About us
Across the UK, Aptem is delighting training and employability providers, universities, colleges, tutors, assessors, employers and, most importantly, learners and jobseekers.
We were founded in 2009
There are over 100 of us
Supporting nearly 200 customers
And 130,000 learners and jobseekers
We’ve won 12 major industry awards
And have several certifications including ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, CHECK and Cyber Essentials Plus
Our partnership approach
Aptem was created to produce innovative technology products that support the delivery of complex, regulated skills and employability programmes. We have a simple mission – to develop technology that helps people find rewarding work and enables them to equip themselves with the skills they need to progress.
Our partnership approach
We believe in a partnership approach, which is why our team is made up of industry experts who have worked in training providers, colleges, universities and employability providers. We have the set up you’d expect from any leading SaaS provider, including consultative business development, implementation, customer success and support, product, engineering and supporting business functions.
Trusted by
Expert support throughout your time with us
You can be confident that our Product team works collaboratively with your day-to-day Aptem contacts. We are privileged to have industry experts across Aptem, and we provide many opportunities to gain feedback and insights from customers.
Helping you to get started with Aptem
Our Business Development team is highly experienced in the skills and employability sector, each with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by mid-sized to large ITPs, employability providers, universities, colleges and employer providers. They will take you through the product, helping you to assess whether it’s right for your organisation.
Providing unrivalled sector expertise
You can be confident that our Product team works collaboratively with your day-to-day Aptem contacts. We are privileged to have industry experts across Aptem, and we provide many opportunities to gain feedback and insights from customers.
Personalised implementation
Each Aptem customer is supported by a dedicated team of Implementation Consultants, all of whom have a proven track record in implementing apprenticeship delivery systems. Feedback on the support during this critical implementation period is consistently glowing.
Supporting you post-implementation
Our Customer Success and Customer Support teams manage the relationship post-implementation. They have backgrounds in supporting SaaS technology products combined with industry experience. In addition, we hold regular product training sessions with our Product Team.
Helping you get the most from your data
Your analytics requirements are supported by our Data Analytics and Research team, led by Chartered Psychologist Mark Abrahams.
Opportunities to join the Aptem community
We facilitate a network of industry peers. Customers are invited to become members of our forums and roundtables to come together regularly to discuss industry issues, product updates, and advise each other on delivery of apprenticeships. We run regular consultations with customers, giving them a voice in our product development.
Our story
2010
MyWorkSearch was formed to provide a scalable technology solution addressing unemployment following the 2008 financial crash.
2015
MyWorkSearch was one of the largest SaaS employability programme delivery providers.
2016
As unemployment declined, we pivoted our technology into Apprenticeships, rebranding as MWS Technology.
2017
Aptem launched with our first client – Corndel, and soon grew to service colleges, universities and training providers.
2020
Due to Covid we relaunched MyWorkSearch as Aptem Employ, securing large government contracts.
2022
Aptem is the market-leading, apprenticeship end-to-end platform, used by nearly 200 customers and 100k learners.
2024
Aptem is driving greater efficiency and quality for its customers through adoption of AI and language technology.
The things that matter to us - our company values
Expertise
We commit to build our knowledge and skills for the benefit of our business and our customers
Impact
We are outcome-focused, collaborate effectively, and use our time wisely to maximise our impact
Accountability
We take personal responsibility and ownership for our decisions, actions and results
Excellence
Quality underpins everything we do; we strive for operational excellence
Respect
We foster inclusivity and treat others with empathy and consideration
Proactivity
We grasp hold of opportunities to improve things, even if they are not our direct responsibility
Our leaders
We have a management team that represents all areas of the business, backed by a Board:
Richard Alberg
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Richard is Founder and Executive Chairman of Aptem. Prior to Aptem, Richard founded Psychometric Services Ltd (PSL). PSL developed and published psychometric tests and was a pioneer in the field of online recruitment, integrating assessment with recruitment workflow software. The company was purchased by Kenexa, that was in turn acquired by IBM. Richard co-founded Corndel, a highly successful apprenticeship training provider, and is non-executive director of Protocol Holdings Ltd.
Yetunde Ayodele
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Yetty joined Aptem in 2020. She is a chartered global management accountant with over 15 years’ experience managing, digitalising, and transforming finance and reporting functions across various industries. Yetty has spent the last 10 years of her career using data as an enabler to drive finance decision-making to enhance business performance. Yetty heads our finance team.
David Devine
CHIEF SALES OFFICER
David joined Aptem in 2018, bringing with him a wealth of experience, leading business development teams in large corporates and startups selling HR technology. In addition, David has over 10 years working in professional bodies implementing Frameworks and Standards in large multinationals and central government.
James Love
CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER
James leads the vision, strategy, and execution of innovative and scalable cloud-based technologies that empower education and employability providers to deliver better outcomes for learners and employers. He has over 15 years of experience in launching, growing, and maintaining market-leading B2B SaaS products for global scale-up and enterprise software development businesses.
Isla Lightfoot
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Isla joined Aptem in 2020, having previously consulted for brands including Nissan, Diageo, and HSBC. She developed and executed the marketing strategy for the largest change programme at Barclays, worked with Worldpay to set up their communications function and deliver their rebrand, and most recently set up the marketing function and rebranded Corndel. Isla holds a post-graduate with Distinction in Digital Marketing and is a member of the IDM. She is responsible for oversight and delivery of all marketing activities.
Rien Sach
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Rien joined Aptem in 2022 as Chief Technology Officer and became Chief Executive in 2025. Rien has a strong background in leading product development organisations in both VC and PE-backed companies, with a passion for building great products and creating empowered, motivated teams. Rien has a BSc in software engineering, a PhD in psychology and software engineering, and an Executive MBA.
Christine Weddell
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Christine joined Aptem in 2020. She is a chartered accountant and has extensive experience in process improvement and providing outstanding client service. Christine spent 10 years at PwC and prior to Aptem worked at a high growth technology start up leading the implementation function and client onboarding process. Christine is responsible for overseeing all business operations at Aptem.
Isla Lightfoot
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
Isla joined Aptem in 2020, having previously consulted for brands including Nissan, Diageo, and HSBC. She developed and executed the marketing strategy for the largest change programme at Barclays, worked with Worldpay to set up their communications function and deliver their rebrand, and most recently set up the marketing function and rebranded Corndel. Isla holds a post-graduate with Distinction in Digital Marketing and is a member of the IDM. She is responsible for oversight and delivery of all marketing activities.
Rien Sach
DEPUTY CEO AND CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
Rien joined Aptem in 2022. Rien has a strong background in leading product development organisations in both VC and PE-backed companies, with a passion for building great products and creating empowered, motivated teams. Rien has a BSc in software engineering, a PhD in psychology and software engineering, and an Executive MBA.
We're award winning and accredited
And we work with some fantastic organisations to deliver value beyond our products
Aptem news and events - get involved
We regularly host events and training, publish articles, white papers and eBooks, and commission research. Have a browse and get involved:
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Events
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Training
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Resources
Thought leadership webinars
The role of AI in addressing the challenges in the apprenticeship sector
Tuesday 17 June | 11am – 11.45am | Register here
Join our Head of Product, Dan Tiffany, and Account Director, Russell Edwards, for an insightful session exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming apprenticeship delivery and addressing key challenges in a rapidly evolving sector. You’ll get an inside look at Aptem Enhance’s suite of tools for streamlining delivery, empowering tutors, and driving better learner outcomes. Also, learn how data-driven insights help providers prove impact to employers, regulators, and funders.
How do training providers continue to improve their Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR)?
Tuesday 10 July | 10am – 11am | Register here
It was a delightful announcement and a highlight this year that as a sector we increased QARs to 60.5%. The mission continues to drive apprenticeships forward and some providers with lower QARs may have management conversations with DfE in the coming months.
This webinar brings together quality specialist Kerry Boffey from the Fellowship of Inspection Nominees (FIN) with Aptem’s implementation experts – Georgina Burton and Angela Metcalfe to discuss:
- How the DfE is approaching providers with lower QAR scores and what to expect if you get a call.
- How all providers can improve QAR.
- How Aptem can support QAR improvements with reporting, reviews, checkpoint, and virtual assistant.
Industry events
AELP National Conference 2025
Monday 23 June 2025 | Novotel London West Hammersmith, London
Aptem will be exhibiting at this year’s AELP National Conference. Come and talk to our team about Aptem’s latest feature releases and pick up latest guides, brochures, and case studies to help you get the most from our platform.
Book your tickets here.
UVAC National Conference 2025
Thursday 20 November 2025 | ICC, Birmingham
Aptem is proud to once again be the headline sponsor of the UVAC National Conference, taking place this November. This year’s theme is, ‘Change: Creating and Adapting to Apprenticeship and Skills Policy – Past, Present, and Future’. We look forward to reconnecting with our valued customers, partners, and the wider community at this important event.
You can read more information here.
Aptem customer events
aSpire 2025 – Aptem’s Customer Conference
Learn more about the conference
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Thursday 15 May 2025, for our inaugural Aptem customer conference. From personalised “how-to” sessions and hands-on workshops led by our industry partners to sessions with our Support Consultants, Implementation Consultants, and Customer Success Managers, we aimed to offer something for everyone. We hope you left full of fresh ideas, practical tips, and new connections.
We’re busy putting together a full post-event summary, packed with key insights, top takeaways, and highlights from each workshop. A gallery of photos and on-demand videos from the day will be available soon.
Product briefing webinars
Customers will be invited to these events via email.
Practical Aptem tips to keep you R14 ready
Thursday 26 June 2025 | 11am – 12pm
Training providers, universities, colleges, employers and employability providers tell us they value our industry expertise and insight.
Here is some recent content that you might find of interest:
- Case study: Driving success with Lifetime – Aptem’s impact on learning coaches, learners, and employers
- Webinar: Webinar: The latest on Functional Skills – sector analysis and recommendations
- Webinar: Webinar: Understanding the funding rules V2 2024-5, with Tony Allen
- Webinar: AI-powered innovation in apprenticeship delivery through Aptem Enhance
- The future of UCAS apprenticeships
- How operations optimisation can benefit vocational training providers
- Finding the best apprenticeship delivery platform
See all our articles here.
Latest eBook
eBook: Using Aptem to prepare for R14 data submission and the new academic year
Latest white paper
How Independent Training Providers (ITPs) can survive and thrive in an inflationary market
Previous white paper
Overcoming resistance to change: implementing new technology
Aptem Intelligence Dashboard
We have created a free dashboarding tool that makes it easy for apprenticeship providers to analyse trends, see offerings gaps, produce competitor analysis, and make data-driven strategic decisions from the ESFA data.
Access the Aptem Intelligence Dashboard here.
Latest case study: Hawk Training's implementation of Aptem
In this case study, the Aptem Team share their views of the exemplary approach taken by Hawk Training on this significant system change project, which holds the potential for transformative outcomes for their organisation.
We'd love to hear from you
The best way to experience our platform is through a consultative chat with one of our friendly experts. They can take you through the system and show you the benefits of Aptem that are most relevant to your business.
- Simplify your delivery with Aptem.
- Increase efficiency with workflows, automation and streamlined processes.
- Get insights into your delivery performance using Aptem's reporting tools.
