Xpertise positioned as the number three IT training provider in the UK in independent research
Independent research firm IT Skills Research has ranked Xpertise as third in its annual list of the UK’s top 50 IT training providers.
IT Skills Research, which provides research and statistical information for the IT training industry, provides the annual table of top 50 IT training providers as a barometer for the industry. Each annual survey has charted Xpertise’s steady growth; this year, Xpertise has risen from eighth to third position – and is only just behind the number-two training provider based on annual turnover.
According to Managing Director Ian Johnson, Xpertise’s rise to the top is primarily as a result of three things. “We set a clear strategy for our business several years ago and have been very single-minded in sticking to that,” says Johnson. “This has given our business a stability and financial security that sets us apart. The second thing is that we have successfully expanded our portfolio of offerings way beyond IT training – specifically in growing very successful Project Management, Service Management and soft skills training business streams. These can be very difficult areas for IT training companies to enter with credibility, but now a large percentage of our turnover comes from these key areas. Finally, our growth in managed training services is outstanding – we are building a reputation as a leader in managed training and are winning long-term contracts with some of the UK’s best-known companies and government departments.”
To help boost its entry into the soft skills training arena, Xpertise acquired the soft skills training company Watermans – which is now a fully integrated division within Xpertise. Xpertise was already successful in professional skills training – for topics such as PRINCE2 and ITIL – but now has a real presence with personal, team and management development courses.
Xpertise’s managed training services has experienced strong growth, particularly during the last two years, and it is now a core part of the company’s business, with organisations often outsourcing their entire training to Xpertise, including the management of third-party suppliers.
Johnson is extremely confident about Xpertise’s prospects. “We recently posted outstanding preliminary financial results showing a 40% increase in revenue and an increase in profits of over 100%. These enviable financials, combined with the results of the IT Skills Research survey, clearly confirm Xpertise’s enhanced position in the market – and demonstrate our success in our chosen areas of business.”