21 Training

Name

21 Training

Legal name

21 Training

Website

https://21.training

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Construction, Engineering & Skilled Trades Licensure Prep (EDAAANAL)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Apprenticeship programmes
• Work-based learning
• School leaver training
• Employer training partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Strabane

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-funded training programmes: Revenue primarily from government-funded programmes including Apprenticeships NI (Department for the Economy funding) and Skills for Life and Work. Employers receive incentive payments of £558-£837 per apprentice for successful completion. Additional grants available through Apprenticeship Recovery Package.
2. European Social Fund (ESF) / NI ESF: Co-funded by the European Union and Northern Ireland Executive through the European Social Fund for employment and training initiatives across Northern Ireland.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

21 Training is a Northern Ireland vocational training organisation that delivers work-based apprenticeship programmes (Apprenticeships NI at Level 2 and Level 3) for employers and employees, alongside the Skills for Life and Work programme for school leavers aged 16-17 and the GROW Partnership. All programmes deliver nationally recognised qualifications across 16 vocational sectors including Hair & Beauty, Construction, Hospitality, IT, Business Administration, Health & Social Care, and more, primarily funded by the Department for the Economy and the European Social Fund.

Product overview

21 Training is a vocational training organisation offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes for school leavers, job seekers, employers, and employees across Northern Ireland. The core offerings consist of Apprenticeships NI (work-based training for employees at Level 2 and Level 3) and the Skills for Life and Work Programme (for young people aged 16-17 building work qualifications). Supporting services include the Moodle e-learning platform, Summer Camp for NEET youth, Essential Skills tutoring, and a Jobs Near You placement service. All programmes deliver nationally recognised qualifications across 16 vocational areas including Hair & Beauty, Construction, Hospitality, IT, Business Administration, and Health & Social Care. The GROW Partnership enables expanded geographic reach across five Northern Ireland locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Apprenticeships NI A work-based training programme designed around employer needs, offering recognised Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications for new and existing employees across 16 vocational areas including Hair & Beauty, Construction, Hospitality, IT, Business Administration, Management, and Health & Social Care. Targets Northern Ireland employers seeking to recruit or upskill staff, with incentive payments of £558-£837 per apprentice on successful completion.
• Skills for Life and Work Programme A programme for young people aged 16-17 (or 16-22 for those with educational statements/disabilities) who have left school and need work experience and qualifications. Delivers nationally recognised qualifications across 16 vocational areas with additional benefits including a £100 sign-up bonus, £40 weekly EMA, travel expenses, breakfast and lunch, and 10 free driving lessons.
• Training For Success Training programme for school leavers and those under 18, providing education, training and employment opportunities. Includes vocational qualifications and career support.
• GROW Partnership A training and employment partnership providing improved training opportunities for young people and the unemployed across Northern Ireland, extending reach to all five office locations.
• Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing Qualification programme for school leavers and those under 18 pursuing a career in fitness instructing, covering gym-based exercise coaching and programme planning.
• Summer Camp 2022 Free summer camp programme for young people aged 16-24 not in education, training or employment, covering Creative and Digital Arts, VR & Gaming, Music Production, and Drone Academy.
• Vocational Qualification Areas Training programmes delivered across 16 vocational sectors: Agriculture & Land, Business Administration, Childcare, Construction, Creative Arts & Media, Finance, Hair & Beauty, Health & Social Care, Hospitality, IT & ICT Services, Manufacturing & Process, Retail & Customer Care, Sports & Leisure, and Transport & Distribution.

Quantifiable outcome

• Employers receive £558-£837 incentive payment per apprentice who successfully completes Apprenticeship NI programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Strabane Training Services Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2020Strategic alliance merger between Customized Training Services and Strabane Training Services Ltd. to create a stronger training and employment partnership. Combined operations cover Strabane, Derry, Coleraine, Omagh, and Enniskillen. Mia Coyle (formerly General Manager of Strabane Training Services) became Managing Director.
• Kieran Kennedy (Chairman)coreOthersKieran Kennedy, Managing Director of O'Neills Irish International Sports Company Ltd and board member of Invest NI, serves as Chairman of 21 Training. Over 30 years of board experience with Strabane Training Services.
• Department for the Economy (DfE)coreOthersDfE funds Apprenticeships NI programme and Apprenticeship Recovery Package in Northern Ireland. Provides incentive payments to employers and training organisations.
• GROW PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelf-described as delivering 'Apprenticeships NI, Skills for Life and Work and the GROW Partnership'. Nature of GROW Partnership not fully detailed in available sources.
• The Fir TreesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fir Trees酒店与21 Training合作举办Taste of the Future Hospitality Careers活动,提供客户服务业和厨师学徒的机会。
• NI Business InfominorOthersReference partner for Apprenticeship Return, Retain and Result Scheme information and recruitment of new apprenticeships scheme details.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• South West College: Northern Ireland further education college with overlapping sites in Omagh and Enniskillen — two of 21 Training's five locations. Offers apprenticeship pathways and vocational training across similar sectors, making it a direct local competitor for both public-funded learners and employer apprenticeship contracts.
• Southern Regional College: Newry-based further education college operating across the Southern Trust area of Northern Ireland. Delivers Apprenticeships NI frameworks and vocational training, and is part of the same publicly-funded college network competing with 21 Training for DfE training contracts.

Direct peers

• People 1st International: UK sector skills organisation focused on hospitality, retail, and passenger transport workforce development. Delivers apprenticeships and vocational qualifications across the same hospitality and retail sectors that 21 Training covers in its Skills for Life and Work programme.
• Estio Training: UK-based apprenticeship training provider specialising in digital/IT pathways. Comparable to 21 Training on apprenticeship delivery model, employer-funded revenue, and use of online learning platforms, with overlap on the IT vocational area within 21 Training's 16-sector curriculum.
• North West Regional College: Public further education college serving the same North West Northern Ireland catchment (Strabane, Derry/Londonderry, Limavady, Omagh) as 21 Training. Delivers Level 2/3 vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and Skills for Life and Work-equivalent programmes, directly competing for the same school-leaver and employer-sponsored apprentice funding.

Broad incumbents

• Belfast Metropolitan College: Largest further education college in Northern Ireland, offering a broad portfolio of vocational courses, apprenticeships, and employer-led training. Represents the largest NI incumbent public-sector competitor for apprenticeship delivery and a potential geographic expansion target for 21 Training.
• Babington: UK-based apprenticeship and professional training provider offering Level 2–7 programmes across accountancy, tax, leadership, and digital skills. Comparable to 21 Training's apprenticeship delivery model and B2B employer engagement motion, with a national footprint.
• Lifetime Training: One of the UK's largest private apprenticeship and commercial training providers, delivering Level 2–7 programmes across active leisure, childcare, dental, and health sectors. Comparable to 21 Training in apprenticeship business model and employer-funded delivery, but at materially greater UK-wide scale.
• Learning Curve Group: National UK education and training provider with a large apprenticeship portfolio, fully funded vocational programmes, and a Moodle-based online learning platform. Direct comparability on apprenticeship delivery, government-funded training streams, and LMS-based distance learning.

Others

• National Training Federation (NTF) members: Umbrella network of independent training providers in Northern Ireland delivering government-funded apprenticeships and skills training. 21 Training is a member-style peer to NTF-affiliated RTOs and competes head-to-head for many of the same DfE training contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/21training1
• Xx.com/21Training_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 21 Training