Lepaya absorbs UK training consultancy venture Speak First

A UK-based workforce upskilling consultancy, Speak First, has joined hands with its Dutch learning and development peer Lepaya, following an acquisition deal by the latter.

Speak First's consulting team has worked with more than 120 individual clients to deliver best upskilling practices to employees, giving them "soft skills to be even more successful."

Lepaya is on an acquisition spree, with the most recent acquisition coming in the form of Berlin-based AI in online coaching startup vCoach, which it acquired in September 2022. Lepaya had already acquired a data-driven training company, Smartenup, in 2020.

René Janssen, CEO and co-founder of Lepaya, said: "We are growing fast, and see both organic and inorganic growth as opportunities to transform the way enterprise companies build learning cultures.

"I am excited to add Speak First to our portfolio, and continue to push the envelope in relevance, quality, context, and technology. With Speak First on board, we not only extend our reach but take the next step in challenging traditional L&D players.”

Employee development isn't just about helping the business make productivity gains, it's about supporting the worker's ambition longer-term. Showing pride and loyalty to the employee can convince workers to stick around for longer.

Even if the employee leaves for pastures new, the upskilling they've taken with them can lead to positive-word-of-mouth, and future hires for their old employer.

Lepaya has raised $47 million of venture funds to date, most recently having secured $40 million in a Target Global-led series B last December, also backed by Mediahuis Ventures (the CVC for media group Mediahuis,) Tablomonto and assorted angel backers (Noor van Boven, Anna Brandt, Chris Zadeh and Jordy Kool.)