Media First Ltd
Media First Ltd is a UK-based media and communication training company founded in 1985, delivering bespoke journalist-led training in media skills, crisis communication, presentation, and public speaking to enterprise clients including 40 of the FTSE 100, with studios in Reading and London and a new AI training companion called Thirty Seven.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersWinnersh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Media First Ltd does
Media First Ltd is a UK-based communication training company founded in 1985, headquartered in Winnersh with professional TV and radio studios in Reading and London. The company provides bespoke media, crisis communication, presentation, leadership communication, and social media training delivered by current working journalists sourced from outlets including the BBC, ITV, ITN, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, Euronews, and Classic FM. Training is tailored to each client's brand, risks, and real scenarios and is delivered on-site at client locations globally or at the company's owned studios, which simulate realistic broadcast environments.
The company's core technology offering centers on Thirty Seven, an AI-powered media training companion launched in March 2025 in partnership with Yoodli. Thirty Seven uses generative AI to simulate journalist interviews, adapting questions dynamically and providing instant feedback on eye contact, filler words, tone, pace, clarity, and message delivery across text, audio, and visual modalities. Supporting digital products include online learning modules and the Media Team Academy structured learning pathway. The company also offers adjacent content services covering video production, podcast production, livestreaming, online course design, and written content.
Media First generates revenue through professional training services on a quote-based pricing model, with fees determined by course type, duration, location, and group size. Go-to-market is consultative and enterprise-focused, with account managers guiding prospects through discovery calls, bespoke course design, and booking. The company reports 40 of the FTSE 100 as clients across diverse sectors including construction, government, utilities, financial services, retail, defense, healthcare, aviation, and consulting. Distribution is primarily direct sales supplemented by content marketing, free downloadable resources, webinars, and Trustpilot-validated social proof. Media First operates as a privately held company with no disclosed funding, no parent entity, and no public revenue figures.
Media First Ltd firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Media First Ltd
- Legal name
- Media First Ltd
- Website
- https://mediafirst.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Media First Ltd is a UK-based media and communication training company founded in 1985, delivering bespoke journalist-led training in media skills, crisis communication, presentation, and public speaking to enterprise clients including 40 of the FTSE 100, with studios in Reading and London and a new AI training companion called Thirty Seven.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Media First Ltd industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Media and Communication Training
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC), Media, Entertainment & Sports (EDABALAS)
Keywords
Where Media First Ltd is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winnersh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Media First Ltd business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Professional Training Services: Media First generates revenue through delivering bespoke media, presentation, and communication training courses. Training is delivered on-location or at company studios in Reading and London, covering media skills, crisis management, public speaking, and social media training.
- Content Services: Additional revenue streams include content services such as written content, podcast production, livestreaming, online course design, and video production.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Media First Ltd product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Media First designs and delivers bespoke media, crisis communication, presentation, and leadership communication training courses taught by current working journalists from BBC, ITV, ITN, Al Jazeera, Euronews, and other major outlets. Training is delivered on-site at client locations worldwide or at company-owned professional TV and radio studios in Reading and London. The company also operates an AI-powered coaching platform, Thirty Seven, developed in partnership with Yoodli, plus supporting content production services including video, podcast, livestreaming, and online course design.
Product overview
Media First Ltd is a UK-based communication training company with over 40 years of experience, offering a comprehensive portfolio of training services and content production capabilities. The core offering consists of journalist-led training programs covering media skills, crisis communication, presentation skills, and leadership communication, delivered either on-site at client locations or at professional TV/radio studios in Reading and London. The company has expanded into AI-powered training with Thirty Seven, an AI companion developed in partnership with Yoodli that enables on-demand interview practice with instant feedback. Supporting services include content production (video, podcast, livestreaming, written content) and a library of free eBook resources. The training approach emphasizes practical, realistic scenarios using current working journalists as tutors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Media Training
Quantifiable outcome
- Delegates report being better communicators with improved confidence and practical skills
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Media First Ltd
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Media First Ltd technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature1 record
Media First Ltd partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- YoodlicoreMedia First partnered with Yoodli to create 'Thirty Seven', an AI-powered communication coaching platform. The platform combines Media First's training expertise with Yoodli's generative AI technology to enable spokespeople to practice interview skills, receive instant feedback on performance including eye contact, tone, pace, clarity, and message delivery, and develop skills between training sessions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Media First Ltd competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Top Banana: UK provider of presentation skills and communication training workshops for corporate audiences. Competes directly with Media First in the presentation and public-speaking training segment.
- Speakers Trust: UK-focused communication and public speaking skills organization offering workshops and training. Competes with Media First in communication skills development for professionals and organizations.
- Communicate UK: UK communication skills and media training provider offering bespoke corporate training programs. Comparable service scope and target market to Media First's communication training business.
- Voice at VMH: UK voice, presentation, and media training provider serving corporate and public-sector clients. Comparable offering to Media First's media interview and presentation skills training portfolio.
- Clearly Present: UK-based specialist in presentation skills and public speaking training, targeting corporate and enterprise audiences. Direct overlap with Media First's presentation and leadership communication services.
- JBI Training: UK-based corporate training provider offering media, presentation, and communication skills training to enterprise clients. Closely comparable in service mix and customer profile to Media First's UK training business.
Broad incumbents
- Toastmasters International: Global non-profit focused on public speaking and leadership skill development. Adjacent to Media First's training mission but operates via club membership rather than bespoke enterprise training.
- Cision: Global PR, media intelligence, and communications workflow provider. Serves similar enterprise communications teams as Media First but focuses on PR software, distribution, and analytics rather than training.
- Dale Carnegie Training: Global professional training organization with broad offerings in communication, presentation, and leadership skills. Overlaps with Media First's communication training portfolio but addresses a much wider curriculum.
Emerging players
- Yoodli: AI-powered communication coaching platform that partners with Media First on Thirty Seven but also sells its own AI speaking and presentation tools. Both technology partner and emerging competitor in AI-led media training.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Media First Ltd social profiles
Digital presenceMedia First Ltd financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Media First Ltd leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Media First Ltd subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Media First Ltd funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Media First Ltd M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Media First Ltd
What does Media First Ltd do?
Media First designs and delivers bespoke media, crisis communication, presentation, and leadership communication training courses taught by current working journalists from BBC, ITV, ITN, Al Jazeera, Euronews, and other major outlets. Training is delivered on-site at client locations worldwide or at company-owned professional TV and radio studios in Reading and London. The company also operates an AI-powered coaching platform, Thirty Seven, developed in partnership with Yoodli, plus supporting content production services including video, podcast, livestreaming, and online course design.
Is Media First Ltd a public or private company?
Media First Ltd is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Media First Ltd founded?
Media First Ltd was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Media First Ltd based?
Media First Ltd is headquartered in Winnersh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Media First Ltd make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Training Services are the primary driver. The others are content Services.
Who are Media First Ltd's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Top Banana, Speakers Trust, Communicate UK, Voice at VMH, Clearly Present and JBI Training. Broad incumbents are Toastmasters International, Cision and Dale Carnegie Training. Yoodli is listed as an emerging player.
Does Media First Ltd have an API?
No public API is recorded for Media First Ltd.
What industry is Media First Ltd in?
Media First Ltd's product category is Media and Communication Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEANAN, Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching), with a secondary code of EDAGAKAC, Corporate Learning & Training Content Development. Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 8200.