How to Get Your First Corporate Training Client in 2026

Landing your first corporate training client can feel like a catch-22. Companies want to see evidence of your experience, but you need clients to build that track record. If you're a training provider looking to break into the corporate sector in 2026, the good news is that the UK corporate training market is growing significantly. The market reached £15.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to £28.8 billion by 2033, driven by demand for employee upskilling and compliance training. The challenge is positioning yourself to get corporate training clients when you're starting from scratch. 

Here's how to approach it strategically. 

Understand What Corporate Clients Actually Want 

Before you start pitching, it's worth understanding what drives corporate training decisions. Companies aren't just looking for content delivery. They want measurable outcomes, compliance assurance, and providers who understand their sector's specific challenges. 

Corporate clients typically prioritise: 

- Demonstrable ROI and impact on business performance 

- Accredited training that meets regulatory requirements 

- Flexible delivery formats that minimise workplace disruption 

- Evidence of quality assurance and professional standards 

This is where CPD accreditation can become particularly valuable. It signals to corporate buyers that your training meets recognised quality benchmarks and contributes to their employees' ongoing professional development. 

Build Credibility Before You Have Corporate Training Clients 

The absence of corporate clients doesn't mean you lack credibility. You simply need to demonstrate it differently. 

Leverage existing qualifications and expertise.  

If you've delivered training in other contexts (such as adult education, community programmes, or public sector work), document these experiences. Case studies from non-corporate settings can still showcase your training methodology and learner outcomes. 

Gain recognised accreditation. 

CPD certification for your courses can provide independent validation of quality. For corporate clients evaluating unfamiliar providers, third-party accreditation may help reduce perceived risk and position you alongside more established competitors. 

Create compelling proof of concept. 

Consider offering a free or heavily discounted pilot session to a business in your network. Document the outcomes thoroughly. One well-executed case study with measurable results can be more persuasive than theoretical pitches alone. 

Develop thought leadership. 

Write articles, create LinkedIn content, or speak at industry events about training topics relevant to your target sector. This can help establish your expertise without requiring client testimonials. 

Target the Right First Corporate Training Client 

Not all corporate clients are equally accessible to new providers. Your first client should be strategically chosen to maximise your chances of success. 

Start with SMEs, not enterprises. Small and medium-sized businesses typically have shorter procurement processes, fewer bureaucratic hurdles, and may show greater willingness to work with newer providers. They're often more budget-conscious, which can work in your favour if you're competitively priced. 

Look for sector alignment. 

If you have previous experience in healthcare, target care providers or medical practices. Background in hospitality? Approach hotels or catering businesses. Sector knowledge can help compensate for lack of corporate training track record. 

Use your existing network. Your first client is often someone who already knows you or has been referred by someone who does. Former colleagues, professional associations, and LinkedIn connections can be more valuable than cold outreach at this stage when you're trying to get corporate training clients. 

Consider businesses with compliance training needs. 

Companies facing regulatory requirements for staff training have ongoing demand. If your courses meet specific compliance standards, you may be solving a mandatory problem rather than competing for discretionary training budgets. 

Make Your Offer Attractive to Potential Clients 

When approaching potential first clients, your offer needs to address their natural hesitation about working with an unproven provider. 

Package training with clear outcomes. Rather than selling a course, consider framing your training around specific business objectives. For example, you might focus on outcomes like improved onboarding efficiency or regulatory compliance achievement, rather than generic skill development. 

Reduce their risk.  

You might offer flexible payment terms, performance-based pricing elements, or satisfaction guarantees. Making it financially lower-risk can encourage businesses to give you an opportunity. 

Emphasise your accreditation status.  

If your training is CPD certified, highlight this in your marketing materials. It demonstrates that an independent body has assessed your quality standards and that participants will receive recognised professional development. 

Propose a manageable pilot. 

Rather than pitching a year-long contract initially, consider offering a single session or short programme that lets them evaluate your delivery with minimal commitment. 

Deliver Exceptional Results to Get More Corporate Training Clients 

Your first client can become your gateway to additional opportunities. The quality of your delivery and the outcomes you generate will influence whether this becomes a sustainable business. 

Exceed expectations.  

Aim to deliver more value than promised. This might include additional resources, follow-up support, or customisation beyond the agreed scope. 

Document everything. 

Measure pre- and post-training competence where possible, gather participant feedback, and track business impact. This data can become valuable evidence for future proposals when you're working to get corporate training clients. 

Request testimonials and case studies. 

Before the project ends, secure written testimonials and permission to use the client as a reference. Video testimonials can be particularly effective for future marketing. 

Ask for introductions. 

Satisfied clients may know other businesses with similar training needs. A personal introduction can be significantly more effective than cold outreach when trying to get corporate training clients. 

Position Yourself for Sustainable Growth 

Winning your first corporate training client is the beginning of building a sustainable training business. 

Maintain quality standards. 

As you develop new courses and refine existing ones, continuing to meet recognised standards like CPD accreditation can reinforce your commitment to quality as you scale. 

Develop specialisation. 

Rather than being a generalist, consider becoming known for excellence in a specific training niche or sector. Specialists often face less direct competition when working to get corporate training clients. 

Build systems, not one-offs. Create repeatable processes for needs analysis, content delivery, and impact measurement. This can allow you to serve more clients efficiently. 

Stay connected. 

Many corporate training relationships develop into ongoing partnerships rather than one-off transactions. Regular check-ins, sharing relevant industry insights, and proposing additional training as business needs evolve may help turn one client into a long-term relationship. 

Your Path to Getting Corporate Training Clients 

Getting your first corporate training client in 2026 requires more than good course content. It demands strategic positioning, risk reduction for the buyer, and credible quality signals like CPD accreditation. 

The providers who succeed in getting corporate training clients aren't necessarily those with the most experience or the largest marketing budgets. They're often the ones who understand what corporate clients need, can demonstrate value convincingly, and deliver results that encourage referrals. 

Your first client may be within your existing network, facing a training challenge you can solve, and looking for a provider who offers both quality assurance and competitive value. With the right approach, that first contract can become the foundation for a growing corporate training business.