KNOWLEDGE POOL LTD

What KNOWLEDGE POOL LTD does

Knowledge Pool Ltd is a UK-registered nonprofit social enterprise (Company No. 12022546) founded in 2019 by Yetunde Elebuibon-Craig in Doncaster, England, focused on digital inclusion for vulnerable and digitally excluded populations including the elderly, people with disabilities, immigrants, asylum seekers, BAME communities, low-income individuals, and job seekers. The organisation is operated entirely by volunteers and has supported over 700 people since inception through free digital literacy training, device and connectivity provision, online safety education, and apprenticeship guidance.

The portfolio centres on free core training products — 'Getting Started with Digital Devices', 'Basic Computer Training', and 'Digital Capability Training' — supplemented by two self-authored Amazon-published guidebooks, paid advanced IT courses (Office 365, Business Analysis, Project Management, Software Testing) charged on an affordability basis, the Smart Buddies elderly digital capability programme with Age UK Doncaster, and an annual Apprenticeship and Careers Fair. The technology stack is deliberately low-friction rather than proprietary: a WordPress website with Freshworks CRM for registration and learner management, Telegram Messenger for cohort communication, Zoom and Microsoft Teams for virtual training, WhatsApp for peer support, Eventbrite for events, and Learn My Way / Make It Click as content delivery layers for Good Things Foundation-funded programmes.

The business model is grant-funded philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. Income derives from UK local authorities (Doncaster Council), charitable foundations (Community Fund, South Yorkshire Community Foundation, Social Enterprise Exchange Fund, Community Wealth Builders, FutureDotNow), corporate sponsors (Lloyds Banking Group, Polypipe), and intermediary funders (Good Things Foundation via Google.org). Distribution runs through a community referral network — charities, churches, social prescribers, JobCentre Plus, Doncaster Council, Age UK Doncaster — with eligible individuals also able to self-refer. There are no equity investors, no paid staff, and no disclosed revenue figure.

Name

KNOWLEDGE POOL LTD

Legal name

Knowledge Pool Ltd.

Website

https://knowledge-pool.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Knowledge Pool is a UK volunteer-run nonprofit in Doncaster that delivers free digital literacy training, devices, and connectivity to vulnerable, digitally excluded groups (elderly, disabled, low-income, BAME, job seekers), funded by grants and supplemented by paid advanced IT courses and Amazon-published guidebooks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Inclusion and Adult Education Training

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Basic Digital Literacy (Device, Internet, Email) (EDAAAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG), Technical & Digital Skills Training (BPACANAB)

Keywords

• Digital inclusion training
• Digital literacy courses
• Adult education services
• Community training programmes
• Vocational IT training

Headquarters

HQ city

Doncaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: The organization operates as a charity/nonprofit relying on grants from local authorities (Doncaster Council), foundations (South Yorkshire Community Foundation, Community Fund, Lloyds Banking Group, Social Enterprise Exchange Fund, FutureDotNow), and corporate sponsors (Polypipe). Training is provided free to end users with costs covered by grants and donations.
2. Paid Training Courses: Some advanced training courses (Business Analysis, Project Management, Software Testing, Office 365 intermediate/advanced) charge fees based on what learners can afford, with potential for free training depending on available grants and schemes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Knowledge Pool is a nonprofit digital training organization that delivers free and paid digital skills courses to vulnerable community members in Doncaster, UK, including the elderly, disabled, BAME groups, low-income individuals, immigrants, and asylum seekers. Its core offerings include digital inclusion training (Getting Started with Digital Devices, Getting Started with Online Meetings, Basic Computer Training, Digital Capability Training) and paid vocational courses (Office 365, Business Analysis, Project Management, Software Testing), supplemented by published guidebooks and community programs like Smart Buddies.

Product overview

Knowledge Pool is a digital training organisation offering a portfolio of services centered on digital inclusion and capability building. The core offering includes free digital inclusion training ('Getting Started with Digital Devices') and 'Digital Capability Training' for vulnerable community members, alongside paid professional training programs (Office 365, Business Analysis, Project Management, Software Testing). The organisation also publishes digital guidebooks (available on Amazon) and runs the 'Smart Buddies' program for elderly and disabled learners. Additional services include apprenticeship guidance, careers fairs, and a volunteer program. All services are delivered in partnership with community organisations, charities, and local authorities, with the organisation operating 100% through volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Getting Started with Digital Devices Training Free digital inclusion training covering how to use smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers, including device setup, internet basics, online safety, and essential digital skills for everyday activities. Targeted at digitally excluded community members in Doncaster.
• Getting Started with Online Meetings Training Free training teaching users how to attend and run meetings online using applications like Zoom, from app download to setting up meetings, sharing, and managing security settings. Targeted at digital novices.
• Basic Computer Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 people supported since inception in 2019
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Doncaster CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal council of Knowledge Pool supporting from inception through referrals and links to training and resources. Sponsored digital capability support initiative in 2020 through Covid-19 fighting back funding, creating 200 copies of 'Getting Started with Digital Devices' guidebook. Also sponsored 'Smart Buddies' project through Local Solution Investment in collaboration with Community Fund.
• Online Centres Network (Good Things Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial movement brought together by Good Things Foundation. Knowledge Pool (Centre ID 800594) received Google.org funding through Good Things Foundation to deliver 'Make It Click' project with over 100 people gaining access to free digital training and online resources.
• Sheffield Hallam UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for degree apprenticeships. Partnered with Knowledge Pool to provide vocational routes through university with focus on skills important to employers. Knowledge Pool directs learners to their apprenticeship programs.
• University of SheffieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading university in degree apprenticeships through Advanced Manufacturing and Research Training Centre (AMRC) with partners Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and McLaren. Provides fully accredited degree from world top 100 Russell Group University upon apprenticeship completion.
• Age UK DoncastercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary community partner for delivering digital training to elderly. Pilot program started December 2020 with weekly classes transforming nervous digital novices into confident learners. Learners formed peer support groups using WhatsApp.
• Smart WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide interview support for women who have been out of work or lack confidence to return. Knowledge Pool helps women prepare for interviews with coaching and provides appropriate attire through Smart Works.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AbilityNet: UK charity providing free digital skills and accessibility support to disabled and older people — a core learner segment for Knowledge Pool. Comparable volunteer- and partner-driven delivery model targeting the same digitally-excluded populations.
• Digital Unite: UK digital-inclusion organization training Digital Champions and delivering community-based digital skills sessions to older and vulnerable learners. Closely comparable community-led, volunteer-based model to Knowledge Pool.
• We Are Digital: UK provider of digital skills training to excluded groups, including job seekers, older people, and welfare claimants. Directly comparable target population and basic digital-literacy curriculum to Knowledge Pool's free training.
• Workers' Educational Association (WEA): UK adult-education charity delivering community-based courses (including digital skills) to disadvantaged adults. Comparable grant-funded, volunteer-supported adult-learning model serving similar learner demographics.
• Smart Works: UK charity providing interview coaching and clothing for women returning to work — Knowledge Pool formally partners with Smart Works to refer learners. Comparable grant-funded model serving disadvantaged job seekers, with similar London-and-regions operating footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Good Things Foundation: National UK digital-inclusion charity that operates the Online Centres Network and Learn My Way platform — the same network Knowledge Pool belongs to (Centre ID 800594) and delivers 'Make It Click' through. Directly comparable mission (digital inclusion for disadvantaged groups) at significantly larger national scale.
• The Prince's Trust: Major UK youth and employment charity running digital and employability programmes targeting disadvantaged young people — an overlapping segment with Knowledge Pool's apprenticeship and careers-fair work, but at much larger national scale.
• BT Skills for Tomorrow: BT's national digital-inclusion program providing free online skills training and partner grants to community organizations — BT was a speaker at Knowledge Pool's Careers Fair. Comparable digital-literacy mission at corporate-program scale.
• Lloyds Bank Digital Champions: Lloyds Banking Group's national digital-inclusion program — Lloyds is also a direct funder of Knowledge Pool. Comparable mission of training digitally-excluded UK adults, but operating at national-bank scale rather than community level.

Regional players

• Age UK: National charity for older people — Knowledge Pool's Smart Buddies program is delivered in partnership with the Age UK Doncaster branch. Overlapping focus on digital confidence and isolation reduction among the 60+ cohort, but at national scale across multiple service areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PoolKnowledge
• Facebookfacebook.com/knowledgepool1
• Instagraminstagram.com/knowledgepool1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knowledge-pool

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 KNOWLEDGE POOL LTD