UK Training Market Sees Growth Amidst Evolving Demands
The UK training market, valued at approximately £4 billion in 2022, is projected to continue its growth trajectory. This expansion is fuelled by increasing workplace complexity, the imperative for continuous employee adaptation, burgeoning demand for lifelong learning, and persistent skills gaps.
Apprenticeships in England have shown a modest increase, with starts rising by 0.7% in the 2023/24 academic year to 339,580, and a further 4.1% increase to 353,500 in 2024/25. Participation also saw a 3.4% rise, reaching 761,500 in 2024/25. Notably, higher apprenticeships are gaining significant traction, increasing by 15.1% to 140,730 in 2024/25 and now constituting 39.8% of all starts. Despite this recent growth, overall apprenticeship starts in 2023/24 remained 13.7% lower than in 2018/19, indicating a need for sustained engagement efforts. Addressing the skills gap remains a top priority for 29% of UK learning professionals, as highlighted by the CIPD's 'Learning at Work 2023' report.
Irish Training Sector Driven by Regulatory Needs and Upskilling Initiatives
Ireland is demonstrating a strong commitment to lifelong learning, with participation rates increasing to 16% in Q4 2024, surpassing the National Skills Strategy target of 15% for 2025. Nearly 458,000 adults aged 25-64 engaged in formal or non-formal learning activities in Q4 2024, marking the highest number to date. The demand for QQI Level 6 Train the Trainer qualifications has surged, with training providers reporting a 40% increase in enrolments over the past two years. This rise is attributed to businesses seeking to reduce costs, improve training consistency, and meet increasingly stringent compliance requirements.
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) certification data for 2023 shows a continued recovery from the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. The number of learners attaining QQI awards increased from 2022, decelerating a general downward trend in Further Education and Training (FET) awards and accelerating growth in Higher Education (HE) awards. In 2023, 96% of registered QQI providers were active, certifying awards. FET awards saw a 13% increase from 2022, with 181,754 awards, while HE awards increased by 3%, totalling 12,967. A record number of over 400,000 FET places were taken up in Ireland in 2024, representing significant growth and demand for FET, apprenticeships, and construction skills training. Skillnet Ireland's 2024 Annual Report also highlights increased participation in digital and sustainability upskilling, with 14,711 workers benefiting from digital skills programmes (a 16% increase) and 7,720 workers upskilled for the green economy (a 7% increase).
Health and Safety Training Remains Critical Across Both Nations
Workplace health and safety continues to be a significant area of focus for training. In the UK, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) reported 680,000 workers sustained a non-fatal workplace injury in 2024/25. Manual handling, lifting, and carrying accounted for 17% of these injuries. The total annual cost of injuries and new cases of ill health in the UK was estimated at £22.9 billion for 2023/24, with ill health accounting for £16.4 billion and injuries for £6.5 billion. Employers bore £4.3 billion of these costs. There were 124 worker fatalities in work-related accidents in 2024/25.
Related training: If you are looking to qualify as a trainer in this area, see train the trainer courses or explore TAQA assessor courses for nationally recognised UK and Ireland qualifications.
In Ireland, manual handling remains the leading cause of non-fatal workplace injury. The HSA Annual Review 2025 (covering 2023–2024 data) revealed 3,474 reported incidents related to manual handling, representing approximately 33% of all workplace injuries. These figures underscore the critical need for robust risk management and effective training to mitigate both human and financial costs. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) reported a record low rate of work-related fatalities in Ireland in 2024, with 33 deaths, down from 43 in 2023. The fatality rate per 100,000 workers decreased from 2.7 in 2015 to 1.2 in 2024. However, high-risk sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and fishing (12 fatalities) and construction (5 fatalities) continue to account for a significant proportion of these incidents.
Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) research highlights worrying gaps in CPR training. A report titled 'Every Second Counts: Tackling inequalities in resuscitation' found that over a third (38%) of UK adults have never undertaken any form of CPR training. Disparities exist across ethnic minority groups, with almost 6 in 10 (59%) reporting a lack of CPR skills and knowledge, and only 22% having received training in the last decade. In Northern Ireland, only 55% of people have received CPR training, with a notable disparity between the least deprived (62%) and most deprived (53%) populations. RCUK advocates for CPR training to be part of driving licence tests to address these inequalities.
For further insights into the evolving training landscape and to ensure your organisation remains compliant and competitive, consider the expert services offered by Abertay Training, available at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk.