UK Training Market Sees Significant Growth, Driven by E-Learning and Upskilling Needs

The UK corporate e-learning market is projected for substantial growth, having generated an estimated USD 4,605.4 million in 2024. Forecasts indicate a rise to USD 13,300.1 million by 2030, demonstrating a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.5% from 2025 to 2030. This growth underscores a significant shift towards digital learning solutions within the corporate sector. Instructor-led training, however, remains a dominant force, holding the largest revenue share in 2024 and registering the fastest growth during the forecast period.

Overall, the UK corporate training market reached USD 16.3 billion in 2025 and is expected to hit USD 29.1 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 6.34% from 2026 to 2034. Key drivers for this expansion include the increasing demand for employee upskilling, technological advancements, the growing need for compliance and regulatory training, and a focus on improving organisational efficiency and productivity.

AI's Transformative Role and Skills Gaps

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the training landscape. Research from May 2024 revealed that 61% of all UK workers desire training in generative AI, with over half of 18-24 year-olds already utilising generative AI for workplace skill development. Despite this enthusiasm, a significant number of employees (70%) who use AI at work do so without formal training, often learning through experimentation or informal tip-sharing. This highlights a critical need for structured AI literacy and training programmes.

Furthermore, a 2024 UK government document indicated a high skills shortage of 27% in 2024, an increase from 16% in 2011. Financial investment in training per employee has concurrently fallen by 29.5% since 2011 in inflation-adjusted terms. This suggests a growing disparity between the demand for new skills, particularly in technology, and the investment made by employers to address these gaps. Only half of British workers are allocated dedicated time for learning, despite 90% of CEOs acknowledging the critical need for learning and development.

Irish Training Landscape: Lifelong Learning and Health & Safety Focus

Ireland is demonstrating a strong commitment to lifelong learning, with its participation rate increasing to 16% in Q4 2024, up from just under 14% in Q4 2023. This figure surpasses the National Skills Strategy target of 15% for 2025. Nearly 458,000 adults aged 25-64 in Ireland engaged in formal and/or non-formal learning activities in the last quarter of 2024, marking the highest number of adult lifelong learners to date. Ireland consistently reports high rates of third-level educational attainment, with 55.0% of people aged 25-74 having a third-level qualification in 2025, the highest in the EU.

Related training: If you are looking to qualify as a trainer in this area, see online fire safety training or explore online manual handling training for nationally recognised UK and Ireland qualifications.

Persistent Challenges in Workplace Safety Training

Despite advancements in training, workplace safety remains a critical area of focus in both the UK and Ireland. In Ireland, manual handling continues to be the leading cause of non-fatal workplace injuries. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) reported 3,474 incidents related to manual handling in their 2025 Annual Review (covering 2023-2024 data), accounting for approximately 33% of all workplace injuries. This highlights the ongoing need for effective manual handling training and risk assessment.

In the UK, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reported 124 worker fatalities in work-related accidents in 2024/25. The annual cost of workplace injury in 2023/24 was estimated at £6.5 billion, with 4.4 million working days lost due to non-fatal injuries in 2024/25. Slips, trips, or falls accounted for 30% of non-fatal injuries, while handling, lifting, or carrying contributed to 17%. The construction industry, in particular, faces significant risks, with deaths making up around 20% of all workplace fatalities in the UK. An average of 54,000 injuries occur annually in construction, representing 2.4% of workers in the sector.

CPR Training Gaps Identified

The Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) has highlighted significant gaps in CPR training across the UK. A report in June 2024 indicated that over a third (38%) of UK adults have never undertaken any form of CPR training. Disparities are evident, with nearly 6 in 10 (59%) people from ethnic minority groups reporting a lack of CPR skills and knowledge. New research commissioned by RCUK in April 2025 also revealed that almost 4 in 10 students (38%) have not received CPR training in school, despite policies introduced since 2019 to ensure it is taught.

For more insights into the evolving training landscape and to explore effective training solutions, visit Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk.