Global Knowledge Training

Global Knowledge Training is a North Carolina-based company focusing on IT and technology training. The company works with individuals and organizations and provides a wide variety of courses, both online and in classrooms. Training is available in over one hundred countries through a worldwide partner network.

The company was established in 1995 and merged with Skillsoft in June 2021, making it one of the world's leading corporate learning companies. Global Knowledge Training has over 1000 employees and trains over 200,000 people a year. The company is an authorized training partner with Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Google, IBM, ITIL®, Microsoft, Red Hat® and VMware, and offers over 3200 different training courses.

Global Knowledge Training was acquired by SkillSoft for approximately $233 million. The deal was announced on October 13, 2020 and was part of a larger transaction in which SkillSoft was first merged with Churchill Capital Corp II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). That merger was valued at approximately $1.3 billion and, following the closing of the merger, the combined company acquired Global Knowledge Training from Rhône Group. The total combined transaction was valued at $1.5 billion. The combined company operates under Skillsoft and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Skillsoft's ticker symbol is SKIL.

On November 10, 2014, Rhône Group acquired Global Knowledge Training from MidOcean Partners. Global Knowledge Training was previously acquired by MidOcean Partners on October 25, 2011 from Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe for $145 million.

Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe invested in "Global Knowledge Network" in December 1995, the year Global Knowledge was founded. Global Knowledge Network became one of the country’s largest independent providers of training, enterprise learning services, and software solutions for information technology and management professionals. In 2008, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe sold Global Knowledge Network’s software subsidiary to Oracle for $170 million.

They kept the remaining training business, and in August 2009, Global Knowledge Network completed the acquisition of Canada’s largest corporate training firm, Nexient Learning. In 2007, Global Knowledge also acquired Synergy Professional Services to expand across the Middle East and Africa, and in 2006, the company acquired Azlan Training to expand into Europe.

In November 2019, Global Knowledge acquired Hodac Training B.V., consisting of companies Lerio and GK-Noord, to expand into the north of the Netherlands. In August 2017, Global Knowledge acquired ctc TrainCanada. In October 2015, Global Knowledge acquired DevelopMentor to expand its development training portfolio.

Global Knowledge Training offers seventeen annual subscriptions, based on the type of ongoing training offered. The unlimited subscription, GK Polaris, provides bundled unlimited training opportunities and allows a subscriber to access live streaming and/or recorded video and other content via the internet. GK Polaris has three tiers, Discovery at $2,999 per student per year, Accelerate at $360 per student per year and Launch at $99 per student per year.

Global Knowledge Training also offers ten different Cisco training subscriptions, three Red Hat subscriptions, a Citrix subscription, a VMware subscription and a Developer subscription with access to training on popular programming languages.

Global Knowledge Training offers five delivery formats for training to meet the diverse training needs of their customers: Virtual Classroom Live, Classroom Live, Blended Live, On-Demand, and Private Group Training.

Virtual Classroom Live is the most popular option, providing a live instructor in an online classroom environment with access to class recordings for twelve months. Classroom Live provides a live instructor for face-to-face instruction in a classroom equipped with workstations and learning materials. Blended Live combines instructor-led and on-demand training. On-Demand training allows students to learn from their own location and at their own pace, and private group training allows groups and organizations to schedule private, professional training sessions at the location of their choice.

Global Knowledge Training offers a wide selection of IT and technology training courses with over 3200 offered classes, including classes geared toward technology certifications.

Topics covered include 5G, Agile and Scrum, Analytics and Data Management, Application Development, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Blockchain, Business Analysis, Business Skills, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data Center, DevOps, Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise Data Storage, IT Policy and Governance, IT Service Management, Leadership and Management, Managing Remote Teams, Networking and Wireless, Project Management, Python, Unified Communications, and Virtualization.

Technology Brands covered include Adobe, Apple, Avaya, AWS, Cisco, Citrix, CompTIA, Google Cloud, IBM, (ISC)2, ITIL®, Juniper Networks, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Mirantis, Nutanix, Oracle, Palo Alto Networks, PMI, Red Hat®, ServiceNow, Veeam, and VMware.

Global Knowledge Training has fifteen offices around the world, with the US headquarters in Cary, North Carolina, the Canadian headquarters in Toronto and the Europe, Middle East and Africa headquarters in Wokingham, UK. They have classrooms in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and, via partnership, Colombia, India and Mexico.