Background
Founded in 2018, Apprentify Group has grown from a small start-up into a collective of independent training providers, skills bootcamp specialists, and recruitment businesses, delivering training nationwide and globally. In 2022, the team at Apprentify identified the need to transform the newly acquired Netcom into a flexible, blended learning provider without losing the quality and engagement of its face-to-face delivery.
The Challenge
Netcom’s target learners often face significant barriers to traditional classroom learning, including limited transport options, childcare responsibilities, and demanding work schedules. As such, the company needed:
- Flexible delivery for learners unable to attend in person.
- Integrated tools for both synchronous and asynchronous learning.
- Improved retention by identifying and supporting at-risk learners early.
- Scalable systems to reach more students without compromising quality.
Before Canvas, Netcom relied heavily on Microsoft Teams and shared folders, which created a fragmented learner experience and lacked the analytics to track progress effectively.
The Solution
In late 2023, Apprentify Group implemented Canvas LMS for Netcom Training, piloting blended delivery with integrated third-party tools, modular learning packages, and Microsoft integration.
Customisability was a major factor in the decision, alongside cost-effectiveness for a funded training environment.
We needed more than just an online classroom. Canvas gave us a central, customisable space where we could build programmes around our learners’ needs - not force them into a rigid structure. The difference in the learning experience was night and day.
Dale Walker
Director of Education
Implementation
Working with Instructure’s Customer Success and Implementation teams, Apprentify received tailored onboarding sessions for administrators and trainers, focusing on real-world use cases and best practice from other institutions.
It wasn’t just a lecture. Working with Instructure’s Customer Success and Implementation teams was a two-way process where we could bring our questions and get practical answers. Their support gave us the confidence to scale quickly.
Dale Walker
Director of Education
Results
From a handful of pilot courses in April 2024, Netcom rapidly expanded to hundreds of active learners on Canvas.
The impact was clear across all key metrics used in the Adult Skills sector:
- Completion rates rose significantly compared to non-Canvas courses.
- Achievement rates (learners gaining their certificates) also increased, with some courses seeing 10–20% improvements.
- Early identification of at-risk learners reduced withdrawals.
- The improved learner experience enhanced Apprentify’s competitive position.
We’ve seen more people finish their courses, more people achieve, and ultimately, more funding secured for the business. The analytics in Canvas help us intervene early and keep learners engaged.
Dale Walker
Director of Education
Apprentify has since extended Canvas beyond Netcom Training to other brands in the Group, confident in the platform’s ability to deliver a premium, flexible learning experience to diverse audiences.
If Canvas works with some of the most challenging learner demographics in our sector, it works anywhere. For us, it’s the platform we’ll be building on for years to come.
Dale Walker
Director of Education
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