Digital Skills Academy

What Digital Skills Academy does

Digital Skills Academy is a Coventry-based digital training provider established in 2020 as a division of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC). It operates from the Coventry University Technology Park and delivers CompTIA-accredited IT courses (IT Fundamentals, A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, Cloud+, Linux+, PenTest+, Data+, Project+) alongside a progressive coding bootcamp pathway (Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Level 3) and a video games production bootcamp. Software developer apprenticeships (Level 4) and Software Development Technician apprenticeships are offered through a Business Engagement Team that works with regional employers. Course content for the Software Developer Bootcamp was developed with engineers from Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

The Academy's core business model is publicly-funded training. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) underwrites free provision for individuals aged 19+ living in eligible postcode areas (Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley), with the Academy's launch, site, and operations secured through a successful NWSLC-led funding bid. A fee-for-service tier ranging from £275 to £941 per CompTIA course applies to non-eligible learners, and Level 3 courses can be financed through Advanced Learner Loans. Employer-facing revenue flows through apprenticeships and on-site training delivery.

The Academy serves career starters and career changers in the West Midlands, with case studies showing transitions from engineering, logistics, healthcare interpretation, and administration into IT support and software development roles. Partnerships with Coventry University, Create Central (the regional games trade body), the Institute of Coding, and the Centre for Logistics Education and Research (CLEAR) extend its reach into the games, higher education, and logistics verticals. The Academy received the CompTIA Academic Newcomer of the Year award for Europe in 2020.

Name

Digital Skills Academy

Legal name

North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

Website

https://digital-skillsacademy.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Digital Skills Academy is a Coventry-based digital training provider, part of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, delivering CompTIA-accredited IT courses, coding bootcamps, and apprenticeships free of charge to West Midlands Combined Authority residents aged 19+, with fee-for-service courses for non-eligible learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Training & Digital Skills Education

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vendor/Authorized Certification Training (Microsoft/AWS/Cisco, etc.) (BPAEANAA), Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools) (EDABAFAA)

Keywords

• Digital skills training
• Coding bootcamps
• CompTIA certifications
• Cybersecurity training
• Software development apprenticeships

Headquarters

HQ city

Coventry

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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: Training funded by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for individuals aged 19+ living within eligible postcode areas. Courses are provided free of charge to eligible learners.
2. Fee-for-Service Training: For learners not meeting WMCA eligibility criteria, courses are available at various price points ranging from £275 to £941 depending on the CompTIA certification.
3. Advanced Learner Loans: For Level 3 courses not meeting free eligibility, learners can apply for government Advanced Learner Loans to cover course costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Digital Skills Academy delivers CompTIA-certified IT courses, multi-level coding bootcamps (Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced/Level 3), specialised bootcamps (video games production), and software development apprenticeships. Training is delivered online and at the Coventry University Technology Park campus, free to West Midlands Combined Authority postcode residents aged 19+, with employer apprenticeship packages offered as a separate business-to-business channel.

Product overview

Digital Skills Academy is a skills training provider offering a portfolio of CompTIA-certified IT courses, coding bootcamps, and apprenticeships. The CompTIA certification portfolio spans IT fundamentals, cybersecurity (Security+, CySA+, PenTest+), cloud computing (Cloud+, Cloud Essentials), server administration (Server+), Linux, data analytics (Data+, DataSys+), project management, business skills, and AI (AI Essentials, AI Prompting Essentials, SecAI+). The Coding Bootcamp series provides a progressive pathway from Beginners (2 weeks) through Intermediate (10 weeks) to Advanced (15 weeks, Level 3 NCFE Certificate), with additional specialised bootcamps in video games production. The apprenticeship programme offers Software Development Technician and Software Developer (Level 4) routes. All courses are delivered free to West Midlands Combined Authority postcode residents, with courses available online and at Coventry University Technology Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CompTIA AI Essentials (Essential Series) Foundational course covering how AI can be applied responsibly and effectively within modern organisations, exploring machine learning and generative AI technologies.
• CompTIA AI Prompting Essentials (Essential Series) Course validating ability to craft clear, effective, and responsible prompts to achieve accurate AI-generated outputs using large language models.
• CompTIA SecAI+ Cybersecurity certification covering defensive and operational security implications of AI, including securing AI pipelines and managing AI-driven threats.
• CompTIA A+ IT support certification covering hardware, software, operating systems, and troubleshooting skills for entry-level IT professionals.
• CompTIA Network+ Networking certification covering troubleshooting, configuring and managing networks including LANs, WANs, and intranets with cloud integration.
• CompTIA Security+ Vendor-neutral security certification validating baseline skills for core security functions including risk management, threat management and intrusion detection.
• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) Advanced certification applying behavioural analytics to networks and devices for continuous security monitoring, threat detection and response.
• CompTIA PenTest+ Offensive security certification focusing on penetration testing and vulnerability assessment skills for identifying network weaknesses.
• CompTIA Server+ Server administration certification validating skills in deploying, administering and maintaining server hardware and operating systems with high availability.
• CompTIA Cloud+ Cloud computing certification covering cloud architecture, deployment, operations, security, DevOps and troubleshooting across hybrid environments.
• CompTIA Cloud Essentials Foundational cloud computing course covering cloud concepts, service models, and business value of cloud adoption.
• CompTIA Linux+ Linux systems administration certification validating skills in configuring, managing, securing and troubleshooting Linux systems.
• CompTIA Data+ Data analytics certification validating skills in transforming business data into actionable insights covering data mining, analysis and visualisation.
• CompTIA DataSys+ Database systems certification validating skills in managing, administering and securing data systems across on-premises and cloud-based environments.
• CompTIA Data Analysis Essentials (Essential Series) Foundational data literacy course covering data collection, processing, analysis, visualisation and stakeholder communication.
• CompTIA Project+ Project management certification covering the entire project lifecycle from initiation through monitoring, control and closure.
• CompTIA Project Management Essentials (Essentials Series) Foundational project management course covering planning, scheduling, communication, risk management and stakeholder engagement.
• CompTIA Business Essentials (Essentials Series) Business fundamentals course covering professional communication, teamwork, problem-solving and customer-focused practices.
• CompTIA Soft Skills Essentials (Essentials Series) Course developing workplace soft skills including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and professional conduct.
• CompTIA Digital Literacy Pro (Pro Series) Digital literacy course improving understanding of digital technologies, online tools, cybersecurity awareness and safe digital practices.
• CompTIA Tech+ Entry-level IT certification serving as stepping stone to A+, covering computing, IT infrastructure, software, databases and security fundamentals.
• Beginners Coding Bootcamp Two-week introductory bootcamp to coding and software development covering digital safety, programming basics, webpage creation and collaborative working.
• Intermediate Coding Bootcamp Ten-week intensive bootcamp providing solid grounding in coding principles, terminology and design, focusing on JavaScript development.
• Advanced Coding Bootcamp (Level 3) 15-week advanced bootcamp with NCFE Level 3 Certificate covering coding requirements, planning, code design, implementation and testing.
• Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Cyber Security Entry-level cyber security qualification covering terminology, legal aspects, threats, security methods and collaborative working.
• Level 2 Digital Skills NCFE Level 2 qualification demonstrating understanding and competency in digital literacy skills including device protection and career progression.
• Software Developer Apprenticeship (Level 4) Level 4 apprenticeship building and testing quality code across front end, logic and database layers, with modules in software development methodologies and languages.
• Software Development Technician Apprenticeship Apprenticeship pathway into software development for individuals working or aspiring to work in coding roles across various industries.
• Video Games Production Bootcamp Five-week specialised bootcamp co-developed with Create Central covering video games production skills, with learners working on a live video game already in production.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free training for all eligible West Midlands residents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Create CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 September 2021West Midlands trade body set up to turbo-charge the region's film, TV and games industries. Partnership developed the video games production bootcamp. Create Central members are working to widen the talent pool in the games industry. The West Midlands has one of the UK's biggest games industry clusters outside London.
• CompTIAcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading technology industry association providing accreditation for the Academy's digital qualifications including IT Fundamentals, A+, Network+, Security+, CySA+, and specialized certifications. CompTIA provides academic partner status and certification curriculum standards.
• Coventry UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Skills Academy is based at Coventry University Technology Park campus in the heart of Coventry's technology zone. Partnership provides access to modern university facilities and collaborative opportunities with higher education institution.
• Institute of CodingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresented at employer webinar on The Digital Revolution, contributing to industry and education expertise sharing for digital skills development initiatives.
• North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC)coreOthersParent organization of Digital Skills Academy. DSA is part of NWSLC network of six campuses. NWSLC led successful bid to secure WMCA funding to establish the Academy in 2020. Marion Plant OBE FCGI serves as Principal and Chief Executive.
• Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported the £5 million Skills Accelerator programme bid by NWSLC and other colleges. Chamber chief executive Louise Bennett endorsed the collaborative approach to regional skills provision.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ironhack: Global coding and cybersecurity bootcamp with UK presence, offering intensive full-time and part-time programmes. Comparable bootcamp structure, employer partnerships, and cybersecurity curriculum focus.
• Firebrand Training: UK-based accelerated IT training provider delivering intensive bootcamps and certification courses across CompTIA, Microsoft, AWS and Cisco stacks. Comparable accelerated-reskilling bootcamp format and CompTIA curriculum focus.
• CodeClan: Edinburgh-based coding bootcamp offering intensive software development courses across the UK. Highly comparable to DSA as a regional coding bootcamp targeting career changers with government-funded pathways and employer apprenticeship pipelines.
• Generation UK: UK arm of the global employment-focused tech training charity, offering free/employer-funded bootcamps targeting unemployed and career-changing learners into tech roles. Highly aligned mission and learner profile to DSA's WMCA-funded career-transition cohorts.
• Multiverse: UK tech apprenticeship provider offering software development and data apprenticeships to employers. Directly comparable to DSA's Level 4 Software Developer and Software Development Technician apprenticeship offerings and employer-engagement GTM.
• Northcoders: Manchester-based coding bootcamp and software development apprenticeship provider serving career changers across the UK. Direct peer in coding bootcamp and apprenticeship delivery with comparable bootcamp-to-apprenticeship progression.
• Just IT Training: UK IT training and apprenticeship provider covering CompTIA, Microsoft, and Cisco certifications. Comparable course catalogue and apprenticeship delivery model to DSA, with similar employer-focused revenue stream.

Broad incumbents

• QA Ltd: One of the UK's largest commercial training providers, offering a wide portfolio of IT, cloud, and apprenticeship programmes to enterprise clients. Overlaps with DSA on certification/apprenticeship content but operates nationally and at much larger scale.
• Kaplan UK: Large UK training and apprenticeship provider covering IT, project management, and professional certifications. Overlaps with DSA's CompTIA-based and apprenticeship offerings as part of a much broader training portfolio.

Others

• CompTIA: Global technology industry association whose certification catalogue underpins the majority of DSA's course portfolio. Comparable as the accreditation and curriculum infrastructure partner rather than a competitor, but a key ecosystem relationship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DSAnwslc
• Facebookfacebook.com/Digitalskillsacademynwslc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digitalskillsacademy

Compliance1 record

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 Digital Skills Academy