Skills Group
Skills Group is a Plymouth-based vocational training provider delivering apprenticeships, full-time courses, and study programmes across six sectors for learners aged 16-24. Revenue is primarily government-funded through apprenticeship schemes and 200+ regional employer partnerships across Devon and Cornwall.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersPlympton, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Skills Group does
Skills Group is a private vocational training provider headquartered in Plympton, Plymouth, United Kingdom, in operation since 1998 under the legal name 'Skills to Group Limited' (registered in England and Wales, company number 02875213). The company delivers apprenticeships, full-time vocational courses, and pre-apprenticeship Study Programmes across six sectors — Automotive, Business Administration, Childcare, Construction, Hairdressing, and Teaching & Education — at qualification levels ranging from Level 2 to Level 3. Delivery combines face-to-face instruction at purpose-built training facilities in Plymouth (8-9 Derry's Cross, PL1 2SG) and Plympton (Western Wood Way, PL7 5BG) with online learning components and workplace placements across a network of over 200 regional employer partners in Devon and Cornwall.
The business model is built on government-funded apprenticeship training. For non-levy paying employers (annual pay bill under £3 million), 95–100% of training fees are funded by the Government depending on business size and apprentice age, with a 5% employer co-contribution for apprentices aged 22 and over. Levy-paying employers fund training through their 0.5% apprenticeship levy contribution. Additional funding flows from the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund. The company also serves levy-paying employers with organisational training analysis, bespoke apprenticeship design, and dedicated business advisor account management. A dual-sided go-to-market recruits learners aged 16–24 through school partnerships, community engagement, open days, and parent-facing content, while employer relationships are built via direct outreach and dedicated account management.
Customer concentration is broad — over 200 employer partners are predominantly small and micro businesses (salons, garages, construction firms, childcare settings), and learner cohorts are funded through government streams rather than enterprise contracts. The company holds an OFSTED 'Good' rating, the AAC Awards Construction Apprenticeship Provider of the Year 2019/20, and is the first training provider in Devon and Cornwall to achieve membership of the Chartered Institution for Further Education. Operations are concentrated entirely in the South West of England; there is no evidence of international or national geographic expansion.
Skills Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skills Group
- Legal name
- Skills to Group Limited
- Website
- https://skillsgroupuk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Skills Group is a Plymouth-based vocational training provider delivering apprenticeships, full-time courses, and study programmes across six sectors for learners aged 16-24. Revenue is primarily government-funded through apprenticeship schemes and 200+ regional employer partnerships across Devon and Cornwall.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skills Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Training and Apprenticeships
- NAICS
- Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Experiential Learning & Internships/Co-ops (EDALABAG)
Keywords
Where Skills Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plympton
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Skills Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Government-Funded Apprenticeship Training: Skills Group generates revenue primarily through government-funded apprenticeship programmes. For non-levy paying employers (annual pay bill under £3 million), 95-100% of apprenticeship training fees are funded by the Government depending on business size and apprentice age. For levy-paying employers, training is funded through their levy contributions.
- Employer Co-Contribution: Non-levy paying employers contribute 5% towards training and assessment costs for apprentices aged 22 and over, with the government covering the remaining 95%. This creates a predictable revenue stream from employer partnerships.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Skills Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skills Group delivers apprenticeships and full-time vocational courses across the South West of England, partnering with 200+ regional employers to provide workplace training across Automotive, Construction, Hairdressing, Childcare, Business Administration, and Teaching sectors. The company operates state-of-the-art training facilities in Plymouth and Plympton, offering industry-recognised qualifications from Level 2 to Level 3 alongside pre-apprenticeship Study Programmes and comprehensive learner support including SEND services.
Product overview
Skills Group is a vocational training provider specialising in apprenticeships and full-time courses across the South West of England. The organisation operates a multi-product portfolio consisting of its core apprenticeship programmes spanning Automotive, Business Administration, Childcare, Construction, Hairdressing, and Teaching & Education sectors at various qualification levels (Level 2-3). Supporting these core offerings are pre-apprenticeship Study Programmes in Hairdressing, Construction, Child Care, and Automotive designed to prepare learners who need additional foundation training before committing to apprenticeships. The company also provides comprehensive learner support services including SEND support, safeguarding, and pastoral care. Skills Group partners with over 200 regional employers to deliver workplace training and utilises state-of-the-art training facilities in Plymouth and Plympton for practical skills development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Apprenticeships Vocational apprenticeship programmes combining practical work experience with structured learning, enabling learners aged 16-24 to earn while they learn and gain industry-recognised Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications across Automotive, Business Administration, Construction, Hairdressing, Childcare, and Teaching & Education sectors. Delivered in partnership with 200+ regional employers across Devon and Cornwall.
Quantifiable outcome
- Many apprentices progress onto management positions or start their own businesses employing apprentices themselves
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Skills Group
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Skills Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Skills Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Education and Skills Funding AgencycoreGovernment body that funds apprenticeship training. Skills Group receives government funding through this agency for apprenticeship delivery.
- European Social FundcoreEuropean funding body co-contributing to Skills Group's training programmes and apprenticeship initiatives.
- 200+ South West EmployerscoreRegional employer network across Devon and Cornwall including construction companies, automotive garages, hairdressing salons, childcare settings, and schools. Employers provide workplace training opportunities and often hire apprentices upon completion.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights4 records
Skills Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baltic Apprenticeships: National independent apprenticeship provider delivering programmes across sectors including construction, automotive, business and care. Comparable business model of placing apprentices with regional employers and providing funded training.
- Lifetime Training: One of the UK's largest independent apprenticeship providers, offering training across multiple sectors to learners and employers nationwide. Directly comparable as an apprenticeship training provider serving both learners and levy-paying employers.
- Estio Training: UK apprenticeship provider with a strong digital/tech and business administration focus, offering Level 3-4 apprenticeships. Comparable as a regional-to-national apprenticeship training business serving both levy and non-levy employers.
- Paragon Skills: Independent UK apprenticeship provider delivering programmes across care, business administration, dental and other sectors. Comparable as a similarly sized independent apprenticeship training business operating on government-funded contracts.
Regional players
- Weston College: Further education college in Somerset offering apprenticeships across construction, automotive, care and business. Comparable as a neighbouring South West training institution targeting similar vocational sectors and employer base.
- Exeter College: Further education college in Devon offering vocational courses and apprenticeships across multiple sectors. Comparable as a South West-based training provider competing for the same regional learner and employer pool.
- Truro and Penwith College: Cornwall-based further education college delivering vocational courses and apprenticeships. Comparable as a directly overlapping training provider within the same Devon and Cornwall catchment area.
Broad incumbents
- QA Apprenticeships: One of the UK's largest apprenticeship and tech training providers, formed in part by acquisition of WhiteHat. Comparable as a large multi-sector apprenticeship provider with a hybrid digital/classroom delivery model.
- Kaplan UK: Large established education and training provider offering apprenticeships, professional qualifications and accountancy training. Comparable as a multi-sector apprenticeship provider with broader portfolio than Skills Group.
- City & Guilds: Major UK vocational awarding body and training provider delivering apprenticeships and technical qualifications across industries. Comparable as a sector-spanning apprenticeship and vocational training organisation, though it operates at substantially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Skills Group social profiles
Digital presenceSkills Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skills Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Skills Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skills Group 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 Skills Group
What does Skills Group do?
Skills Group delivers apprenticeships and full-time vocational courses across the South West of England, partnering with 200+ regional employers to provide workplace training across Automotive, Construction, Hairdressing, Childcare, Business Administration, and Teaching sectors. The company operates state-of-the-art training facilities in Plymouth and Plympton, offering industry-recognised qualifications from Level 2 to Level 3 alongside pre-apprenticeship Study Programmes and comprehensive learner support including SEND services.
Is Skills Group a public or private company?
Skills Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Skills Group founded?
Skills Group was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Skills Group based?
Skills Group is headquartered in Plympton, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Skills Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government-Funded Apprenticeship Training is the primary driver. The others are employer Co-Contribution.
Who are Skills Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Baltic Apprenticeships, Lifetime Training, Estio Training and Paragon Skills. Regional players are Weston College, Exeter College and Truro and Penwith College. Broad incumbents are QA Apprenticeships, Kaplan UK and City & Guilds.
Does Skills Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skills Group.
What industry is Skills Group in?
Skills Group's product category is Vocational Training and Apprenticeships. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAL, Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services. Its NAICS code is 611513 and its SIC code is 8200.