Pitman Training Group

ParentLaunchLife International Inc.Websitewww.pitman-training.com

Pitman Training Group, Limited, is a private limited company based in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The company provides training and educational services, offering both online and paper-based tests for various educational qualifications. Established in 1837, Pitman Training has its roots in the invention of shorthand by Sir Isaac Pitman.^[1][2]

In 1837, Pitman Training’s founder, Sir Isaac Pitman, invented shorthand writing and published his system in a pamphlet titled Sound-Hand.^[2]

Less than a decade later in 1843, Pitman established the Phonetic Institute in Bath, which served as both a publishing house and a marketing centre.^[3] His shorthand system gained prominence when he accurately transcribed a speech by Richard Cobden against the Corn Laws.^[3] That year, the UK Parliament adopted Pitman's shorthand system for preparing Hansard, the official transcripts of parliamentary records.^[4]

Pitman's Metropolitan College was established in 1870, offering a curriculum that included office procedures, accounting, law, shorthand, and typing.^[3]

In 1886, Isaac Pitman formed Isaac Pitman and Sons (later Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons) with his sons Alfred and Ernest, which became a significant educational publisher and training business.^[5]

During World War I, Pitman expanded its operations to meet the increased demand for typing and bookkeeping skills, opening a centre in Croydon in 1914^[6]

In 1955, Pitman Training became the most extensive training network in the United Kingdom.^[7]

Much later, in 1992, the company established its franchise operations, opening four new Pitman Training Centres. In that same year, it received its British Franchise Association (BFA) membership.^[8]

On 30 November 2018, EdTech company LaunchLife International Inc. (LLI) acquired Pitman Training Group, expanding its education franchise network.^[9]

In 2019, Pitman Training introduced courses and programmes to enhance digital skills, responding to evolving workforce needs.^[10]

Then, in 2021, Pitman Training announced its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, adopting sustainable practices across its training centres.^[11]

In 2023, the company launched a scholarship programme to support underprivileged students, providing financial aid and resources.^[12]

Pitman Training offers over 250 courses and qualifications across various sectors, all marked by external examiners to an ISO 9001 quality standard.^[13][14]

• Office Skills
• Secretarial Training
• Bookkeeping
• Web design
• Marketing

Training is delivered at over 65 UK, Ireland, and international centres.^[13]

Pitman Training has partnered with several educational bodies, including:

• AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)^[15]
• BCS (British Computer Society)^[15]
• Digital Marketing Institute|DMI (Digital Marketing Institute)^[15]
• City and Guilds (City and Guilds)^[15]

In 2020, Pitman Training partnered with Amazon's Career Choice program, which aims to upskill Amazon employees interested in advancing their careers.^[16]

Pitman Training has received numerous awards and recognitions:

• Best Low Budget Campaign of the Year at the Northern Marketing Awards (2014)^[17]
• In-House Team of the Year (North) at the PR Moment Awards (2015)^[18]
• Finalist at the HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards (2015)^[19]
• Recognised in the Executive Education, Training and Development category of the 2017 Super Brands list^[20]
• Franchise of the Year, Service Provider in the Irish Franchise Awards (2018)^[21]
• Best Franchise Marketing Support in the Best Franchise Awards (2018-2022)^[22]
• Best Education Franchise in the Best Franchise Awards (2019)^[22]
• Franchisor of the Year and Best Franchisee Training & Support in the Best Franchise Awards (2020)^[22]
• Best Online Training Platform from the Corporate Livewire Innovation & Excellence Awards (2018)^[23]
• Best E-Learning Platform from the Corporate Livewire Innovation & Excellence Awards (2019)^[23]
• Best Vocational Training Provider from the Corporate Livewire Innovation & Excellence Awards (2020)^[23]
• Excellence in Online Learning at the Global Education Awards (2023)^[24]
• Recognised as a Superbrand in the UK by Superbrands UK in Education, Training, and Development (2018-2022)^[25]

The company also runs its annual Super Achievers Awards for its students, including categories such as PA of the Year, Working Mum/Dad of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year.^[26]

• Pitman Training