What Bond Solon Training does

Bond Solon Training is a UK-based professional training company founded in 1992 and operated as a division of Wilmington plc. It designs and delivers accredited training courses, qualifications, and resources for non-lawyers operating within UK legal and regulatory frameworks, with a primary focus on expert witness preparation, investigations, witness familiarisation, health and social care, HR and employment, personal safety, and emergency planning. The product architecture combines standalone public courses (virtual and face-to-face) with two flagship university-certificated programmes — the Cardiff University Bond Solon (CUBS) certificate for England and Wales (established 2002) and the University of Aberdeen Bond Solon (UABS) certificate for Scotland (2015) — alongside the Advanced Professional Certificate in Investigative Practice (APCIP) and the National Register of University Certificated Expert Witnesses, which functions as a credentialed two-sided marketplace between certified experts and instructing law firms.

The company monetises through multiple channels: per-delegate public course fees (£275–£2,295+VAT), packaged university certification programmes (CUBS £2,065+VAT; UABS £1,815+VAT), bespoke in-house corporate training, licence-based e-learning (e.g., RIPA for Local Authorities, GDPR for Expert Witnesses Toolkit at £155+VAT), and the annual Expert Witness Conference (£325–£375+VAT per delegate). Distribution is sales-led with a professional enquiry-based funnel, supported by content marketing, the National Register as a self-serve discovery layer, SEO-optimised course pages, and active LinkedIn/X presence. The company holds ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications, operates across offices in London and Birmingham under Wilmington plc corporate infrastructure, and reports 23,000+ professionals trained and 4,130 courses delivered in the last year across 200+ course titles.

Name

Bond Solon Training

Legal name

Bond Solon Training Limited

Website

https://bondsolon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bond Solon Training, founded in 1992 and part of Wilmington plc, is the UK's leading provider of legal and regulatory training for non-lawyers, delivering expert witness certification (CUBS/UABS), investigations training (APCIP), witness familiarisation, and 200+ courses to professionals across England, Wales, and Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Investigations, Interviewing & Surveillance Training (BPAKAOAI), Private Security, Guarding & Patrol Training (EDAOAMAF)

Keywords

• Expert witness training
• Investigations training
• Legal training courses
• University certification programmes
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Training Courses: Individual courses delivered virtually or face-to-face to delegates. Prices range from £275 to £2,295+VAT depending on course duration and complexity. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. University Certification Programmes: Comprehensive certificate programmes (CUBS, UABS) combining multiple training courses with formal university assessment and certification. CUBS costs £2,065+VAT when booked together; UABS costs £1,815+VAT. Includes marking and certification fees.
3. E-learning Courses: Online self-paced courses including GDPR for Expert Witnesses Toolkit (£155+VAT) and RIPA for Local Authorities. Prices dependent on number of licences required for organizational clients.
4. In-house/Corporate Training: Tailored training delivered at client organisations. Quotes provided based on requirements, duration, and group size. Covers all subject areas including expert witness, investigations, HR, health and social care, and personal safety.
5. Annual Expert Witness Conference: The UK's largest expert witness conference held annually in November. Revenue from delegate fees: £375+VAT (in-person) and £325+VAT (virtual). Last year over 750 experts attended.
6. National Register Listing: Free listing for CUBS and UABS certificate holders. The register provides a platform for experts to promote their services to law firms and instructing parties seeking quality-assured expert witnesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bond Solon Training designs and delivers professional training courses, university-certificated qualifications, and resources for non-lawyers operating in legal and regulatory contexts. Its core offerings span expert witness training (including CUBS and UABS university certificates), investigations training (including the APCIP qualification), witness familiarisation services, health and social care training, HR/employment law training, personal safety training, and an annual expert witness conference.

Product overview

Bond Solon Training is a professional training company operating as part of Wilmington plc, offering an extensive portfolio of training courses, qualifications, and resources across multiple core sectors. The company operates a platform-plus-modules architecture with five primary product lines: Expert Witness Training (the company's flagship offering including CUBS and UABS university certificates, courtroom skills, report writing, and the National Register of certified experts), Investigations Training (covering investigative interviewing, RIPA, APCIP qualification, and specialist courses like Achieving Best Evidence and Cognitive Interviewing), Witness Familiarisation Services (court preparation for individuals giving evidence), Health and Social Care Training (covering England and Wales with specialist courses including Best Interest Assessor training), and HR/Development Training (including employment law and SHRM certification). Additional offerings include Personal Safety Training (conflict management and control and restraint), Emergency Planning, and Complaints Handling (including CHIA qualification). The company also hosts the Annual Expert Witness Conference, the UK's largest gathering of expert witnesses. Over 30 years of operation, Bond Solon has trained over 23,000 professionals in the last year across more than 200 different courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Register of University Certificated Expert Witnesses: A directory listing experts who have successfully completed the Cardiff University Bond Solon (CUBS) or University of Aberdeen Bond Solon (UABS) Expert Witness Certificate.

Products and services

• Expert Witness Training Comprehensive training programmes for professionals seeking to become expert witnesses, covering report writing, courtroom skills, cross-examination preparation, and law and procedure courses across civil, criminal, and family law domains.
• CUBS (Cardiff University Bond Solon) Expert Witness Certificates University-certificated expert witness qualifications established in 2002, widely regarded as the industry gold standard for expert witnesses in England and Wales. Includes Civil, Criminal, and Family Law certificates with 5 days of training and 3 assessments.
• UABS (University of Aberdeen Bond Solon) Expert Witness Certificate The first university-certificated expert witness training programme in Scotland, developed with the University of Aberdeen. Includes 4 days of training and 3 assessments for experts practising in Scottish courts.
• National Register of University Certificated Expert Witnesses A free online directory listing experts who have completed CUBS or UABS Expert Witness Certificates, providing a platform for law firms and instructing parties to find vetted, quality-assured expert witnesses.
• Annual Expert Witness Conference The UK's largest gathering of expert witnesses, held annually in November at Church House Westminster, with virtual attendance option. Features high-profile speakers including judges and barristers, specialist parallel sessions, and the CUBS/UABS Certificate Awards Ceremony.
• Investigations Training Training and qualification programmes enabling investigators and regulators to conduct investigations to best practice standards. Covers regulation and enforcement, conduct and employment, health and safety, covert and intelligence, fraud and loss, and includes the APCIP qualification.
• Advanced Professional Certificate in Investigative Practice (APCIP) The leading investigative qualification in the UK, trusted by major companies, government departments, and public bodies. Over 7,500 certified investigators across the public and private sector. Covers essential knowledge, skills, and competencies for conducting investigations to best practice standards.
• Witness Familiarisation Support and guidance services for individuals preparing to give evidence in court, inquiries, or tribunals. Includes training, refresher courses, court visit services, and follow-up cross-examination support.
• Health and Social Care Training Specialist training for health and social care professionals in England and Wales. Covers health courses, adult and children social care courses, Best Interest Assessor (BIA) training, complaints handling, and personal safety.
• HR and Development Training Training covering international employment law, HR performance management, and people development skills. Includes Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification preparation courses.
• Personal Safety Training Training courses for staff who may face conflict and aggression when dealing with the public. Includes conflict management, de-escalation techniques, breakaway techniques, and control and restraint training.
• Emergency Planning Training Courses covering emergency planning, business continuity, crisis management, and risk assessment designed to comply with the UK's Civil Contingencies Act and relevant legislation.
• Complaints Handling Training Training for conducting thorough complaints investigations to improve service delivery and customer confidence. Includes the CHIA (Complaints Handling and Investigation) qualification recognised by regulators across multiple sectors.
• RIPA for Local Authorities E-learning Cost-effective e-learning solution with role-specific modules covering the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Includes interactive exercises, videos, quizzes, and a reporting tool to monitor training completion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23,000+ professionals trained in the last year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cardiff UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive university partnership for the Cardiff University Bond Solon (CUBS) Expert Witness Certificate programme. Established in 2002. Cardiff University assesses and deems experts competent to act as expert witnesses. The programme is widely regarded as the industry gold standard for England and Wales. Over 3,000 experts have completed or are undertaking the certificate. Certificate holders can join the National Register for free.
• University of AberdeencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the University of Aberdeen Bond Solon (UABS) Expert Witness Certificate programme - the first university-certificated expert witness training programme in Scotland. University of Aberdeen assesses and certifies experts. Upon completion, certificate holders can join the National Register for free.
• Wilmington plccoreOthersParent company. Bond Solon Training Limited is a division of Wilmington plc. Wilmington provides corporate infrastructure, Data Privacy Officer, group privacy policy, copyright notice, and operational support. Registered office: Suite 215/216 Fort Dunlop, 2nd Floor, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B24 9FD.
• Expert Witness (Lead Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLead sponsor of the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Expert Witness InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• The Intermediary CooperativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Psychology & Psychiatry DirectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• MAPS MedicalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Crofton Medical Reports LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Speed MedicalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Premex PlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Carter BrownminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Expert Witness GatewayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibitor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Expert Genie ProminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.
• Witness ConnectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor at the Annual Expert Witness Conference 2026.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Compliance Association (ICA): Global professional body offering accredited qualifications in compliance, AML, and financial crime investigations. Comparable because it sells certified, multi-format training programmes (classroom, e-learning, in-house) to corporate investigators and regulators — a buyer segment that overlaps with Bond Solon's APCIP customer base.
• The University of Law: The UK's largest provider of professional legal training and CPD for aspiring and practising lawyers. Comparable because it sells accredited, multi-format legal training (classroom, online, postgraduate) to the same UK professional buyer base that Bond Solon serves with its CUBS/UABS certificates and expert witness courses.
• BPP University Law School: Major UK legal and professional training provider offering LPC, SQE prep, and CPD courses. Comparable due to overlapping UK legal training market, multi-channel delivery (classroom, virtual, corporate), and similar reliance on professional accreditation as a buyer signal.

Others

• Reveal: Provider of digital forensics and investigations technology used by corporate and public-sector investigators. Comparable as an ecosystem participant in the UK investigations market — the same buyer base that Bond Solon's APCIP and Investigative Interviewing courses train.

Broad incumbents

• LexisNexis: Global legal information and research provider with a UK training and CPD offering. Comparable because it bundles legal know-how, procedural updates, and CPD-accredited training into subscriptions — competing for the same UK legal professional wallet share as Bond Solon's expert witness and procedure courses.
• Wolters Kluwer: Global professional information and compliance training provider (including CCH, Kluwer, and OneSumX). Comparable as a broad incumbent selling regulatory, compliance, and HR training to corporate and public-sector buyers — adjacent to Bond Solon's RIPA, HR/Employment Law, and Health & Social Care lines.
• College of Policing: UK professional body setting standards for policing, including investigative interviewing, RIPA authorisations, and Achieving Best Evidence training. Comparable due to overlapping curriculum in PEACE-model interviewing, RIPA, and Achieving Best Evidence — areas where Bond Solon's APCIP and Investigative Interviewing courses compete.
• Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx): UK professional membership body awarding legal qualifications and offering training pathways. Comparable because it issues credentialed qualifications recognised by courts and employers, overlapping with Bond Solon's CUBS/UABS positioning as a quality mark for legal-adjacent professionals.

Regional players

• Sancus Solutions: UK-based provider of regulatory and investigative training for local authorities and housing enforcement. Comparable due to direct overlap in rogue-landlord enforcement, RIPA, and statutory investigations training delivered to the same English local authority buyers.

Emerging players

• Intelligence with Innovating Minds (IIM): UK specialist in advanced interviewing techniques (PEACE, cognitive, suspect interview). Comparable as a niche competitor in the investigative interviewing training market that Bond Solon addresses through its Investigative Interviewing product family and APCIP qualification.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bondsolon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bond-solon-training

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Bond Solon Training