People 1st

What People 1st does

People 1st is a Northern Ireland-headquartered vocational training and employment organisation, established in 1992 and operating across 15 offices in Northern Ireland (8 sites including Belfast, Lisburn, Lurgan, Newry, Portadown, and a CITB Construction Training Academy at Nutts Corner) and the Republic of Ireland (7 sites across County Donegal). The company delivers accredited NVQs, apprenticeships, and employability programmes across ten sectors — Health & Social Care, Childcare, Construction, Hospitality, Retail, Finance, Hair/Beauty, Business Administration, Team Leading & Management, and Transport & Distribution — serving school leavers aged 16–18, employed adults seeking qualifications, unemployed or economically inactive individuals, and employer organisations seeking to upskill staff.

The core product portfolio comprises Skills for Life and Work (a paid vocational alternative to A-Levels for school leavers), ApprenticeshipsNI / All-Age Apprenticeships (government-funded qualifications for individuals working 21+ hours/week), stand-alone Qualifications/NVQs at Levels 1–5, Short Business Courses, and Employment Academies delivered in partnership with local councils. Delivery combines face-to-face workshops at dedicated training facilities (including three fully-operational Hair/Barbering/Beauty salons and a professional catering kitchen), online sessions via Zoom, and workplace assessment visits by assessors. The technology backbone consists of online learning management and e-portfolio systems for course delivery and assessment tracking; the company holds Direct Claims Status with seven awarding bodies (NCFE CACHE, BIIAB, City & Guilds, OCNNI, SEG, ICQ, NOCN CSkills), enabling accelerated certificate processing.

Revenue is generated through three principal streams: government-funded programmes via All-Age Apprenticeships, Skills for Life and Work, and Labour Market Partnerships (Department for Communities funded); self-funded learner course fees ranging from £850 to £1,400 plus VAT, payable via card, cash, bank transfer, or monthly direct debit with a £100 deposit; and employer-sponsored training including on-site group delivery and apprenticeship programmes. The company is privately held and locally owned, with no disclosed parent, private equity, or venture capital backing.

Name

People 1st

Legal name

People 1st

Website

https://people-1st.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

People 1st is a Northern Ireland-founded vocational training organisation operating since 1992, delivering NVQs, apprenticeships, and employability programmes across 10 sectors to school leavers, employed adults, employers, and unemployed individuals through 15 offices in the UK and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Apprenticeship programmes
• Workforce skills development
• Accredited qualifications
• Employment academies

Headquarters

HQ city

Belfast

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

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. Government-funded training programmes: Fully-funded courses available for eligible learners through All-Age Apprenticeships programme (requiring 21+ hours/week employment) and Skills for Life and Work programme (for school leavers aged 16-18). Funding sourced from government departments and Labour Market Partnerships.
2. Self-funded course fees: Individual learners pay course fees directly. Payment options include card, cash, bank transfer, and monthly direct debit plans (with £100 deposit). Fees range from £850 to £1,400 plus VAT depending on qualification level.
3. Employer-sponsored training: Organizations sponsor employees through apprenticeship and business courses. Employers benefit from workforce upskilling while learners continue working. CCU Credit Union example shows employers providing bonus payments (£500) upon qualification completion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

People 1st is a vocational training organisation delivering accredited qualifications, apprenticeships, and employment-focused programmes across ten sectors including Health & Social Care, Childcare, Construction, Hospitality, Hair/Beauty, Retail, Finance, Business Administration, Team Leading, and Transport & Distribution. Core offerings include government-funded Skills for Life and Work programmes for school leavers, All-Age Apprenticeships (ApprenticeshipsNI) for working adults, individual NVQ qualifications at Levels 1-5, short business courses, and Employment Academies in partnership with local councils for unemployed individuals. Courses are delivered face-to-face at 15 regional offices, online via Zoom, or through workplace assessment at employer premises.

Product overview

People 1st is a locally-owned training organisation operating since 1992 with over 100 team members across 15 offices in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The company offers a unified portfolio of vocational training services comprising Skills for Life and Work programmes (alternatives to A-Levels for school leavers), ApprenticeshipsNI (All-Age Apprenticeships across 10+ sectors), Qualifications/NVQs (accredited vocational credentials at Levels 1-5), Short Business Courses, Employment Academies (in partnership with local councils), and specialised programmes for migrants and language learners. Their qualifications span Health & Social Care, Business Administration & IT, Finance, Retail & Customer Care, Hospitality & Catering, Construction & Building Services, Hairdressing & Beauty, Childcare Education & Play, Team Leading & Management, and Transport & Distribution sectors. Delivery combines face-to-face workshops, online Zoom sessions, and workplace assessment, with Direct Claims Status ensuring efficient certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Skills for Life and Work Vocational training programme for school leavers (16-18) providing alternatives to A-Levels, offering Level 1 and Level 2 NVQ qualifications while learners receive a £40 weekly allowance. Covers sectors including construction, retail, childcare, business admin, and hospitality. Free for eligible school leavers through government funding.
• ApprenticeshipsNI All-Age Apprenticeship programme allowing individuals aged 16+ working 21+ hours per week to access free qualifications across multiple sectors including Health & Social Care, Retail, Hospitality, Construction, Business Administration, Customer Service, and Management. Combines one day per week of training with workplace assessment.
• Qualifications/NVQs Wide range of accredited vocational qualifications across 10 sectors including Health & Social Care, Business Administration, Finance, Retail & Customer Care, Hospitality & Catering, Construction & Building Services, Hairdressing & Beauty, Childcare Education & Play, Team Leading & Management, and Transport & Distribution. Qualifications available at Levels 1 through 5 with self-funded pricing ranging from £850 to £1,400+VAT.
• Short Business Courses Flexible short courses designed for professional development and upskilling in business-related topics, available to employers and individual learners.
• Employment Academies Employment academies delivered in partnership with local councils (Belfast City Council, Ards and North Down, Derry & Strabane) providing short intensive training, industry-relevant qualifications, CV and interview preparation, mentoring, work placements, and direct employer connections for unemployed or economically inactive individuals. Includes up to 6 months of post-employment support.
• Republic of Ireland (R.O.I.) Programmes Training and qualification programmes delivered across the Republic of Ireland, particularly in County Donegal, for local residents seeking employment or career advancement. Delivered through 7 Republic of Ireland offices.
• Migrant Access Programme Specialised programme supporting migrants and new arrivals to Northern Ireland with language skills, employment guidance, and vocational training to help integrate into the local workforce.
• PEACEPLUS Employability Language Up Programme Language and employability skills programme funded through PEACEPLUS to support individuals in developing English language proficiency alongside job readiness skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• Direct Claims Status with all Awarding Bodies enables quicker certificate processing after course completion.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Belfast City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Academies partnership delivering training programmes for unemployed residents. Business Services Employment Academy delivered at Belfast City Council's Adelaide Street site with 5 days classroom training and 3 days work experience within the Council. Lord Mayor of Belfast personally presented certificates at Belfast City Hall event.
• Ards and North Down Labour Market PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabour Market Partnership delivering Employability Academies across the Ards and North Down Borough Council area. Academy includes short focused training courses, industry-relevant qualifications, CV and interview preparation, and direct links to local employers including St Mary's Primary School.
• Derry & Strabane Labour Market PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabour Market Partnership funded by Department for Communities. Delivering Derry Inclusive Employment Academy supporting residents with disabilities into IT, Finance, and Creative Media sectors. Includes one-to-one guidance, flexible mentoring, careers advice, qualifications, job matching, work placements, guaranteed interviews, and up to 6 months post-employment support.
• Stena LineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious Employment Academy partnership supporting careers in the maritime sector. Example of how the academies programme connects local employers with job seekers.
• Clonard Credit Union (CCU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership delivering NVQ Level 2 Customer Service Apprenticeship. CCU CEO awarded £500 bonus to each of three employees (Louise, Devon, JD) upon qualification completion. CCU operates Career Pathway Opportunities Programme with local educational providers.
• Belfast Business PromisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-wide accreditation scheme focusing on good jobs and fair wages, inclusive recruitment, prompt payment, social value, environmental impact, community partnerships, and staff wellbeing. People 1st achieved Member level accreditation evidencing 5 of 8 pledges.
• All-Age Apprenticeships (Northern Ireland)coreOthersGovernment-funded programme enabling free access to qualifications for individuals aged 16+ working 21+ hours per week in eligible sectors. People 1st is an approved provider delivering apprenticeship frameworks across multiple sectors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lifetime Training Group: One of the largest independent apprenticeship and vocational training providers in the UK, delivering funded apprenticeships and NVQs across multiple sectors — directly comparable to People 1st's apprenticeship and qualification portfolio, though operating at significantly larger scale across GB.
• Babington Training: UK apprenticeship and professional training provider with a strong focus on business administration, customer service, and management qualifications — overlapping with People 1st's apprenticeship offerings in the same NVQ/functional skills framework.
• HIT Training: England-based apprenticeship provider covering multiple sectors including health and social care, childcare, and management — comparable to People 1st in apprenticeship delivery and funded learner pathways.
• Learning Curve Group: UK-based training provider offering apprenticeships, funded programmes, and vocational qualifications to employed and unemployed learners across multiple sectors — closely matching People 1st's apprenticeship and employability academy model.

Regional players

• South West College: NI further education college offering vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and construction-focused training (CITB-aligned) — comparable to People 1st's apprenticeship and CITB construction academy delivery.
• Belfast Metropolitan College: Northern Ireland's largest further education college delivering vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and employability programmes across NI — competing directly with People 1st in the same Belfast catchment, often with state-subsidised zero-fee offerings.
• Southern Regional College: Further education college serving the southern NI region with vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and employer training — directly comparable to People 1st's Newry, Portadown, Lurgan, and Lisburn offices.

Broad incumbents

• Reed Learning: Workforce learning and development arm of Reed, the UK's largest recruitment group — comparable to People 1st in delivering employer-sponsored training, apprenticeships, and professional development at much larger scale.
• NCFE: Major UK awarding body and qualification designer that also partners with training providers — comparable as a back-end infrastructure player supporting vocational qualifications, including those People 1st delivers under NCFE CACHE.
• Kaplan UK: Large established UK provider of professional, vocational, and apprenticeship training — broader portfolio than People 1st but overlapping on apprenticeship frameworks and NVQ delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/People1stNI
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdkEmQDHqq0x0rrCaSRb8Gg
• Facebookfacebook.com/people1stNI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/people1stni
• Instagraminstagram.com/people1st_ni

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 People 1st