Buyer FAQ
Common questions from buyers using Skillyard to find independent UK business training and coaching. If your question isn't here, drop us a note through the contact page.
What is Skillyard?
Skillyard is a national online directory of independent UK training and coaching businesses. It exists to make it easier for buyers to find the right trainer for their needs and to help independent trainers get discovered by businesses that would otherwise never hear about them.
Is it free to use?
Yes. Browsing categories, filtering results, contacting trainers and using the finder tool are all free for buyers. Skillyard is funded by a subscription paid by the trainers who list on the site, not by fees on buyers or commission on bookings.
How do I find the right trainer for my needs?
Three routes work well depending on how clear your need is. If you know the category, browse it directly from the categories page and use the filters to narrow by region, town, delivery format and funding options. If you know what you want in words, the search box handles free-text queries. If you're not sure yet or don't know how to describe what you need, the finder offers an AI powered search to make sense of what's in your head and point you to relevant listings.
How are trainers listed on Skillyard?
Trainers submit their own listing through the trainer sign-up form. Every listing is reviewed by our team of human reviewers before it goes live, to check that the trainer is a genuine independent UK training or coaching business, that the listing is accurate and that it fits our editorial standards. Listings that don't fit are rejected with feedback.
Are trainers vetted or checked?
Every listing goes through a manual review at the point of submission. The review checks that the business is real, that the trainer is an independent operator rather than an aggregator or lead-generation platform, and that the listing details are accurate. Skillyard does not, however, assess the quality of a trainer's delivery. That is for you to judge through your own conversations, references and calls.
What does "independent" mean here?
Independent means the listed businesses are training providers. Sole traders and small partnerships qualify, small independent training businesses or larger training corporations also fit. What you won't find on Skillyard are aggregator marketplaces and lead-generation platforms, government-run further education establishments or schools, colleges and universities.
How do I contact a trainer?
Every listing shows the trainer's direct contact details, typically an email address, phone number, website and any social profiles they've chosen to include. You contact them directly. Skillyard does not sit between you and the trainer, does not track the conversation and does not take a share of any work that follows.
Can I save trainers to come back to later?
Yes. On any trainer's page you can add them to your shortlist and a link appears in the menu to view the trainers you've saved. It's handy for comparing a few options before you decide who to contact. Your shortlist is completely private. Trainers can't see who has shortlisted them and we don't record or store it at our end. To save you a sign-up, it lives only in your own browser, which means it won't follow you to another device and it'll be cleared if you wipe your browser data. So if you've built a shortlist you want to keep, reach out to your favourites before you clear it.
Does Skillyard take a fee from the training I book?
No. Skillyard is funded by trainer subscriptions, not by commission on bookings. When you engage a trainer you found through Skillyard, the price you agree with them is the price you pay them. Skillyard is not part of that conversation. Nothing goes to Skillyard from that transaction.
How is the order of listings decided?
The order in which listings appear on a category page shuffles daily. This is deliberate. It gives every trainer a fair chance of visibility over time and prevents the top few from dominating the results permanently. Filters and search work the same way underneath. Trainers cannot pay to rank higher. Our aim is to connect you with the right training provider, not the one who had the most money to spend on getting to the top of the search results.
Can I leave a review of a trainer?
Not yet. Skillyard does not currently host reviews or ratings. Review systems on training marketplaces tend to reward volume providers over specialists and can be gamed in ways that mislead buyers. We may introduce a considered approach to feedback in future, but only if we can do it in a way that helps buyers rather than distorts the market.
What if I can't find what I'm looking for?
Try the finder if you haven't already. It's designed for exactly this situation. If the finder doesn't help either, get in touch with us through the contact page. We'll either point you to trainers we know but haven't yet indexed, or make a note of the gap and work to fill it. Skillyard is still growing and we appreciate the feedback.
Does Skillyard cover the whole UK?
Yes. Skillyard is a national directory covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Trainers list the specific regions and towns they serve and you can filter by location to find training providers who work in your area. Online-only trainers are also indexed and can be filtered separately.
How do I know a trainer's information is up to date?
Trainers manage their own listings and are expected to keep them current. If a training provider's subscription lapses their page will be removed. So in theory all lsitings should be current. But if you find one that's not working, or the links are dead, please let us know via the contact page and we'll get on it.
Does Skillyard guarantee results?
No. Skillyard is a directory, not a broker. We help you find independent trainers who might fit your needs, but the outcome of any engagement is between you and the trainer you choose to work with. We recommend having a call with two or three trainers before deciding and reading through our guides for tips on briefing providers and making training stick.