What Learning And Development Bureau does

Learning and Development Bureau (LDB) is a UK-based independent training provider headquartered in Chatham, Kent, delivering government-funded apprenticeship programmes and professional qualifications across 21 occupational areas including education, health and social care, business and finance, hospitality, digital, and media. The organisation operates as a registered UK Learning Provider (UKPRN: 10047966), an Ofsted-regulated training provider, a Pearson Edexcel approved centre for BTEC qualifications, and a Trinity College London registered exam centre (Centre No. 68672) for Secure English Language Tests (GESE/ISE) used in UK visa applications. It also offers an international Study Abroad service targeting prospective students across multiple geographies.

LDB's core technology is a blended learning platform that combines classroom instruction with remote/online delivery, supplemented by an apprenticeship management system covering training plans, progress tracking, employer communication, and end-point assessment coordination. The company sells through four distribution channels: direct student enrollment via online application forms, an employer partnership programme for apprenticeship recruitment, an international study abroad service, and an e-commerce storefront (WooCommerce) with PayPal and Buy Now Pay Later (PayL8r) payment options. Revenue is generated through government and employer-funded apprenticeship delivery (subscription/recurring), one-time professional course fees (BTEC, diplomas, functional skills, Access to HE), English language testing fees for SELT, and tiered study abroad service fees ranging from £350 to £1,200. LDB employs 51–100 staff and serves a hybrid customer base comprising individual learners/apprentices (D2C), UK employers seeking apprenticeship recruits or workforce upskilling (B2B), and international students/professionals (geographic segment).

Name

Learning And Development Bureau

Legal name

Learning and Development Bureau

Website

https://learninganddevelopmentbureau.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Learning and Development Bureau is a UK-based training provider delivering government-funded apprenticeships across 21 sectors, professional qualifications (BTEC, NVQ, Access to HE), and SELT English language testing, serving individual learners, UK employers, and international students through blended learning.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)

Keywords

• Vocational apprenticeship training
• Professional qualifications courses
• Employer apprenticeship programmes
• English language testing services
• Study abroad advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship Training Services: Government-funded and employer-funded apprenticeship programs delivering vocational training across multiple sectors including healthcare, education, business, and hospitality.
2. Professional Qualifications: Non-apprenticeship professional courses including BTEC, diplomas, and access to higher education programs for career advancement.
3. English Language Testing Services: Trinity College London registered exam centre offering GESE and ISE English language proficiency tests for UK visa and settlement purposes.
4. Study Abroad Services: International student recruitment and placement services with tiered pricing (Tier 1: £500, Tier 2: £400, Tier 3: £1200, Tier 4: £650, Tier 5: £350) covering admission, scholarship, and placement support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Learning and Development Bureau (LDB) is a UK government-registered training provider delivering apprenticeship programmes and professional qualifications across 21+ occupational areas including education, business and finance, hospitality, digital and media, and health and social care. The organisation also offers non-apprenticeship courses (BTEC HND/HNC, Functional Skills, Education and Training awards, Access to HE Diplomas), operates a Trinity College London registered Secure English Language Test (SELT) exam centre, and provides study abroad advisory services for international students. Training is delivered via a blended learning model combining classroom instruction with online components.

Product overview

Learning and Development Bureau (LDB) is a UK-based education and training provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of apprenticeship programmes and professional courses. The organisation operates two main product lines: (1) Apprenticeship Courses covering 21 occupational areas including education (Teaching Assistant, Learning and Skills Teacher, Assessor/Coach), business and finance (Assistant Accountant, Accounts/Finance Assistant, Payroll Administrator, IS Business Analyst, Data Analyst), hospitality (Commis Chef, Chef De Partie, Hospitality Manager), digital and media (Cyber Security Technician, Junior Content Producer, Junior Journalists, Publishing Assistant, Photographic Technician), and health and social care (Adult Care Workers, Lead Adult Care, Lead Practitioner in Adult Care, Leader in Adult Care, Healthcare Assistant Practitioners, Customer Services); and (2) Non-Apprenticeship Training Courses including functional skills in Maths and English, teacher training qualifications (Level 3 Award and Level 5 Diploma with QTS), Access to Nursing, Diploma in Adult Care, BTEC Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Business Management, and Pre-MBA Level 7 Diploma. The organisation also provides Study Abroad Services and employer apprenticeship recruitment and management services. Training is delivered via blended learning combining classroom and online instruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship Apprenticeship training for individuals seeking to work as qualified Teaching Assistants, Learning Support Assistants, or Specialist Support Assistants in Primary, Special, and Secondary education settings.
• Learning and Skills Teacher Level 5 Apprenticeship Pathway to becoming a UK qualified teacher for teaching young people and adults within the Education and Training Sector, including work-based training provision, further education, and adult education.
• Assessor/Coach Apprenticeship Training for individuals to become key learning support staff within the Education and Training Sector, working cooperatively with professionals to support learner development of vocational competence.
• Assistant Accountant Apprenticeship Apprenticeship training for roles such as Assistant Accountant, Trainee Accounting Technician, Accounts Clerk, and Finance Assistant positions.
• Payroll Administrator Level 2 Apprenticeship Apprenticeship training for Payroll Administrator, Payroll Junior, Payroll Assistant, and related payroll and reward administration roles.
• Accounts/Finance Assistant Apprenticeship Apprenticeship training for accounts and finance positions including Accounts Assistant, Accounts Payable Clerk, Finance Assistant, and Business Accounts Administrator roles.
• Commis Chef Apprenticeship Entry-level chef apprenticeship for individuals to kick-start their career, preparing food and carrying out basic cooking tasks under the supervision of a senior chef.
• Chef De Partie Apprenticeship Apprenticeship for experienced chefs responsible for running a specific section of the kitchen, also known as a station or section chef.
• Hospitality Manager Apprenticeship Management training apprenticeship for individuals working in management capacity across hospitality sectors including bars, restaurants, cafes, conference centres, hotels, and contract caterers.
• IS Business Analyst Apprenticeship Training for IS Business Analyst, IT Business Analyst, and Business Systems Analyst roles to improve organizational information systems.
• Data Analyst Apprenticeship Apprenticeship for Data Analyst, Data Manager, Data Scientist, and Data Architect roles involving managing, cleansing, and conducting analytical studies on data.
• Cyber Security Technician Apprenticeship Apprenticeship for Cyber Security Administrator, Incident Response Technician, and Junior Security Operations Centre Analyst roles providing first-line cyber security support.
• Junior Content Producer Apprenticeship Apprenticeship for Junior Content Producer and Creative Content Assistant roles developing content across digital, social media, broadcast, and print media.
• Junior Journalists Apprenticeship NCTJ Level 3 Diploma in Journalism apprenticeship for aspiring journalists creating news using words, pictures, and moving images for publication and broadcast.
• Publishing Assistant Apprenticeship Apprenticeship for Publishing Assistant, Editorial Assistant, Marketing Assistant, and related publishing roles across editorial, marketing, sales, and digital functions.
• Photographic Technician Apprenticeship Training for Assistant Photographer and Photographic Technician roles involving skilled work in the photographic industry.
• Adult Care Workers Apprenticeship Level 2 Diploma in Adult Care apprenticeship for frontline staff including Care Assistant, Support Worker, and Personal Assistant roles.
• Lead Adult Care Apprenticeship Level 3 Diploma in Care apprenticeship for Senior Care Worker, Care Supervisor, and Team Leader positions providing supervision and frontline leadership.
• Lead Practitioner in Adult Care Apprenticeship Level 4 Diploma in Care apprenticeship for Lead Practitioner roles in management positions covering care needs assessment, rehabilitation, and assistive technology.
• Leader in Adult Care Apprenticeship Level 5 Diploma in Care Leadership and Management apprenticeship for managers of community or residential-based services with responsibility for regulatory compliance and staff training.
• Healthcare Assistant Practitioners Apprenticeship Level 5 apprenticeship including Foundation Degree or Level 5 Diploma for Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare providing high-quality health and social care.
• Customer Services Apprenticeship Level 2 and Level 3 Customer Service Practitioner apprenticeship for skills in meeting customer demands and managing business services functions.
• Functional Skills Maths Functional Skills Maths courses from Entry level to Level 2, equivalent to GCSE Maths, for work, university admission, or skill improvement.
• Functional Skills English Functional Skills English courses from Entry level to Level 2, equivalent to GCSE English, for work, university admission, or literacy skill improvement.
• Level 3 Award in Education and Training Level 3 Award in Education and Training with progression pathway to Level 4 and Level 5 Qualified Teacher Status for post-16 teaching.
• Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training with Qualified Teacher Status Level 5 Diploma for UK qualified teacher status in Further Education Colleges, Adult and Community Centres, and private training organisations.
• Access to Higher Education Diploma - Nursing and Healthcare Access to Higher Education Diploma (Nursing) course for progression to nursing, social work, and healthcare degree programmes at UK universities.
• Diploma in Adult Care (Care NVQs) RQF Diplomas in Health and Social Care at Levels 2-5, recognized by care providers and the CQC, for qualification as a health and social care professional in the UK.
• BTEC Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Business Management Pearson BTEC Level 4 HNC and Level 5 HND qualifications in Business developing students' business skills and knowledge for the international business environment.
• Pre-MBA PEARSON BTEC Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Level 7 Extended Diploma as the first step toward MBA qualification, delivered through blended learning and awarded by Pearson.
• Study Abroad Services International student recruitment, internship, academic excursions, international workforce recruitment, tutoring and mentoring, foreign admissions, scholarship services, and professional examination liaison services.
• Employer Apprenticeship Services End-to-end apprenticeship programme support for employers including digital account setup, recruitment of quality apprentices, training delivery, and end-point assessment.
• Trinity College London SELT English Language Testing Trinity College London registered exam centre (Registration number: 68672) offering GESE and ISE English language proficiency tests approved as UK government Secure English Language Tests (SELT) for visa and settlement applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of apprentices go into work or further training following their apprenticeship

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pearson EdexcelcoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson Edexcel is the UK's largest awarding body providing BTEC qualifications. LDB delivers Pearson BTEC Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Business Management, Level 3/4/5 Education and Training awards, and Pre-MBA programmes. Quality is monitored through Pearson External Examiners and Annual Management Review.
• Trinity College LondoncoreTechnology or IntegrationTrinity College London is an international exams board. LDB operates as a registered exam centre (Registration number: 68672) for Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) and Integrated Skills in English (ISE), which are UK government-approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) for visa and settlement applications.
• PayL8r (Buy Now Pay Later)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPayL8r provides buy now pay later financing options for students, allowing them to spread the cost of courses over time through installment payments.
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)coreOthersLDB serves as a Trinity SELT Centre providing Secure English Language Tests (GESE and ISE) approved by the UK government for visa applications and settlement purposes.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lifetime Training: Major UK apprenticeship provider delivering programmes across health, hospitality, childcare, and active leisure sectors. Comparable as a direct competitor in the same government-funded apprenticeship model serving similar employer and learner segments.
• SR Apprenticeships: UK apprenticeship provider offering programmes in business administration, customer service, leadership, and digital skills. Comparable as a direct peer operating in the same government-funded apprenticeship market with similar learner-employer delivery model.
• Babington: UK apprenticeship training provider specialising in accountancy, financial services, and professional development programmes. Directly comparable as a government-registered apprenticeship provider with Pearson awarding body partnerships and a focus on professional-level qualifications.
• Skills Training UK: UK apprenticeship and traineeship provider delivering programmes across business, digital, and care sectors with a focus on supporting employers and learners. Directly comparable as a peer in the government-commissioned apprenticeship ecosystem.
• Remit Training: UK apprenticeship and traineeship provider focused on health, social care, dental, and business administration programmes. Comparable as a direct competitor offering apprenticeship pathways through blended learning with similar awarding body alignment.
• QA (QA Apprenticeships): One of the UK's largest apprenticeship providers with deep coverage across digital, technology, and business apprenticeships. Directly comparable as a UK government-commissioned apprenticeship training provider serving both employers and individual learners across multiple occupational areas.
• Aspire Training Team: UK apprenticeship and traineeship provider covering business, health & social care, childcare, and digital skills. Comparable as a direct competitor with similar apprenticeship portfolio breadth across sectors LDB serves.

Emerging players

• Multiverse: UK-based tech-enabled apprenticeship and professional training provider focused on digital and data apprenticeships. Comparable as an emerging tech-led disruptor in the same UK apprenticeship market, particularly competing for the digital/data apprenticeship standards LDB offers (Data Analyst, Cyber Security Technician).

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan UK: Large UK training and apprenticeship provider offering apprenticeship programmes, professional qualifications, and accountancy/financial services training. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same apprenticeship funding ecosystem with similar awarding body partnerships (e.g., ACCA, AAT).
• BPP Professional Apprenticeships: Established UK education group offering professional apprenticeships, accountancy, and law training. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same apprenticeship ecosystem, particularly for higher-level (Level 4–7) professional programmes akin to LDB's Pre-MBA and BTEC HND offerings.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bureaulearning
• Facebookfacebook.com/LearningandDevelopmentBureau2
• Instagraminstagram.com/learninganddevelopmentbureau20
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/learning-and-development-bureau

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Learning And Development Bureau