CT Skills
CT Skills is a UK-based, family-owned apprenticeship training and online education provider founded in 2001, headquartered in Beeston, Nottingham, serving employers and individual learners via government-funded apprenticeship programmes (Levels 2-5), accredited online courses, and free employer recruitment services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What CT Skills does
CT Skills is a UK-based apprenticeship training and online education provider founded in 2001 and headquartered in Beeston, Nottingham. The company operates three integrated service lines: work-based apprenticeship programmes delivered at Levels 2-5 across childcare/early years, business administration, and digital skills; accredited online courses for individual learners; and a free apprenticeship recruitment service for employers. Apprenticeship delivery is workplace-embedded, supplemented by monthly one-to-one online coaching sessions conducted via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or FaceTime, alongside a self-serve online learning platform. The company is family-owned and employs 101-250 staff, with leadership including CEO Alex Ford, COO Debbie Harris, and CFO Ralph Harris.
Revenue is primarily derived from government-funded training contracts — Department for Education apprenticeship funding via the Apprenticeship Levy, the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) for learners aged 19+, and Discretionary Learner Support. CT Skills reports a 97% learner recommendation rate and qualification achievement rates of 66.8-68.9%, positioned 9-17% above national averages. Distribution is split between a sales-led B2B motion targeting employers (direct outreach via LinkedIn and self-serve application portals) and a community-led brand presence across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram targeting individual learners and parents. The free recruitment service for employers is positioned as a differentiator versus competitors that monetise the same workflow.
The strategic posture is best characterised as steady-state UK vocational training operations rather than scale-up mode. There is no disclosed external funding, no acquisitions, and no IPO activity. The most recent observable move is the May 2026 appointment of Project Marketing Ltd as data processor for lead nurturing, indicating incremental investment in marketing operations. Customer logos span SMBs (Humberstone Park Day Nursery, Little Treacles, Hydrotec, Tag Sportswear), mid-market (Alloga), and public-sector employers (The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Gainsborough Nursery School), with operations deployed nationwide across England.
CT Skills firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CT Skills
- Legal name
- CT Skills Ltd
- Website
- https://ctskills.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CT Skills is a UK-based, family-owned apprenticeship training and online education provider founded in 2001, headquartered in Beeston, Nottingham, serving employers and individual learners via government-funded apprenticeship programmes (Levels 2-5), accredited online courses, and free employer recruitment services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CT Skills industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Services
- 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), Skills Assessment & Talent/Employability Testing Platforms (EDAFADAM), Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)
Keywords
Where CT Skills is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CT Skills business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government-Funded Apprenticeship Training: CT Skills delivers DfE-funded apprenticeship programmes where training costs are covered through the Apprenticeship Levy or government funding for eligible employers and learners. The company provides work-based learning programmes across various sectors including childcare, business administration, and other vocational areas.
- Adult Skills Fund (ASF) Training: DfE-funded courses for learners aged 19+ experiencing financial difficulties. The Discretionary Learner Support Fund helps cover travel costs, course resources, and exam fees for eligible learners.
- Recruitment Services: Free apprenticeship recruitment service connecting employers with candidates. Revenue is generated through government-funded training contracts rather than direct fees from employers.
- Online Courses: Accredited online courses available for individuals, with some courses offered free upon referral completion. Revenue supported by government funding for eligible learners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Recruitment Service for Employers |
| Other | Monthly | Apprentice Wages |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Online Courses |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CT Skills product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CT Skills delivers work-based apprenticeship programmes across sectors including Business Administration and Childcare (Early Years), accredited online courses for career development, and a free apprenticeship recruitment service that connects UK employers with candidates. Training is delivered through monthly 1-to-1 online sessions and workplace learning, with costs primarily covered by government funding through the Apprenticeship Levy and DfE Adult Skills Fund.
Product overview
CT Skills is a unified training and recruitment platform offering three core services: Apprenticeships (work-based learning programmes), Online Courses (accredited flexible learning), and Recruitment Services (free apprenticeship recruitment). The apprenticeship portfolio includes Business Administration and Childcare programmes across multiple qualification levels. Childcare apprenticeships span three levels (Early Years Practitioner Level 2, Early Years Educator Level 3, Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5), while Business Administration includes Level 3 Business Administrator. All apprenticeships combine practical workplace experience with structured off-the-job training. The platform is supplemented by Insights (educational content hub) and a Careers Hub providing career guidance resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Apprenticeships Work-based learning programmes combining on-the-job training with study, enabling individuals to earn while they learn and gain nationally recognised qualifications across various sectors. For employers and learners across England.
- Online Courses Accredited online learning programmes providing flexible, self-paced training for career development and continuous professional growth, available anytime, anywhere. For individual learners and employees seeking upskilling.
- Recruitment Services Free apprenticeship recruitment service connecting employers with motivated candidates, managing the end-to-end hiring process from vacancy advertising to candidate placement. For UK employers seeking apprentices.
- Business Administration Apprenticeship Structured apprenticeship programme developing organisation, communication, and problem-solving skills, leading to qualifications such as Level 3 Business Administrator. For employers and aspiring administrative professionals.
- Business Administrator Apprenticeship (Level 3) Level 3 qualification building knowledge and confidence in business operations, processes, and stakeholder management to support both individual progression and business performance.
- Childcare Apprenticeships Early years training programmes covering safeguarding, child development, and inclusive practice across three levels: Early Years Practitioner (Level 2), Early Years Educator (Level 3), and Early Years Lead Practitioner (Level 5). For nurseries, day care providers and early years settings.
- Early Years Practitioner Apprenticeship (Level 2) Level 2 apprenticeship focused on supporting children's learning, development and wellbeing in early years settings, with approximately 15 months duration.
- Early Years Educator Apprenticeship (Level 3) Level 3 apprenticeship developing capable early years professionals with knowledge of safeguarding, child development, and effective communication, lasting approximately 18 months.
- Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship (Level 5) Level 5 advanced apprenticeship strengthening leadership skills and supporting career progression into senior early years roles, with approximately 23 months duration.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94% of learners recommend CT Skills
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use CT Skills
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CT Skills technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
CT Skills partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Project Marketing LtdminorCT Skills has appointed Project Marketing Ltd as a Data Processor for contacting individuals who have expressed interest in CT Skills training courses, following up on enquiries, nurturing leads and remarketing CT Skills training products. Processing activities include outbound telephone calls, email follow-ups, and CRM-based engagement. All processing activities are governed by a contractual agreement and conducted in accordance with CT Skills' existing Data Protection Policy.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CT Skills competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- QA Ltd (QA Apprenticeships): A UK-based training provider specialising in technology, digital, and business apprenticeships, plus professional and short courses. Overlaps with CT Skills in business administration and digital skills apprenticeship delivery and employer recruitment support.
- Remit Training: A UK apprenticeship and training provider delivering programmes across business administration, childcare, and other vocational sectors. Directly comparable in government-funded apprenticeship model and employer-led recruitment support to CT Skills.
- Lifetime Training: One of the UK's largest apprenticeship and training providers, delivering government-funded apprenticeships across multiple sectors including childcare, business administration, and healthcare. Direct competitor in the same apprenticeship delivery model with similar employer-targeted recruitment support.
- Learning Curve Group: A large UK training provider offering apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, and online learning programmes across multiple sectors. Competes directly with CT Skills in apprenticeships and online short courses, with overlapping sector coverage.
Broad incumbents
- Kaplan UK: A large UK training and education provider offering apprenticeships, professional qualifications, and online courses. Overlaps with CT Skills' apprenticeship and online course offerings, but with a much larger and more diverse portfolio.
- City & Guilds: A leading UK awarding organisation offering vocational qualifications and apprenticeship End Point Assessment services. Overlaps with CT Skills' apprenticeship delivery and EPA pathway, though operates more as a certification body than a direct training provider.
- Babcock Training (Babcock International): A major UK apprenticeship and skills training provider operating across defence, public services, and commercial sectors. Much larger scale and broader portfolio than CT Skills, but overlaps significantly in apprenticeship delivery and government-funded training.
- BPP Professional Education: A UK-based professional education provider offering apprenticeships, professional qualifications, and degree programmes. Overlaps in apprenticeship delivery and online learning for working professionals, though with a broader higher-education orientation.
- Reed (Reed in Partnership / Reed Recruitment): A major UK recruitment and workforce solutions firm that also runs government-funded apprenticeship programmes. Overlaps with CT Skills' recruitment arm and apprenticeship delivery, though it operates a significantly broader recruitment and staffing portfolio.
Emerging players
- Firebrand Training: A UK-based accelerated IT and digital skills training provider offering apprenticeships and short courses. Partial overlap with CT Skills' digital skills development segment and online course offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CT Skills social profiles
Digital presenceCT Skills financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CT Skills leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
CT Skills funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CT Skills M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CT Skills
What does CT Skills do?
CT Skills delivers work-based apprenticeship programmes across sectors including Business Administration and Childcare (Early Years), accredited online courses for career development, and a free apprenticeship recruitment service that connects UK employers with candidates. Training is delivered through monthly 1-to-1 online sessions and workplace learning, with costs primarily covered by government funding through the Apprenticeship Levy and DfE Adult Skills Fund.
Is CT Skills a public or private company?
CT Skills is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was CT Skills founded?
CT Skills was founded in 2001. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CT Skills based?
CT Skills is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does CT Skills make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government-Funded Apprenticeship Training is the primary driver. The others are adult Skills Fund (ASF) Training, recruitment Services and online Courses.
Who are CT Skills's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are QA Ltd (QA Apprenticeships), Remit Training, Lifetime Training and Learning Curve Group. Broad incumbents are Kaplan UK, City & Guilds, Babcock Training (Babcock International), BPP Professional Education and Reed (Reed in Partnership / Reed Recruitment). Firebrand Training is listed as an emerging player.
Does CT Skills have an API?
No public API is recorded for CT Skills.
What industry is CT Skills in?
CT Skills's product category is Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Services. 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.