What Elevate Academy does

Elevate Academy, operating as "Elevate Supported Internships," is a UK-based educational provision delivered through Longspee Academy under the Authentic Education multi-academy trust. The program offers a 1-year supported internship for young people aged 16-25 who hold an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and aspire to work in the construction and maintenance industries, supporting individuals with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, autism, and other complex needs. The model combines classroom-based learning at the Elevate Learning Centre in Bournemouth (2 days per week) with workplace placements at employer sites (3-4 days per week), with an optional 3-6 month pre-internship period for additional upskilling.

The business operates on a government-funded model, with all admissions routed exclusively through Local Authority SEN (Special Educational Needs) teams who coordinate EHCP placements. The internship itself is unpaid unless the host employer voluntarily compensates the participant, meaning revenue is derived from statutory EHCP funding arrangements rather than direct commercial payments. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The program is staffed by approximately 9 employees based at the Elevate Learning Centre on Throop Road, Bournemouth, and uses employer workplace locations as the practical training environment.

Distribution is entirely institutional: there is no consumer-facing sales motion, and marketing channels are limited to referral partnerships with Local Authority SEN teams, the Longspee Academy website, and a shared Instagram presence. The organization has no external investment, no disclosed funding rounds, and no M&A activity on record. It operates as a vocational program within a multi-academy trust structure rather than as an independent commercial entity, serving a narrow geographic footprint centered on Bournemouth.

Name

Elevate Academy

Legal name

Elevate Academy

Website

https://elevate-academy.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Elevate Academy operates a 1-year government-funded supported internship program in Bournemouth, UK, preparing young people aged 16-25 with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for employment in construction and maintenance industries, with admissions routed exclusively through Local Authority SEN teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Supported Employment / Vocational Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Tutoring, Study Skills & Learning Strategies for ASE (EDAAABAL)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Supported internships
• Special education services
• Employment preparation programs
• EHCP transition support

Headquarters

HQ city

Bournemouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Supported Internship: The 1-year supported internship is unpaid unless the employer chooses to pay. The program is funded through EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) arrangements via Local authorities, making it accessible at no direct cost to eligible young people. Revenue is derived from government education funding rather than direct customer payments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Elevate Academy operates the Elevate Supported Internships program, a one-year course for young people aged 16-25 who hold an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and aspire to work in the construction and maintenance industry. The provision combines classroom-based learning at the Elevate Learning Centre in Bournemouth with workplace placements of 3-4 days per week, with an optional pre-internship extension of 3-6 months for additional upskilling. Admissions are handled exclusively through Local authority SEN teams.

Product overview

Elevate Academy operates as a single core offering: the Elevate Supported Internships program. This is a one-year unpaid internship (unless the employer chooses otherwise) designed for young people with EHCPs, focusing on the construction and maintenance industries. The program includes a flexible pre-internship period of 3-6 months if additional upskilling is needed, followed by work placements where students spend 2-3 days at Elevate and 2-4 days in the workplace. The program is specifically designed for young people with needs such as SEMH, autism, and other complex needs who have the capacity to sustain a workplace placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Elevate Supported Internships

Quantifiable outcome

• Target outcome of paid employment or apprenticeship upon completion of 1-year internship

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Local Authorities SEN TeamscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal authorities SEN teams serve as the exclusive admission pathway for the Elevate Supported Internships program. These teams identify eligible young people with EHCPs and facilitate placements into the program, managing the coordination between the young person, their family, and the provision. This partnership is fundamental to program operations as all admissions must be routed through local authority SEN departments.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Direct peers

• Real: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities into paid employment through training and employer engagement; highly comparable outcomes focus for SEN cohorts.
• National Star: Specialist post-16 college for young people with complex disabilities, including work preparation and vocational pathways; mirrors Elevate's specialist, transition-focused, EHCP-funded positioning.
• DFN Project Search: International and UK charity operating the supported internship model in colleges and employers for young people with learning disabilities and autism; directly comparable to Elevate's program structure and target cohort.
• Ruskin Mill Trust: Specialist independent provider of education for young people with complex needs, using practical land-and-trade-based curricula; comparable to Elevate's vocational, experiential approach.
• Derwen College: Specialist post-16 college for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities offering vocational pathways and supported employment; comparable cohort and outcomes focus.
• Landmarks College: UK specialist college offering vocational and independence skills for young people with learning disabilities; comparable supported employment and vocational curriculum focus.
• Hereward College: Specialist post-16 college in the UK for young people with disabilities and learning difficulties, offering vocational and employability programs; directly comparable SEN post-16 provision.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: Largest UK charity for people with learning disabilities, operating employment support services alongside broader advocacy and care; an incumbent operating in the same end-market but with a much wider portfolio.

Emerging players

• United Response: UK charity providing supported employment and training services for people with learning disabilities and autism; overlapping employment outcomes thesis with a broader service portfolio.
• Ambitious about Autism: UK charity focused on education and employment outcomes for autistic young people, including post-16 pathways; comparable to Elevate's autism-positive cohort and supported employment focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theelevateacademy

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 Elevate Academy