What UTN Training does

UTN Training, operating commercially as AFI Training, is the working-at-height training arm of AFI-Uplift Limited, a private limited company registered in England (Company No. 03539352) and headquartered in Normanton, West Yorkshire. Founded in 1996, the company delivers IPAF and PASMA accredited training courses for operators of Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) — including mobile scissor lifts, mobile boom lifts, and static booms — as well as mobile access tower assembly and usage certification. It operates 15 physical training centres across the United Kingdom, training 10,000+ candidates per year, and holds IPAF Approved Training Centre, PASMA, and CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO) accreditations that enable it to issue PAL cards and access grant funding of up to £140 per eligible candidate. Course delivery is primarily in-person and instructor-led, with e-learning variants available for select IPAF programmes (e.g., 3a+3b Operator, MEWP Spotter).

The revenue model is anchored on per-course, pay-as-you-go training delivery to a horizontally segmented base of construction, industrial, and facility management workers and their employers. Distribution combines a self-serve online booking and course-locator experience, business account onboarding for repeat corporate customers, and a phone-based callback sales function. Beyond training, the legal entity operates an integrated equipment hire business (AFI Rentals) covering scissor lifts, boom lifts, articulating booms, mast lifts, spider lifts, van mounts, truck mounts, and underbridge units, plus an equipment sales arm (AFI-Uplift / AFI Resale) offering new and used cherry pickers with finance lease, hire purchase, and operating lease options. This vertically integrated model — training plus rental plus equipment sales — captures wallet share across the working-at-height customer lifecycle. There is no disclosed revenue, no funding history, no M&A activity, and no management team information in the source material, and the company has no app, public API, or disclosed AI/ML capabilities.

Name

UTN Training

Legal name

AFI-Uplift Limited

Website

https://utntraining.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UTN Training (operating as AFI Training) is a UK-based accredited training provider delivering IPAF and PASMA working-at-height courses across 15 UK centres, training 10,000+ candidates annually, with integrated equipment hire and sales through affiliated AFI brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Occupational Safety Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI), Training Delivery Providers (In-Person, Virtual, Train-the-Trainer) (BPACANAM)

Keywords

• Working at height training
• IPAF operator certification
• PASMA tower training
• MEWP safety courses
• Access platform training

Headquarters

HQ city

Wakefield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Course Delivery: Revenue generated from delivering accredited IPAF and PASMA training courses at 15 UK training centres. Courses include operator training for various MEWP types (scissor lifts, boom lifts) and mobile access towers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UTN Training (doing business as AFI Training) is an IPAF and PASMA accredited working at height safety training provider, delivering certified operator, manager, and spotter courses for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) and mobile access towers. The company operates 15 training centres across the UK, training over 10,000 candidates per year, with select courses also offered via e-learning. Complementing the training, the wider AFI group also provides working at height equipment hire (scissor lifts, boom lifts, spider lifts) and cherry picker/access equipment sales with financing options.

Product overview

AFI Training (operating as AFI-Uplift Limited) offers a portfolio of accredited working at height training courses primarily in IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) and PASMA (Prefabricated Access Suppliers' Manufacturers' Association) categories. The core product consists of operator training courses for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) including scissor lifts, boom lifts, and static booms, complemented by mobile access tower training. E-learning versions are available for select courses. The company operates 15 training centers across the UK with a capacity of over 10,000 candidates annually. Additional services include equipment hire (scissor lifts, boom lifts, spider lifts, mast lifts, van mounts) and equipment sales with financing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AFI Rentals: Equipment rental brand for access platforms including scissor lifts, boom lifts, mast lifts, spider lifts, van mounts, truck mounts, and underbridge units.
• AFI-Uplift

Products and services

• IPAF Dual 3a 3b Operator

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFI Training is an IPAF Approved Training Centre, authorized to deliver IPAF operator training courses and issue PAL (Powered Access Licence) cards to qualified candidates. IPAF is the governing body for powered access equipment standards and training requirements globally.
• Prefabricated Access Suppliers' and Manufacturers' Association (PASMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFI Training is an accredited PASMA training provider, delivering Towers for Users and Combined Tower & Low Level Users courses with PASMA certification outcomes.
• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAFI Training is a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO), enabling eligible employers and individuals to access CITB grants of up to £140 for qualifying training courses, making certification more affordable for construction industry workers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Loxam Access (UK): Part of the Loxam Group, a major European equipment rental company, Loxam Access UK offers training alongside powered access rental. Comparable to AFI's integrated model but operating as part of a larger European platform with different geographic focus.

Direct peers

• HSS Training: HSS Training is one of the UK's largest providers of accredited health & safety, construction, and operator training, including IPAF and PASMA courses. Operates through a UK-wide network of training centres, directly competing with AFI Training in the same customer segments.
• Nationwide Platforms: Nationwide Platforms is a major UK powered access rental company that also delivers IPAF training through its own training centres. Closely comparable to AFI given the vertical integration of equipment hire and operator training.
• Brandon Hire Station Training: Brandon Hire Station operates a UK-wide equipment hire network and offers training including IPAF and PASMA courses. Comparable to AFI in combining equipment rental with operator certification training.

Broad incumbents

• Speedy Training Services: Speedy Services operates a UK-wide equipment hire and training business including IPAF and PASMA courses. Comparable to AFI's integrated training + rental model, but with a significantly larger and broader service portfolio.
• Sunbelt Rentals (UK) Training: Sunbelt Rentals is a major international equipment rental company providing training services in the UK through its network. Comparable to AFI in offering IPAF/PASMA training alongside powered access rental, but as part of a much broader global platform.

Emerging players

• CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme): CPCS is a CITB-administered competency scheme for plant operators that overlaps with elements of IPAF training. It is an adjacent credentialing scheme targeting similar construction operator audiences, representing both a complementary and competitive offering.
• Working at Height Training Specialists (WAHTS): A focused UK training provider specializing in working at height and IPAF/PASMA courses. Comparable to AFI in course offering but with a smaller regional footprint and no equipment rental arm.
• Safety & Access Ltd: Safety & Access Ltd is a UK-based specialist provider of IPAF, PASMA, and confined spaces training. Comparable to AFI as a focused training provider in the working at height niche, but smaller in scale.

Others

• CITB (Construction Industry Training Board): CITB is the UK statutory training body for construction that defines competency standards, administers grants, and runs its own apprenticeship and certification programs. It is an important ecosystem partner (AFI is a CITB ATO) and an indirect competitor through its own training offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/utn-training

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 UTN Training