What CATALYST DBC LTD does

Catalyst DBC Ltd (formerly Catalyst – Driving Behavioural Change) is a UK-based, founder-owned private company founded in 2018 by Paul Smith and Stu Berry, providing digital compliance training and e-learning solutions targeted at the UK motor and motor finance industry. The company operates a web-based Learning Management System (LMS) with a dedicated iOS and Android mobile application that supports offline access, personalised learning paths through conditional activities, real-time reporting dashboards, and short animated training modules designed for completion in compact sessions. Its core differentiator is SAF Equivalent approval from the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), enabling direct issuance of SAF Expert and SAF Approved certifications, alongside broader coverage of compliance, leadership, well-being, Health & Safety, Fire Safety, Cyber Security, and a motor trade-specific Training Needs Analysis Tool.

The company's primary customers are UK motor dealers, finance brokers, finance companies, warranty providers, and compliance firms, with named clients including Tandem Bank, Admiral Money, Autoguard Group, Evolution Funding, Beck Evans, Carworld, Eurodrive, Sascron, and Stebbings. The platform is offered as a monthly subscription collected via Direct Debit through GoCardless, with quote-based per-learner pricing and no public price points. Distribution is sales-led, anchored by a "Book a Demo" call-to-action on the website, supplemented by a self-serve LMS and a free Training Needs Analysis Tool used for lead generation. The company employs 1–10 staff, operates solely within the UK, and shows no public funding or acquisition activity.

Name

CATALYST DBC LTD

Legal name

Catalyst-DBC Ltd

Website

https://catalyst-dbc.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Catalyst DBC Ltd is a UK-based eLearning platform delivering compliance and SAF-certified training to the motor and motor finance industry, serving motor dealers, finance brokers, finance companies, warranty providers, and compliance firms via a subscription-based LMS with mobile offline access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Compliance eLearning for the Motor Industry

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy Management, Training & Ethics/Whistleblowing (BPAEAPAI)

Keywords

• Compliance eLearning
• Motor finance training
• SAF certification
• FCA compliance training
• Automotive staff training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Walsall

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. eLearning Platform Subscription: Monthly subscription model for access to the Catalyst eLearning platform. Subscriptions are collected by Direct Debit administered through GoCardless. The platform provides training content, progress tracking, compliance reporting, and SAF certification capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Catalyst DBC Ltd operates a cloud-based eLearning platform (with companion mobile app) that delivers compliance, sales, leadership and performance training courses to businesses operating in the UK motor retail and motor finance sectors. Customers subscribe to the platform monthly and receive FLA SAF-approved training content, real-time staff progress reporting, and additional in-person workshop and compliance support services.

Product overview

Catalyst DBC operates as a unified eLearning platform (Catalyst DBC Platform) for the motor and motor finance industries, offering multiple training modules including SAF Training (FLA-approved SAF Equivalent certification), Performance Training (sales and leadership), Leadership Training, Compliance Support (documentation and expert retainer), Face to Face Training (workshops), and a Training Needs Analysis Tool. The platform features responsive design with dedicated mobile app and offline capability, enabling personalized learning journeys through conditional activities. The company has expanded its portfolio to include Well-being, Health & Safety, Fire Safety, and Cyber Security training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catalyst DBC eLearning Platform Cloud-based Learning Management System with companion mobile app that delivers motor-industry compliance, performance, sales, leadership and FCA-aligned training modules (including SAF-approved content) to motor dealers, finance brokers, finance companies, warranty providers and compliance firms; provides real-time progress and reporting for management.
• Face to Face Training In-person workshops and training sessions delivered to motor industry clients, complementing the online eLearning platform with hands-on, classroom-style learning.
• Compliance Support Ongoing compliance support service providing motor industry clients with expert guidance and assistance in meeting FCA, FLA and other regulatory obligations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Modules designed for short, sharp delivery sessions to minimise time away from work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Finance & Leasing Association (FLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatalyst DBC is one of a handful of organisations across the UK approved as SAF Equivalent by the FLA. This approval means that SAF Certification can be completed and awarded through the Catalyst platform, with SAF Expert and SAF Approved Certificates provided directly by Catalyst.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Learning Pool: UK-based learning technologies provider offering compliance and workforce training via a SaaS LMS. Comparable on subscription LMS delivery, compliance catalog, and UK regulated customer base.
• Looop: Cloud LMS focused on simple, automated training delivery for SMB and mid-market companies. Comparable on cloud LMS delivery model and emphasis on ease of use, though not compliance-specialist.
• Skillcast: UK-headquartered compliance eLearning and staff awareness platform serving regulated financial services firms. Most directly comparable peer because it sells a subscription compliance training platform to UK regulated businesses in similar verticals.
• VinciWorks: UK compliance and regulatory training platform widely used by financial services firms, including brokers and lenders. Closely comparable on product (compliance eLearning, certifications, reporting) and customer profile (UK regulated entities).
• eloomi: European LMS and employee training platform used for onboarding, compliance, and upskilling. Comparable on subscription LMS model and European mid-market customer base.
• Kallidus: UK LMS and talent management suite (Learn, Perform, Recruit). Directly comparable as a UK SaaS learning platform competing for the same HR/L&D budgets, though it serves broader verticals.
• Kineo (GP Strategies): Global compliance and elearning provider with strong UK presence and a packaged compliance course catalogue. Comparable on subscription compliance content and enterprise LMS delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Skillsoft: Large incumbent in corporate learning and compliance content with global reach. Comparable on compliance eLearning and enterprise content delivery, but a much larger, broader player.
• Litmos (CallidusCloud / SAP): Established SaaS LMS with a broad course library including compliance content. Comparable on subscription eLearning delivery, but serves a much wider market and does not specialise in UK motor finance.
• Access Training (The Access Group): UK software group offering HR, learning, and compliance solutions including eLearning. Comparable on UK regulated customer base and subscription learning product, but as part of a much wider business software portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/catalystDBC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catalyst-dbc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CATALYST DBC LTD