What Breakthrough Social Enterprise does

Breakthrough Social Enterprise is a UK-based social enterprise founded in 2020 that delivers AI, digital, and employability skills training to underserved communities, with a particular focus on prison leavers, NEET young people, long-term unemployed adults, and marginalised populations. The organisation's core product portfolio comprises the AI Skills Bootcamp, the Future Skills Programme (a four-week online course for individuals with criminal justice experience delivered via Google Classroom), Leading in the Age of AI (a ten-week IFATE Level 3-aligned leadership bootcamp), the Pre-Apprenticeship Readiness Programme, and a bespoke three-stage AI Enablement Programme for Charities. The digital learning platform at courses.wearebreakthrough.co.uk serves as the delivery infrastructure, while curriculum is co-designed with IBM and CGI and underpinned by the Silicocene framework — a philosophical model positioning AI literacy as a civic skill.

The business model combines free learner-facing programmes (funded through government contracts with the Department for Education, HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice, and DWP), corporate social value partnerships with BT, KPMG, CGI, and IBM, philanthropic donations, and a subcontractor delivery model with Learning Curve Group. The organisation operates a 100% profit lock, reinvesting all surplus into community delivery. GTM motion spans enterprise field sales into government commissioning, event-driven free bootcamps, and channel partnerships for ESG/CSR delivery and training provider subcontracting.

The 14+ person team is led by CEO Sobanan Narenthiran and operates from a London headquarters at 45 Fitzroy Street, with UK-wide delivery and additional virtual training in East Africa. The organisation has trained 700+ associates lifetime, recorded 80% programme completion and 68% employment progression within six months, achieved a 9.5/10 satisfaction score, and holds Ofsted Expected Standard and Matrix accreditation.

Name

Breakthrough Social Enterprise

Legal name

Breakthrough Social Enterprise

Website

https://wearebreakthrough.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Breakthrough Social Enterprise delivers free AI, digital, and employability skills training to prison leavers, NEET young people, and marginalised communities across the UK, funded via government contracts, corporate partnerships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Skills Training and Education

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Skills & Tech Upskilling (Noncredit) (EDAAAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC), Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE), Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• AI skills training
• Digital literacy education
• Skills bootcamps
• Pre-apprenticeship programmes
• Workforce upskilling

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Contracts: Delivery of Skills Bootcamps funded by Department for Education, HMPPS, Ministry of Justice, and DWP pathways. Prime contractor partnerships for justice system training delivery. Revenue from completion payments and per-learner fees.
2. Corporate Social Value Partnerships: Partnerships with BT, KPMG, CGI, IBM and other organisations to deliver social value commitments. Companies fund bootcamps to meet ESG/Corporate Social Responsibility goals while accessing diverse talent pipelines.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Funding from local authorities, business groups, communities, and individual benefactors to support free training delivery. Social enterprise operates with 100% profit lock - all surplus reinvested into communities served.
4. Subcontractor Partnerships: Fixed price per learner plus completion bonus model for training providers. Partnership with Learning Curve Group for pre-apprenticeship delivery. Incentives aligned with provider completion outcomes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Breakthrough Social Enterprise delivers free AI, digital, and employability Skills Bootcamps alongside apprenticeship readiness and bespoke AI capacity-building programmes for underserved communities including prison leavers, NEET young people, and marginalised groups. Curriculum is co-designed with IBM and CGI and delivered across the UK via online courses, in-person bootcamps, and inside custodial settings through HMPPS and Ministry of Justice pathways. All programmes are free at the point of delivery to eligible learners, with funding sourced from government contracts, corporate Social Value Partnerships, and donations.

Product overview

Breakthrough Social Enterprise operates as a multi-programme social enterprise delivering inclusive AI and digital skills training through Skills Bootcamps, Online Courses, and bespoke capacity building programmes. The core product portfolio includes the AI Skills Bootcamp, Future Skills Programme (for criminal justice-experienced individuals), and Leading in the Age of AI (IFATE-aligned Leadership & Management programme). Supporting modules include the Pre-Apprenticeship Readiness Programme (6-12 week bridge with Matrix-accredited pastoral support) and the bespoke AI Enablement Programme for Charities (3-stage: Discovery, Group Training, 1:1 Implementation). The Online Courses platform (courses.wearebreakthrough.co.uk) serves as the digital learning infrastructure, with programmes delivered via Google Classroom. All offerings embed AI ethics as foundational content and feed into employment progression pathways, with curriculum co-designed with IBM and CGI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Skills Bootcamp Free Skills Bootcamp focused on unlocking AI power to boost creativity and productivity, providing competitive edge and leadership capability with no tech background required. Targeted at eligible UK learners from underserved backgrounds.
• Future Skills Programme 4-week online course (100% via Google Classroom) for people with experience of the criminal justice system, covering AI basics, financial freedom, and personal agency, designed by people who have been to prison and built successful businesses.
• Leading in the Age of AI 10-week online Leadership & Management Bootcamp (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8pm-9pm) aligned to IFATE Level 3 Team Leader occupational standards, covering purpose-led leadership, AI integration, emotional intelligence, and strategic decision-making. Targeted at Hampshire residents per stated eligibility.
• Pre-Apprenticeship Readiness Programme 6 to 12 week structured readiness bridge covering AI literacy, workplace readiness, and wraparound Matrix-accredited pastoral support to ensure apprenticeship completion. Delivered via subcontract partnership with Learning Curve Group and available to other FE colleges and ITPs.
• AI Enablement Programme for Charities Bespoke three-stage AI capacity building for charities and non-profits: Discovery and Scoping, Group Training Session covering AI foundations, GDPR and ethics, and 1:1 Technical Implementation. Covers grant writing, volunteer management automation, and workflow optimisation.
• Online Courses Platform Digital learning platform at courses.wearebreakthrough.co.uk delivering virtual training programmes, including sessions in East Africa and integration with Google Classroom for structured online learning, free for eligible learners UK-wide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ associates trained in AI and digital skills
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Prince's Trust: UK youth charity supporting NEET young people into education, training, and employment. Comparable target population, government funding relationships, and employment outcome focus.
• Corndel: UK training provider specialising in leadership, management, and AI/data programmes for professionals. Overlaps on the Leading in the Age of AI programme, IFATE-aligned leadership curriculum, and UK Skills Bootcamps.
• Generation: Global nonprofit delivering employment-focused bootcamps for adults from underserved communities across multiple countries. Directly comparable mission, target population, and outcome-based training model.
• Catch22: UK social business delivering employment, education, and justice services including programmes for prison leavers. Comparable mission, justice-system delivery partnerships, and beneficiary cohort.
• Learning Curve Group: UK training provider and apprenticeship deliverer, currently a subcontract partner to Breakthrough. Direct overlap on apprenticeship delivery, Skills Bootcamps, and government-funded training markets.
• Ada National College for Digital Skills: UK college focused on digital skills and social mobility for underrepresented students. Comparable mission of opening tech careers to non-traditional backgrounds and direct overlap on digital training delivery.
• Multiverse: UK-based apprenticeship and skills bootcamp provider focused on digital and AI upskilling for enterprise clients. Overlaps directly on UK Skills Bootcamp funding streams, apprenticeship delivery, and AI curriculum positioning.
• Drive Forward Foundation: UK charity supporting care-experienced young people into sustained employment through coaching and employer partnerships. Comparable target population, employability outcomes focus, and corporate social value positioning.
• Shaw Trust: UK charity providing employment services, training, and justice-sector programmes including through-the-gate support. Comparable delivery model, government commissioning base, and beneficiary focus.

Emerging players

• Code for America: US nonprofit applying technology to improve public services and create pathways for underrepresented communities. Thematically comparable mission around inclusive technology access and government service delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wearebreakthrough
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/breakthrough-social-enterprise
• Facebookfacebook.com/BreakthroughSocialEnterprise

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Breakthrough Social Enterprise