102 across cloud administration, architecture, security, and AI engineering.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS is a core partner delivering Amazon cloud certification programmes. Firebrand is an AWS Partner Network member offering official AWS exams. Training covers Solutions Architect (Associate and Professional), Developer Associate, DevOps Engineer Professional, Security Specialty, and Advanced Networking Specialty certifications, with exams delivered via Pearson VUE.
• CompTIAcoreTechnology or IntegrationCompTIA is a core partner delivering the full range of CompTIA certification pathways. Firebrand holds Platinum-level Authorised Partner status (the highest tier), winning the CompTIA EMEA Pathway Champion Award for Data. The partnership covers Security+, CySA+, PenTest+, SecurityX, A+, Network+, Server+, Data+, and Cloud+ certifications.
• ISC2coreTechnology or IntegrationISC2 is a core certification partner delivering globally recognised cybersecurity credentials including CISSP, CCSP, SSCP, and Certified in Cybersecurity (CC). Firebrand delivers official ISC2 certification preparation courses as an authorised training partner.
• EC-CouncilcoreTechnology or IntegrationEC-Council is a core partner delivering cybersecurity certifications including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI), Certified SOC Analyst (CSA), and Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO). Firebrand holds EC-Council ATC DACH 2024 recognition for excellence in the DACH region.
• ISACAcoreTechnology or IntegrationISACA is a core partner delivering IT governance and security certifications including CISM, CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, and COBIT 2019. Firebrand is an authorised ISACA training provider offering instructor-led courses for all major ISACA certification programmes.
• BCS, The Chartered Institute for ITcoreTechnology or IntegrationBCS is a core partner delivering IT professional certifications including CISMP, BCS Foundation in AI, DevOps, and the BCS Professional Certificate in Software Testing. Firebrand holds BCS Approved Training Organisation status and co-creates curriculum aligned to BCS frameworks.
• PeopleCertcoreTechnology or IntegrationPeopleCert is a core partner delivering PRINCE2 (all versions including PRINCE2 7), Agile, and Dev Skills certifications. Firebrand offers PRINCE2 Agile Foundation and Practitioner, PRINCE2 7 Foundation and Practitioner, and PeopleCert DEV Skills Foundation Certificate (JavaScript).
• PMI (Project Management Institute)coreTechnology or IntegrationPMI is a core partner delivering the globally recognised PMP (Project Management Professional) and CAPM certifications. Firebrand offers accelerated PMP certification preparation courses as an authorised PMI training provider.
• CertiportcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertiport is a core partner delivering IT Specialist certifications in Python Fundamentals, Software Development, and Databases. Firebrand offers Certiport IT Specialist certification exams as an authorised testing centre.
• CertNexuscoreTechnology or IntegrationCertNexus is a partner delivering vendor-neutral certifications including Cyber Secure Coder (CSC) and Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner (CAIP). Firebrand offers these certifications as an authorised CertNexus training provider.
• The Open GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Open Group is a core partner delivering TOGAF Enterprise Architecture certification at Foundation, Practitioner, and Combined levels. Firebrand is a Certified Training Partner for The Open Group.
• PECBcoreTechnology or IntegrationPECB is a partner delivering professional certifications including ISO 27001 Lead Auditor/Lead Implementer, ISO 22301, ISO 27701 (Privacy), and NIS2 Directive training. Firebrand holds PECB Titanium Partner status.
• VMwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationVMware is a core partner delivering vSphere certification programmes. Firebrand offers VMware vSphere Foundation Administrator (Build, Manage, and Operate V9.0) certification training.
• CiscocoreTechnology or IntegrationCisco is a core partner delivering CCNA and other Cisco networking certifications. Firebrand offers CCNA: Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions and related Cisco training programmes.
• OraclecoreTechnology or IntegrationOracle is a partner providing database and cloud technology certification programmes delivered through Firebrand's accelerated training model.
• SalesforcecoreTechnology or IntegrationSalesforce is a partner providing CRM and cloud platform certification programmes delivered through Firebrand's accelerated training model.
• Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)coreTechnology or IntegrationCNCF is a core partner delivering Kubernetes certifications (CKAD and CKA). Firebrand offers the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) and Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) programmes.
• IAPPcoreTechnology or IntegrationIAPP is a partner delivering privacy certifications including Certified Information Privacy Professional Europe (CIPP/E), Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), and the Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP) certification. Firebrand is an authorised IAPP training partner.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)coreTechnology or IntegrationISO standards training partners delivering certifications including ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 22301 (Business Continuity), ISO 27701 (Privacy), ISO 31000 (Risk Management), ISO 42001 (AI Management Systems), and ISO 27005 (Risk Manager). Firebrand offers Lead Auditor, Lead Implementer, and Foundation levels.
• BPP Professional Education GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirebrand operates as a wholly separate business but is part of the BPP Professional Education Group (also known as Lyceum Education Group). BPP provides administrative, technical, and customer support services. Firebrand's training materials and brand are co-branded with BPP, and BPP venues are used for city centre training (BPP London, BPP Manchester). The Group comprises BPP, Firebrand, Estio, and DMI forming a connected learning pipeline.
• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson VUE is the primary exam delivery partner providing online proctored certification exams for AWS, Microsoft, CompTIA, and other vendor programmes. Exams are delivered globally through Pearson VUE's secure online proctoring platform.
• Apprenticeship Recruitment PortalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirebrand distributes apprenticeship vacancies through third-party recruitment platforms including Get My First Job, LinkedIn, Job Train, The Princes Trust, Career Connect, and Talent Match. These portals help recruit apprentices into Firebrand's apprenticeship programmes.
• UK Government / ESFA / DfEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirebrand is a registered apprenticeship provider approved by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Department for Education (DfE). Apprenticeship programmes are co-funded by employers and government, covering Standards including Software Developer, IT Technical Salesperson, and Data Analyst at Levels 3 and 4.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• QA Ltd: UK-headquartered accelerated IT and business training provider operating across multiple delivery modes (classroom, online live, residential via QA Learning) with a broad vendor-authorised portfolio (AWS, Microsoft, Cisco, BCS). Direct competitor to Firebrand for individual and corporate certification training in the UK and Ireland.
• Global Knowledge: Global IT and professional training company (now part of Skillsoft) delivering vendor-authorised courses across cloud, cybersecurity, project management and AI. Closely comparable to Firebrand in catalogue breadth, authorised-partner model, and accelerated delivery formats including digital and in-person offerings.
• New Horizons Worldwide: Worldwide IT training franchise delivering instructor-led accelerated courses across Microsoft, Cisco, AWS, and CompTIA curricula. Closely comparable accelerated vendor-authorised delivery model and similar SMB/individual buyer motion to Firebrand.
• Learning Tree International: Long-established IT and management training provider offering accelerated vendor-aligned courses (Microsoft, AWS, Cisco, PMI) in classroom, live online, and private team formats. Direct peer in the accelerated IT certification training segment.
• The Knowledge Academy: UK-based accelerated training provider offering classroom, online live, and on-site courses across IT, project management, and business certifications. Directly competes with Firebrand in UK enterprise and individual certification markets including PRINCE2, PMP and ISO.

Emerging players

• Pluralsight: Online-first technology skills platform (combined with A Cloud Guru and Pluralsight Flow) targeting individual technologists and enterprise teams with self-paced cloud, security, and AI training. Comparable to Firebrand's Online Live and self-paced modalities, though Firebrand retains the instructor-led and residential premium.
• CBT Nuggets: Online IT training platform offering video-based certification courses for AWS, Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA, and IT fundamentals. Comparable in vendor-aligned certification coverage but lacks Firebrand's instructor-led residential and apprenticeship channels.
• Infosec Institute: Cybersecurity-focused training provider delivering instructor-led and online boot camps across ISC2 (CISSP), ISACA (CISM/CISA), EC-Council (CEH), and CompTIA Security+ with a heavy apprenticeship-style 'boot camp' model. Overlaps with the cybersecurity leg of Firebrand's catalogue.

Broad incumbents

• BPP Professional Education Group: Parent organisation of Firebrand Training (within Lyceum Education Group) providing broader professional education including accountancy, law, and management. Comparable as a sibling business with overlapping apprenticeship, professional certification, and corporate training infrastructure.
• Skillsoft / SumTotal: Large-scale enterprise digital learning platform (parent of Global Knowledge) delivering SaaS-based IT, leadership, and compliance content. Comparable to Firebrand's enterprise training motion at a much larger scale and across a broader content portfolio beyond Firebrand's instructor-led specialism.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/beafirebrand
• Facebookfacebook.com/firebrand.apprentice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firebrand-training
• TikToktiktok.com/@firebrandtraining

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Firebrand Training