The UK market for IT training reached £661m at current prices in 2006. There has been a shift in emphasis from technical training to IT-user training, which has fuelled growth. Key Note estimates that, in 2007, the market will increase by a further 8%.

A growing trend towards blended learning has started to lessen the gap that was previously identified between instructor-led and technology-based training, since both of these elements are now often requested in a training package. Other trends include the growing demand for one-to-one, tailored, on-premise training courses, and just-in-time, online training modules.

The decision-making for IT training continues to become more centralised in company training departments. This, in turn, is continuing to lead to major companies consolidating their purchasing among a small number of training vendors. Larger vendors clearly have an advantage when bidding for such large contracts, particularly as major companies also seek to outsource all, or part, of their training management to vendors.

Although the market remains fragmented, the leading 15 providers share almost 50% of the market by value. There are signs of consolidation in the industry in the form of acquisitions and partnerships, as players position themselves strategically in order to cater for the demands required by customers looking for a blended learning solution, and/or to outsource the management of their training.

Between 2008 and 2012, steady growth is forecast to continue, with the market increasing by between 7.4% and 8.2% year-on-year. The major growth sectors of the market will be blended learning and managed services/outsourcing. At the same time, an increased drive by the Government to see the higher education sector play a greater role in the provision of advanced-level IT skills could start to change the dynamics of competition in the IT training market.

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