NCT Ltd

What NCT Ltd does

NCT Ltd (legal name: National Care Team Limited) is a UK-based training company and employment agency established in 2004 and headquartered at Abbey Road, Pity Me, Durham, with a secondary Training Academy in Seaham. The company is wholly owned by Impecable Solutions, which acquired it in September 2011, and operates as part of the Impecable Group alongside sister brand Profound Careers, which delivers Careers, Education and Guidance (CEG) within schools across North East England. NCT specialises in the delivery of Health and Social Care vocational qualifications, alongside Apprenticeships (Level 2 through Level 5), Traineeships, Functional Skills (English and Mathematics), and short mandatory training courses across five sector areas: Health and Social Care, Childcare, Business and Professional, Hospitality and Catering, and Cleaning and Support Services.

The core technology stack is a traditional Virtual Learning Environment ("NCT High Flyers VLE") for apprentice progress tracking, supplemented by use of tablets and smartphones for blended learning delivery; the platform is not technology-led, and the company is explicitly positioned as a vocational training provider rather than an EdTech vendor. Revenue is generated through three principal streams: (i) government-funded apprenticeship contracts via the Skills Funding Agency, (ii) Advanced Learning Loans (19+/24+) for Level 3+ adult learners, and (iii) employment agency placement fees for trained professionals matched to employer vacancies. Apprenticeships are free at the point of delivery for eligible UK/EU/EEA residents aged 16+, with employers eligible for the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) of up to £1,500 per 16-24 year-old apprentice.

The company sells primarily B2B to care-sector employers (care homes, healthcare providers, domiciliary care companies, nurseries) through a direct enterprise field-sales motion, and B2C to adult learners and unemployed young people (16-24) via online application portals and referrals from Jobcentre Plus, schools, and the National Careers Service. Key customers include Bupa Care, Four Seasons Health Care, Housing and Care 21, Swanton Care, St Martins Care, Percy Hedley Foundation, and Giant Steps Nursery. The business is Ofsted Grade 1 Outstanding, ISO 9001 certified (since July 2013), and Matrix Quality Standard accredited, with Ward-family leadership (Steven Ward as Managing Director).

Name

NCT Ltd

Legal name

National Care Team Limited

Website

https://nct-ltd.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NCT Ltd is a UK-based training company and employment agency that delivers Health and Social Care apprenticeships, traineeships, and vocational qualifications (Level 2 to Level 5), serving care-sector employers and adult learners primarily across North East England under Skills Funding Agency contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Training and Apprenticeships

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT) (EDANAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Patient Care Technician (PCT) (EDAOAJAB)

Keywords

• Vocational training services
• Health and social care apprenticeships
• Pre-employability traineeships
• Employment agency services
• Workforce development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government-Funded Apprenticeships: NCT delivers funded apprenticeships through Skills Funding Agency contracts. Apprenticeships are free for learners as they are government-funded based on individual eligibility. Revenue comes from government funding bodies rather than direct learner or employer payment.
2. Advanced Learning Loans: Adult learners aged 19+ can access Advanced Learning Loans (previously 24+) to pay for Level 3+ qualifications. Learners repay loans only when earning over £21,000/year at 9% of earnings.
3. Employment Agency Placement Fees: As an expanding employment agency, NCT connects trained professionals with employment opportunities, likely generating revenue through placement fees from employer clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NCT Ltd (National Care Team Limited) operates as a UK-based training company and employment agency delivering vocational qualifications, apprenticeships, and traineeships primarily in the Health and Social Care sector. The company delivers funded programmes from entry level through Level 5 across Health and Social Care, Childcare, Business and Professional, Hospitality and Catering, and Cleaning and Support Services, and connects trained candidates with employer clients through its employment agency operations.

Product overview

NCT Ltd operates as a training company and employment agency offering vocational education and skills training programmes. The portfolio consists primarily of Traineeships (pre-employability programmes for 16-23 year olds) and Apprenticeships (work-based learning from Level 2 to Level 5) across five sector areas: Health and Social Care, Childcare, Business and Professional, Hospitality and Catering, and Cleaning and Support Services. Supporting these core programmes are Functional Skills courses in English and Mathematics, mandatory training for care sector employers, workforce development services, and management and leadership training. Funding options include Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (up to £1,500), and Advanced Learning Loans (19+ and 24+) for individual learners. The company primarily serves learners seeking careers in the care sector and employers needing to upskill or recruit staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Profound Careers: Part of the Impecable Group, delivering Careers, Education and Guidance (CEG) within schools across the North East of England.

Products and services

• Traineeships

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of trainees progress into Apprenticeship or full-time employment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skills Funding AgencycoreOthersNCT holds Skills Funding Agency contracts that enable funded training provision for work-based and unemployed learners. Both NCT and parent company Impecable hold these contracts enabling government-funded apprenticeship and training delivery.
• Impecable SolutionscoreOthersParent company that purchased NCT in September 2011. NCT and Impecable hold Skills Funding Agency contracts together. Both companies are part of the Impecable Group. Impecable developed the Pro-tection programme for safeguarding, equality, diversity, health and safety.
• European Union Social FundminorOthersEU Social Fund logo appears on website indicating partial funding from European Union Social Fund for training programmes
• City and GuildscoreTechnology or IntegrationAwarding body for NCT qualifications. City & Guilds credentials appear on course listings and certificates.
• Edexcel PearsoncoreTechnology or IntegrationAwarding body for NCT qualifications. Edexcel Pearson credentials appear on Functional Skills and other course listings.
• Matrix AccreditationcoreOthersNCT has been successfully reassessed against the Matrix Quality Standard (March 2013), demonstrating quality of information, advice and guidance services.
• National Apprenticeship ServicecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment body supporting and funding apprenticeships in England. NCT advertises vacancies through NAS platform and coordinates apprenticeship delivery.
• Jobcentre PluscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrong partnerships with Jobcentre Plus for sourcing unemployed individuals into traineeships and apprenticeships. NCT is highly regarded by stakeholders including Jobcentre Plus.
• Work ProgrammeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment employment programme partnership for sourcing trainees and job seekers for training programmes.
• Profound CareerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPart of Impecable Group, delivering Careers, Education and Guidance (CEG) within schools across the North East of England. Creates pipeline of future apprentices and trainees.
• DIY LegalsminorOthersLegal resource provider that provided and approved NCT's Privacy Policy document.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HIT Training: UK apprenticeship training provider focused heavily on adult social care, early years, and healthcare, with strong regional coverage and Ofsted ratings. Comparable to NCT in apprenticeship levels, care-sector employer engagement, and learner mix.
• Lifetime Training: One of the largest UK providers of health, social care, and childcare apprenticeships, delivering funded programmes from Level 2 to Level 5. Highly comparable in terms of target learner, funder mix (Skills Funding Agency), and care-sector employer base.
• Paragon Skills: UK independent training provider specializing in health, social care, and education apprenticeships, working directly with care-sector employers. Directly comparable apprenticeship portfolio and learner demographics.
• Acacia Training: UK training provider delivering apprenticeships and traineeships in health and social care, business administration, and related sectors. Comparable mid-sized competitor with similar funding model and employer-driven recruitment.
• Skills Training UK: UK provider of apprenticeships, traineeships, and employability programmes across health, social care, digital, and business sectors. Comparable funded-delivery model and employer partnership approach.

Others

• Skills for Care: UK sector skills council for adult social care; the source of the workforce growth estimates that underpin NCT's market opportunity. Not a competitor but a strategic influencer and intelligence source for the care training market.
• City & Guilds: UK awarding body whose qualifications (including those NCT delivers) underpin the apprenticeship and traineeship market. Adjacent ecosystem participant — a critical supplier and partner rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Seetec: Large UK provider of employability, skills, and apprenticeship programmes with strong public-sector contract base. Comparable traineeship/apprenticeship mix and Jobcentre Plus referral pipeline, though operating at much greater scale.

Broad incumbents

• Reed in Partnership (Reed NCFE): Major UK employability, apprenticeship, and skills provider within the Reed Group, working with public sector partners including Jobcentre Plus. Comparable government-funded delivery and employer engagement, but at significantly larger scale.
• Babcock International (Babcock Training): Large established UK training and skills provider offering apprenticeships across multiple sectors including health and social care. A much larger incumbent with overlapping capability but broader portfolio and national footprint.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nct-ltd

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 NCT Ltd