CPD Group

What CPD Group does

CPDG Limited (trading as CPDG / CPD Group) is a UK-based continuing professional development (CPD) training provider founded in 2007 by Paul Blacker and headquartered in Longfield, Kent, with an additional training venue at Guy's Campus in London. The company serves practising healthcare professionals — principally acupuncturists, osteopaths, physiotherapists, sports therapists, massage therapists, naturopaths, herbalists, kinesiologists, and student practitioners — alongside employers and sports clubs, delivering accredited courses in ear acupuncture (NADA, Battlefield, auricular therapy), Tuina Chinese massage, joint assessment, trigger-point acupuncture, first aid (EFAW, FAW, paediatric, EFARU rugby, mental health), and workplace health & safety (RQF Level 1-4, manual handling, COSHH).

The product architecture combines a 24/7 Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) — providing online courses, progress tracking, and digital certification, with free VLE access granted to face-to-face attendees — with in-person practical workshops capped at 12 students and on-site training for groups of four or more. The company operates as an approved HABC/Highfield teaching centre, granting RQF-accredited qualifications, and has secured recognition with the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), CNHC, AACP, BMAS, and ACMAC, enabling its courses to count toward members' annual CPD requirements.

Revenue derives primarily from one-time course fees (online VLE courses priced £7-£65; face-to-face + VLE bundles at premium prices such as £182 for ear acupuncture; Level 2/3 accredited qualifications from £45), supplemented by on-site B2B training bookings delivered across the UK. Distribution runs through website e-commerce, telephone/post bookings, WhatsApp, and multi-channel social media. The firm is founder-owned, employs approximately five people (alongside a roster of contracted practitioner-tutors), has never raised external funding, and operates entirely within the United Kingdom with no disclosed international footprint.

Name

CPD Group

Legal name

CPDG Limited

Website

https://thecpdgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CPDG Limited is a UK-based continuing professional development provider founded in 2007, delivering accredited face-to-face and Virtual Learning Environment courses in acupuncture, Tuina, first aid, and workplace health & safety to practising healthcare professionals, employers, and sports clubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Development and Continuing Education Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Professional development training
• Complementary medicine courses
• Ear acupuncture training
• First aid training
• Workplace health safety

Headquarters

HQ city

Longfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

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. VLE Online Course Sales: Individual online courses sold through the e-commerce platform. Courses range from free resources to paid content priced between £7-65.
2. Face-to-Face Workshop + VLE Packages: Combined practical training days with online components. Example: Ear acupuncture course at £182 for face-to-face + VLE bundle.
3. Accredited Qualification Courses: HABC/Highfield accredited qualifications including Level 2 and Level 3 awards in various health and safety and training topics, priced from £45 per person.
4. PAT Testing Services: Portable appliance testing services mentioned as a service offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CPDG delivers continuing professional development (CPD) courses for healthcare practitioners and workplace staff, combining an online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) with face-to-face practical workshops. The portfolio spans ear acupuncture, Tuina, Qi Gong, first aid (EFAW, FAW, paediatric, mental health, rugby), and accredited workplace health and safety qualifications (HABC/Highfield RQF Levels 1-4, manual handling, COSHH), with courses mapped to professional body CPD requirements.

Product overview

CPD Group operates a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as its core digital platform, supplemented by face-to-face training courses. The company offers a diverse portfolio of professional development courses primarily focused on complementary and alternative medicine (acupuncture, Tuina, Qi Gong), first aid training (EFAW, FAW, Paediatric, Mental Health), and workplace health and safety (Levels 1-4, Manual Handling, COSHH). Courses range from free VLE resources and single-day workshops to multi-day qualifications accredited by Highfield Awards/RQF. The portfolio includes specialized courses for ear acupuncture (NADA protocol, Battlefield, Anxiety), sports injury treatment, joint assessment techniques, and mental health awareness. Most courses combine online VLE components with practical face-to-face sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) A digital learning platform providing online CPD courses, progress tracking, and interactive learning experiences for healthcare and workplace professionals, with 24/7 on-demand access and digital certification. Free unlimited VLE access is included for attendees of CPDG face-to-face courses.
• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) - 1 Day A 1-day face-to-face training course covering emergency first aid procedures for workplace settings, suitable for designated workplace first aiders.
• First Aid at Work (FAW) - 3 Day A 3-day first aid training course meeting the requirements of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, intended for workplace first aiders in higher-risk environments.
• Paediatric First Aid - 2 Day A 2-day course covering first aid procedures for children and infants in nurseries, schools, and other childcare settings.
• Emergency Paediatric First Aid - 1 Day A 1-day course focusing on emergency first aid procedures for infants and children, designed for newly qualified childcare staff.
• Introduction to First Aid for Mental Health A mental health awareness course covering wellbeing, the effects of mental ill-health, the mental health continuum, and personal wellbeing management.
• Rugby First Aid (EFARU) Specialised first aid training designed for rugby settings, delivered in partnership with the RFU to support match-day first aid coverage and sports injury management.
• Integrating Ear Acupuncture into Practice A 2-day practical workshop covering NADA protocol, Battlefield Protocol, Anxiety protocol, and auricular acupuncture techniques for integrating ear acupuncture into clinical practice.
• Treating the Musculoskeletal System with Ear Acupuncture A 1-day workshop teaching auricular therapy for treating knee and shoulder pain, sciatica, back pain, osteoarthritis, and prolapsed discs.
• Treating Women's Health Issues with Ear Acupuncture A 1-day workshop on using ear acupuncture to treat infertility, menopause, premenstrual syndrome, fibroids, and dysmenorrhea.
• Treating Stress and the GI System with Ear Acupuncture A 1-day workshop covering auricular therapy for stress, diarrhoea, IBS, Crohn's Disease, Colitis, and Diverticulitis.
• Tuina Chinese Massage Course A modular QiGong Tuina course for practitioners, with 7 sessions of 14 hours CPD each, totalling 98 contact hours, designed against WHO benchmarks for Tuina training.
• Joint Assessing the Upper Limb A hands-on practical course teaching accurate palpation and manual assessment of shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand joints for healthcare professionals.
• Joint Assessing the Lower Limb A course covering assessment of hip, knee, ankle, and foot joints including medical history, physical examination, range of motion testing, and special tests.
• Practical Techniques - Assessing the Joints of the Spine A 1-day course on assessing the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine using palpation and manual assessment methods.
• Treating Trigger Points with Acupuncture A 1-day workshop teaching diagnosis, location, and acupuncture treatment of trigger points and their referral patterns in myofascial tissues.
• Treating Sports Injuries with Acupuncture A workshop integrating Western assessment techniques, acupuncture, Tuina, and Qi Gong for treating acute, sub-acute, and chronic sports injuries.
• Highfield Level 3 Award in Planning and Delivering Training (RQF) A Level 3 qualification covering training design, adult learning principles, delivery methods, and assessment techniques, validated by Highfield Awards and offered face-to-face plus VLE or VLE only.
• Highfield Level 2 Award in Safe Moving and Handling (RQF) A Level 2 RQF qualification covering manual handling risk assessments, equipment, and safety procedures, with an on-site training option for workplaces.
• Health and Safety Courses (Levels 1-4) RQF accredited health and safety qualifications from Level 1 to Level 4 covering various workplace safety topics for employees and managers.
• COSHH Training Training on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, covering risk assessments and proper handling of hazardous substances in the workplace.
• PAT Testing Services Portable appliance testing services for workplaces requiring electrical equipment safety inspection.
• Free Resources (Freesources) A free downloadable library including R.I.C.E. guides, a 24-hour body clock, 10 QiGong exercises, genogram templates, fibromyalgia stretches, and acupuncture reference sheets to support learner engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Small class sizes ensure quality feedback: minimum 4, maximum 12 attendees per course
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Highfield Qualifications (HABC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPDG is an approved HABC teaching centre offering Highfield Awards accredited qualifications including Level 2 and Level 3 awards in health and safety, manual handling, and training delivery. Qualifications are externally quality assured and recognised within the UK.
• British Acupuncture Council (BAcC)coreOthersCPDG courses are recognised by the British Acupuncture Council for member CPD requirements. Multiple tutors hold BAcC membership.
• CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council)coreOthersCPDG courses support CNHC registration requirements. Founder Paul Blacker was instrumental in driving ear acupuncture inclusion as a CNHC recognised profession.
• ACMAC (Acupuncture and Massage Association Conference)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCPDG provides free ACMAC resources and discounted course access for conference attendees as a special offer partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ProTrainings: UK online first aid and health & safety training provider with a blended learning model and VLE-style platform. Comparable to CPDG's VLE + face-to-face model for the regulated first aid and compliance segment, competing on similar learner demographics.
• Tigerlily Training: UK-based training provider offering regulated first aid, health & safety, and clinical courses via blended online and face-to-face delivery. Directly comparable to CPDG's first aid and H&S accredited offerings, with similar multi-channel GTM and learner target market.
• First Aid for Life: UK provider of first aid training including EFAW, FAW, and paediatric first aid courses. Overlaps directly with CPDG's first aid course portfolio and serves healthcare professionals, parents, and workplaces as a comparable customer base.
• International College of Oriental Medicine (ICOM): UK-based college offering acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioner training. Comparable to CPDG's range of TCM-based courses (acupuncture, Tuina, Qi Gong), serving a similar professional learner base with overlapping curriculum content.
• Northern College of Acupuncture (NCA): UK higher education institution offering acupuncture and integrated healthcare practitioner training. Comparable to CPDG's CAM-focused course portfolio, serving a similar continuing education demographic of healthcare professionals seeking CPD hours.
• College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (CICM): UK college delivering acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine professional training. Comparable to CPDG's CAM training focus, serving overlapping practitioner segments (acupuncturists, integrated medicine practitioners) with similar regulatory alignment to BAcC.

Others

• Highfield Qualifications: UK awarding body that accredits CPDG's RQF qualifications (Level 2-3 Health & Safety, Manual Handling). Operates as an enabling partner rather than competitive peer, providing the regulatory framework that CPDG builds courses on.

Broad incumbents

• NOCN: UK awarding and certification organisation offering regulated qualifications across multiple sectors including health, safety, and professional development. Comparable to CPDG's regulated qualifications portfolio but at significantly larger scale and broader curricular scope.
• St John Ambulance: UK's largest first aid training charity offering EFAW, FAW, and paediatric first aid courses nationally. Overlaps with CPDG's first aid course portfolio but operates at significantly larger scale with broader employer and consumer segments.
• British Red Cross Training: Major UK first aid training provider offering regulated workplace and paediatric first aid courses. Directly comparable to CPDG's first aid offering for workplace compliance, though at much larger scale and broader distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cpdgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pbacupuncture-limited

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 CPD Group