Skills for People

What Skills for People does

Skills for People is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1069993, company number 3487635) founded in 1983 and headquartered at 4 Glendale Terrace, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne. It supports disabled people, autistic people, and their families across North East England and Cumbria through a coordinated portfolio of services: a Keyworker Service for children and young people aged 0-25 at risk of hospital admission; sex and relationships courses; the Newcastle Families Advice and Support Team (FAST); family wellbeing workshops; Speaking Up Groups; Community Connectors; health education programmes; and an employment support service. It also works with family carers through peer support, Positive Behavioural Support training, and the Pass It On Parents Facebook group.

The organisation's institutional offering includes the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (Tier 1 and Tier 2 on learning disability and autism, delivered via the Good Life Collaborative), the Quality Checkers Training (based on the Keys to Citizenship framework, priced at 2,600 GBP per cohort), the Safe Places scheme, Easy Information accessible-format services, and consultation/engagement work. The technology layer is limited to a WordPress-based website with event management and compliance tooling; there are no proprietary digital products, apps, APIs, or AI components in scope. The Quality Checkers programme originated at the charity and is now delivered nationally, which is the clearest content-asset differentiator.

Skills for People operates on a non-profit model with two principal revenue streams: grant funding and contracts from local government and NHS partners (including Newcastle City Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, NENC ICB, and Tees Esk Wear Valleys NHS FT), and a smaller fee-for-service training line sold to NHS trusts, integrated care boards, local authorities, and care providers. Pricing is published on the website (Oliver McGowan Tier 1 at 25 GBP/person or 550 GBP/group, Tier 2 at 90 GBP/person or 1,750 GBP/group; Quality Checkers at 2,600 GBP per cohort of up to 20). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with direct service delivery through employed staff supplemented by self-advocacy groups and peer networks. In 2017 the charity merged with the Northeast Special Needs Network, and in 2025 a new Chief Executive, Scott Vigurs, was appointed.

Name

Skills for People

Legal name

Skills for People

Website

https://skillsforpeople.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Skills for People is a Newcastle-based UK charity, founded in 1983, that supports disabled people, autistic people, and their families across North East England and Cumbria through direct services, peer support, and paid training programmes for NHS and social-care organisations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability and social care support services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Learning disability training
• Social care support
• Family carer services
• Autism advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle Upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding and Contracts: Primary revenue from grants, contracts, and partnerships with local government (Newcastle City Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council), NHS bodies (North East and North Cumbria ICB, Tees Esk Wear Valleys NHS FT), and charitable trusts including National Lottery funding for specific projects like the Mind Body Planet project.
2. Training Services: Fee-for-service training programmes including Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (Tier 1 and Tier 2) and Quality Checker Training delivered to NHS and social care organisations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Skills for People is a UK registered charity (charity number 1069993) that delivers support, advice, training and advocacy services for disabled people (primarily those with learning disabilities and autistic people) and their families across North East England and Cumbria. Its portfolio spans direct one-to-one and group support for individuals, family carer advice services, statutory workforce training for NHS and social care organisations (including Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training and Quality Checker Training), and co-production/consultation work with councils and NHS bodies.

Product overview

Skills for People is a charity providing support services primarily in North East England and Cumbria for disabled people and their families. The organisation offers a coordinated portfolio of services including: Keyworker Service for children and young people (0-25) at risk of hospital admission; Sex and Relationships courses; Newcastle Families Advice and Support Team (FAST); Family Wellbeing Workshops; Speaking Up Groups for adults; Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (Tier 1 and Tier 2 for NHS and social care staff); Quality Checkers Training; Safe Places Scheme Support; Our Place, Our Say community events; Easy Information services; Community Connectors Programme; Health Education Programmes; and Employment Support Service. The organisation also provides workforce training and consultation services to NHS organisations, councils and care providers. Founded in 1983, the charity focuses on co-production and lived experience leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oliver's Training: Training services for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, delivered as part of the Good Life Collaborative.

Products and services

• Keyworker Service Supports children and young people aged 0-25 who are autistic or have a learning disability, and their families, when the young person may be at risk of hospital admission due to mental health challenges. Delivered in partnership with health, care, education and housing professionals.
• Sex and Relationships Courses Short courses providing accessible information on understanding bodies, consent, contraception and the law for young people with learning disabilities or autism.
• Newcastle Families Advice and Support Team (FAST) Helps families navigate education, health and social care services, providing simple, clear advice on school, health, housing and benefits, and assisting with forms and finding the right services.
• Family Wellbeing Workshops Workshops where family carers can learn about protecting their mental health and self-care techniques, including Positive Behavioural Support workshops.
• Speaking Up Groups Regular self-advocacy groups bringing adults with learning disabilities together to learn about their rights, gain confidence, and contribute to health and care service research.
• Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Government-recommended mandatory training on Learning Disability and Autism for health and social care staff, delivered as Tier 1 (interactive 1-hour webinar, £25 per person or £550 for a group of up to 30) and Tier 2 (full day face-to-face, £90 per person or £1,750 for a group of up to 30). Delivered as part of the Good Life Collaborative under the 'Oliver's Training' sub-brand.
• Quality Checkers Training

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of parent carers felt more confident supporting their child after PBS workshops
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Newcastle City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary local authority partner. Supports the Newcastle Families Advice and Support Team (FAST). Collaborates on community engagement initiatives including Newcastle's Big Conversation survey.
• North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS statutory body covering the region. Key partner in health and care service co-production and consultation activities including 'Our Place, Our Say' events.
• Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health and learning disability NHS trust. Partner in supporting people with mental health challenges and their families.
• Redcar and Cleveland Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner supporting Safe Places scheme, employment projects, and community engagement activities in the Tees Valley area.
• Good Life CollaborativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative of training providers. Skills for People is part of this group offering Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Tier 1 and Tier 2 to meet statutory requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Integrated Care: One of the UK's largest social care charities supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. Comparable regional delivery, council contracting model, and focus on person-centred support and advocacy.
• Sense: UK charity supporting people with complex disabilities including learning disabilities and autism, with services in communication, advocacy, and family support. Comparable model of combining direct service delivery with workforce training.
• Hft: National charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autistic people through supported living, day services, and family support. Directly comparable in mission, service mix, and reliance on local authority commissioning.
• Choice Support: Charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs across England. Overlaps directly on supported living, advocacy, family support, and employment services.
• United Response: UK charity providing person-centred support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. Similar regional delivery model and reliance on council/NHS contracts, plus employment and community connection services.
• KeyRing: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autism through community living, peer support networks, and self-advocacy. Closely comparable in mission and service categories such as Speaking Up Groups and Community Connectors.
• MacIntyre: National charity providing learning disability support, including children's services, family support, and supported employment. Highly comparable co-production ethos and regional service delivery footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: Largest UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities. Comparable as both organisations deliver direct services, advocacy, and training for people with learning disabilities and families, though Mencap operates at a national scale far beyond Skills for People.
• National Autistic Society: Largest UK charity for autistic people, providing services, training, and advocacy. Comparable on training delivery (autism awareness) and on adult/community services, though at much larger national scale.
• Leonard Cheshire: International charity supporting people with disabilities including learning disabilities, with services spanning employment, advocacy, and care. Comparable mission but broader disability scope and global footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/137546439656628
• Xx.com/skillsforpeople

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Skills for People