The market for off the shelf elearning is growing and evolving, with high demand now for online training courses that are ready to go.
Many companies do not see the point in re-inventing the wheel and building out their own health and safety or business skills course. Rather, they are using off the shelf content and “bookending” with their own materials to add context to the training.
Off the shelf materials are changing in their nature, as organisations demand more from vendors in the way of quality and engagement.
Online course providers have responded with innovative new materials, using video and compelling animations in short and snappy bursts. Materials are increasingly mobile-enabled and impactful.
Large exchanges of content from multiple vendors are excluded in this list, as we focus on the top elearning course providers – companies who create engaging and effective content.
Learning Pool e-Learning Content
Learning Pool have built out a sizable library of e-learning content that covers many of the topics faced by all organisations.
The materials are of high-quality and engaging with rich graphics and imagery. Audio is often not provided on the courses.
Learning is experiential in that learners move through the courses using the Adapt Learning tool.
Topics covered: Business, Social Care, Financial Services, Government, Health, Hospitality, Housing, School Governance and Core Skills.
Our view: Well worth considering for range and quality.
Browse the e-learning catalogues at Learning Pool, who have offices in Belfast, Brighton, Derry and Nottingham.
Virtual College Online Training
West Yorkshire based Virtual College have built out one of the most comprehensive libraries of online training courses on the UK market, with excellent design and a very commendable emphasis on accessibility.
Articulate is the principle design environment and Virtual College are experts in enhancing this elearning authoring tool to produce some really good elearning courses.
Topics covered include: Food Hygiene, Fire Safety, Business, Construction, Nutrition, Equality & Diversity, Hospitality, Health & Safety, Housing, Management, Retail, Safeguarding and Work Skills.
Our view: Quality, accessibility and a comprehensive range.
Browse the Virtual College online training courses on their website.
Excel with Business
Started by three Strategy and Management Consultants with the goal of helping people to improve their use of Microsoft Excel in business context, rather than with too much focus on the technical aspects of the software itself.
The London based company has now expanded its offering to include a wide range of business and technical training courses.
Topics covered include: Microsoft Office packages, Finance, Business Skills, Web Development, Programming, Data Science and Game Design.
Our view: One of the leaders in online training for business and Microsoft Office skills.
Look through the Excel with Business course store for the full range.
Safety Media
The clue is in the name, and Safety Media produce excellent and engaging video led elearning modules dealing with health and safety, UK legal compliance issues and related topics.
This company knows its domain and knows how to make video-led elearning in the context of the workplace.
Topics covered include: Accident reporting (RIDDOR), Asbestos Awareness, COSHH, Display Screen Awareness (DSA), Anti-Money Laundering, Bribery Act, Data Protection, Health and Safety for Managers, Food Safety Level 1, 2 and 3.
Our view: Video led materials in the context of the workplace that really work.
Explore the Safety Media course library.
Train4Academy
This well-established East Yorkshire company is one of the leading providers of online compliance training in the UK, offering courses accredited by IOSH, CIEH and RoSPA.
If you need a food hygiene certificate for work in catering, manufacturing or retail, they offer food safety courses at Level 1, 2 and 3. As well as accredited training, they offer safety and elearning news and advice on their Academy Buzz blog.
Topics covered include: Asbestos Awareness, Working at Height, COSHH, Food Safety for Catering, Retail and Manufacturing, Manual Handling and Fire Safety.
Our view: A great choice for compliance training with accreditations recognised at all levels.
See the full Train4Academy course list on their site.
Litmos Heroes
Litmos Heroes are a new force in the market offering a Netflix style subscription model to a library of elearning that is growing continually. Known as Learning Heroes until the company was acquired by Litmos in 2017.
The materials are slimmed down for effect and offer a pacey and engaging exposition of topics that many organisations will find useful.
Topics covered include: Communication and Social Skills, Customer Service, Retail, FCA Compliance, Finance, Health and Safety, Housing, HR, IT Skills and Project Management.
Our view: If you are looking for a library – well worth a look.
Browse the Litmos Heroes courses.
Engage in Learning
This company really understands learning design and is building out some excellent online training health and safety and leadership and management.
The use of Google Translate in the courses is very effective indeed, so if you are looking to provide learning in multiple languages in your organisation quickly and easily, take a look.
Topics covered: Business Compliance, Compliance, Customer Service, Health and Safety, IT & Project Management, and Leadership & Management.
Our view: Stylish learning with added value, great for multi-language training.
Look through the ready to use elearning from Engage in Learning.
Kineo
Kineo has built out a range of “essentials” using Adapt as the authoring environment. These are clearly modern and effective pieces of e-learning that are well-designed and very effective. This is an e-learning masterclass in modern learning design.
Topics covered: Compliance & Onboarding, Leadership & Management, Effective Trainer Development, Hospitality & Catering.
Our view: Quality materials, producing excellent learning.
Browse the EssentialsPlus off-the-shelf training offered by Kineo.
Eliesha
Cardiff and Newcastle based Eliesha have built out a most interesting range of e-learning courses called Pearls of Wisdom.
These are short expositions produced as simple slides that can really nail a topic succinctly and effectively in about 4 minutes or so.
Topics covered include: Project Planning & Management, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Effective Communication, Problem Solving, Health & Wellbeing, Customer Service and Leadership & Management.
Our view: Snappy and effective micro-learning for bite-size training.
Browse over 70 elearning Micro Toolkits at Eliesha.
Cloudtrainer
For years, Cloudtrainer have delivered health and safety related courses to some big names via 3rd parties.
They are now offering low-cost, bite-size online courses including IATP asbestos awareness training to the wider market, from small businesses through to large corporates.
Topics covered: Asbestos Awareness and Office Health and Safety.
Our view: Excellent, video-based training focused on asbestos awareness and office health and safety.
Learn about the office health and safety course at Cloudtrainer, who are based in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Eukleia Training
With offices in London and New York, Eukleia is a market leader in risk and compliance solutions, principally in financial services.
These materials are designed to support individuals in making complex decisions in highly regulated environments and they do that very well by employing excellent learning design, often using roles and scenarios.
Topics covered: Induction, Risk Management, Cyber Security, Governance, Competition and Workplace Law, Conduct, Ethics, Financial Crime and the Consumer Credit Act.
Our view: Aligned and designed for very good effect in the field of regulatory compliance.
Take a look at the Eukleia elearning course catalogue.

Av Srivastava
eLearning Marketing Consultant
About Av
Av Srivastava is an elearning writer and marketing consultant who has worked with a range of learning solution providers in the UK and worldwide.
He researches and writes about the latest and best elearning solutions to help buyers choose the ideal company for their needs.
He also helps great elearning companies to understand their perfect customers, get the visibility they deserve, and develop steady streams of inbound enquiries.