With a new year upon us, you’re likely busy setting your learning and development (L&D) plan in motion.

Whether you’re looking for a new learning technology, exploring applications for artificial intelligence (AI) in L&D or focusing on bridging skills gaps with targeted solutions, training providers are working hard to roll out innovative solutions that support your L&D goals. These innovative efforts align with the varied reasons why organizations source training solutions: Recent Training Industry market research found that 80% of organizations source training solutions “for a variety of reasons,” from meeting regulatory requirements to bridging skills gaps and expertise within internal L&D teams.

Let’s take a moment to consider the deals that took place in the corporate training market last quarter, which reflect a demand for sales training and coaching, skills development solutions and more.

Sales Training

The sales training segment of the market saw consistent activity in 2024, such as Richardson’s acquisition of e4enable in February followed by its acquisition of Challenger in September, and SBI’s acquisition of Carabiner Group in May.

Last quarter, the sales training sector saw two deals:

• Alchemist, a U.K.-based L&D company specializing in leadership and sales training, acquired sales training company RAIN Group. The acquisition will help Alchemist improve its sales training capabilities and will help both companies expand their global reach.
• FullyRamped, a sales training startup, raised $2.3 million in funding to help upskill reps using AI-powered role-play.

Strategy, Alignment and Planning

Creating and implementing a talent development strategy is a tall order for many organizations. Typically, it requires taking stock of the skills employees currently have, identifying the skills they’ll need to support future business goals and determining a clear map for how to develop a future-ready workforce. Thus, it makes sense that providers are rolling out skills-based solutions for companies looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Last quarter, we saw two deals showcasing the need for skills development that support business agility:

• Guild, an education and skilling solutions provider, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nomadic Learning, a leading capability academy company. “Through the acquisition, Guild will offer Guild Academy as a distinct product within its product suite. Guild Academy will pair Guild’s Learning Marketplace of vetted, high-quality, and digital-first educational programs with Nomadic’s expert-led and business-specific curriculum,” the press release states.
• The Cegos Group, an L&D provider with a global presence, announced the acquisition of Interactive Workshops, an L&D provider with teams in the U.K. and New York. According to the press release, the acquisition will allow The Cegos Group to strengthen its position in the U.K., a key market for L&D solutions providers.

Other Deals by Market Segment

Artificial Intelligence:

• CoachHub, a global digital coaching platform, announced that it has secured a $42 million growth financing facility from HSBC Innovation Banking UK. The funding will enable CoachHub to accelerate its investment in AI and to further expand its product offerings.

Compliance:

• Ascend Learning, a leading provider of educational content and software tools for health care students, educational institutions and health systems, announced its acquisition of StaffGarden, a cloud-based, data-driven clinical talent development and compliance platform. “Ascend Learning strives to educate and empower a motivated, confident, and skilled healthcare workforce, a goal we proudly share with StaffGarden,” says Sean Burke, chief commercial officer of Ascend Learning, in the press release.

Learning Tech:

• XtremeLabsLLC, a provider of hands-on virtual labs and digital learning solutions, was acquired by Plymouth Publishing, an educational technology investment group.

IT and Technical Training:

• Global professional services company Accenture announced the acquisition of Award Solutions, a provider of training and consulting services in advanced wireless and network technologies, including 5G, internet of things and cloud-based solutions.

Leadership Training:

• Tenor, a provider of AI-driven leadership development solutions, announced a $5.4 million seed funding round led by Base10 Partners, with participation from Reach Capital and notable angel investors across the AI, human resources (HR) technology and learning spaces.

We expect corporate training providers to continue to deliver technology-driven, innovative solutions to address your L&D challenges throughout this year.

For now, let us know: What are your market predictions for 2025? Share your predictions and thoughts by tagging Training Industry on social media or by emailing editor@trainingindustry.com.