# Acquisition creates a UK & Global leader to help organisations win in the Digital Revolution Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-07-06 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: QA Acquires Circus Street: Boosting Digital Skills Meta Description: QA, #1 Technology skills org merges with global leader Circus Street to offer critical training in digital marketing, data analytics and more for digital URL: https://financedigest.com/acquisition-creates-a-uk-global-leader-to-help-organisations-win-in-the-digital-revolutionhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/big-ben-with-traffic-at-nightm1rgqmou-1736838227509-compressed.jpg) QA, owned by CVC Capital Partners VI, today announced the acquisition of Circus Street, a global leader in providing commercial digital skills including ecommerce, data analytics and digital marketing skills through its subscription-based, proprietary digital platform. QA, the UK’s #1 Technology skills organisation, with a growing US presence, provides the critical training and talent solutions that technology functions require to help their organisations win in the Digital Revolution, spanning critical disciplines such as cloud computing, cyber security, software engineering, data, and agile. By bringing the two companies together QA can now also help organisations build their capabilities in the essential digital marketing and data analytics skills that commercial functions also require to win. Circus Street, founded in 2009 by brothers Richard and Jonny Townsend, is an award-winning online training solution which allows [global businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-the-year-of-the-global-workforce-for-british-small-businesses.html "2021: The Year of the Global Workforce for British small businesses ") to build and develop digital capabilities across their organisation at scale. Its library of engaging, entertaining, and informative [lessons delivered through its world-leading learning](https://www.financedigest.com/learning-the-lessons-of-the-bangladesh-bank-heist.html "LEARNING THE LESSONS OF THE BANGLADESH BANK HEIST") platform consistently delivers exceptional business outcomes for the world’s largest brands. Circus Street’s unique product offering blends technology, education and visual arts, paired with its best in class account [management service](https://www.financedigest.com/sacyr-shortlists-four-bidders-for-its-service-waste-management-unit-expansion.html "Sacyr shortlists four bidders for its service, waste management unit – Expansion"), and has resulted in previously unseen levels of learner engagement, net promoter scores and customer advocacy. **Combination to accelerate customers’** [digital transformations](https://www.financedigest.com/5-key-takeaways-from-the-finance-sectors-digital-transformation-revolution.html "5 Key Takeaways From the Finance Sector’s Digital Transformation Revolution") QA’s acquisition of Circus Street also [builds on its earlier acquisition of Cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/reckon-one-builds-momentum-with-strong-backing-from-accountants-joining-the-cloud-advisor-programme.html "Reckon One builds momentum with strong backing from accountants joining the Cloud Advisor Programme") Academy, which helps global organisations grow their Tech skills via their market-leading, subscription-based, digital platform. The addition of Circus Street to the QA family allows them to play an even greater role in driving [digital transformation, using Circus Street to build digital and data](https://www.financedigest.com/why-data-is-the-best-weapon-in-the-war-for-digital-talent.html "Why data is the best weapon in the war for digital talent") capabilities across their entire enterprise, and Cloud Academy to systematically assess, build and validate the skills of their tech teams to deliver it. This [acquisition also means QA is able to offer its clients](https://www.financedigest.com/iris-acquisition-enables-accountants-to-add-greater-value-to-their-clients.html "IRIS acquisition enables accountants to add greater value to their clients") the broadest choice of different modes of training to fit their circumstances, from live virtual to in-classroom training, and fully digital, self-paced training. The acquisition of Circus Street represents a significant [increase in QA’s global](https://www.financedigest.com/route-genie-partners-withnorsk-global-to-provide-retailers-with-increased-international-carriage-choice.html "Route Genie Partners WithNorsk Global To Provide Retailers With Increased International Carriage Choice") reach, with over 500,000 learners in over 150 countries having used the platform to date. Companies of every size and industry are [transforming how they do business in the digital](https://www.financedigest.com/3-reasons-why-businesses-get-stuck-at-the-starting-gate-of-digital-transformation.html "3 Reasons Why Businesses Get Stuck At The Starting Gate Of Digital Transformation") age – and customers and data are at the heart of those transformations. This creates an incredible opportunity for QA and Circus Street, with IDC projecting worldwide [spending on technologies and services to reach $1.8 trillion](https://www.financedigest.com/european-governments-spend-half-a-trillion-euros-on-energy-crisis-report-2.html "European governments spend half a trillion euros on energy crisis – report") in 2022. _Circus Street is a great company, with an amazing [product and team and an enthusiastic global](https://www.financedigest.com/global-clutch-spring-wires-market-share-growth-statistics-by-application-production-revenue-forecast-up-to-2031.html "Global Clutch Spring Wires Market Share, Growth, Statistics, By Application, Production, Revenue & Forecast Up To 2031") user base,”_ said **Paul Geddes, CEO, QA**. _Together we help our [clients not only see the potential for digital](https://www.financedigest.com/the-digital-voice-appointed-by-raft-of-new-clients-as-its-team-expands-by-270.html "The Digital Voice™ appointed by raft of new clients as its team expands by 270%") and data to transform the products they design and how they take them to market, but also recruit, upskill and reskill the tech teams to build and run these products using modern tech approaches and platforms._ **Richard Townsend,** [CEO Circus Street said, “The choice of QA was obvious to us as they share our cultural values and our recognition of the importance of every individual within our business](https://www.financedigest.com/ceo-riggs-eckelberry-of-originclear-discusses-the-power-of-intuition-in-running-a-successful-business.html "CEO Riggs Eckelberry of OriginClear Discusses the Power of Intuition in Running a Successful Business ") _. They, like us, are focused on liberating education through [innovation and inclusion and we’re tremendously excited to build on the amazing progress that](https://www.financedigest.com/innovation-to-be-the-progressive-factor-for-soy-sauce-powder-market.html "Innovation To Be The Progressive Factor For Soy Sauce Powder Market") both our companies have made._ **Jonny Townsend, President Circus Street** said, “ _This acquisition allows us to significantly [expand on our commercial success across our core](https://www.financedigest.com/de-surinaamsche-bank-expands-relationship-with-fiserv-to-upgrade-core-banking-platform-and-add-new-digital-banking-capabilities.html "De Surinaamsche Bank Expands Relationship with Fiserv to Upgrade Core Banking Platform and Add New Digital Banking Capabilities") regions of the Americas, EMEA and APAC. Together we will build an offering that further enhances the uniqueness of our proposition and continue to help the world’s largest brands understand how [technology is modernising every](https://www.financedigest.com/legislate-raises-3-6m-to-give-startups-smes-the-technology-to-query-and-compare-every-contract.html "Legislate raises .6M to give startups & SMEs the technology to query and compare every contract") aspect of their operations._ _Today our clients tell us they want to understand and build [digital capability right across their business, away from the traditional silos that stand in the way of full digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/redefining-the-human-touch-with-data-driven-digital-transformation.html "Redefining the human touch with data-driven digital transformation"). As someone who already provides apprenticeships in Data and [Digital marketing, we already see how these disciplines are at the foundation of every digital transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/how-digital-is-transforming-finance-in-2023.html "How Digital Is Transforming Finance in 2023"), and that’s why we’ve been keen to extend our solutions into the commercial functions that design products and take them to market”_ said **Srikanth Iyengar, Chief Client Officer, QA**. _“Circus Street’s leading [digital learning platform and exceptional content will make QA’s enterprise offer stronger](https://www.financedigest.com/smarter-safer-stronger-cybersecurity-is-now-critical-to-digital-future.html "Smarter, safer, stronger cybersecurity is now critical to digital future") than ever. We have significant opportunities to introduce Circus Street to QA’s clients, particularly in [Financial Services](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-services-leaders-can-prioritise-cybersecurity-investment.html "How financial services leaders can prioritise cybersecurity investment"), Tech, and Government, and to introduce QA to Circus Street’s clients in FMCG, Pharma and Manufacturing._ Circus Street and its shareholders were advised by Houlihan Lokey ( [corporate finance)](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-corporate-finance.html "What is Corporate Finance"). **About Circus Street** Over 500,000 people in 150+ countries are using Circus Street to [increase their digital knowledge and confidence](https://www.financedigest.com/new-figures-show-31-increase-in-loan-applications-as-economists-look-for-growth-in-consumer-confidence.html "New figures show 31% increase in loan applications, as economists look for growth in consumer confidence"). They are an [online training solution which allows businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/6-practical-tips-for-starting-an-online-business.html "6 Practical Tips for Starting an Online Business") to build and develop digital capabilities at scale. They work with global market leaders like Sanofi, Nike, Nestle, Pfizer, P&G, and Coca-Cola across their marketing and commercial teams on a broad range of digital skills, from eCommerce, [social media](https://www.financedigest.com/ai-and-social-media-are-revolutionizing-personal-finance-in-2023.html "AI and Social Media Are Revolutionizing Personal Finance in 2023"), digital marketing to big data and analytics. Visit [circusstreet.com](http://email.prnewswire.com/ls/click?upn=xUJPOf2UlCyMEnoI-2FyynhF7Lqscw2JBZm2rfI6BdLBfFaklr9M2-2BWvzmpFMf5FxKubVD_YT-2BgtM2gIoe0GzKRNjnJV-2Baq84mrSK-2BmzF00OXffJOfjenjHD25L4RWkg8LeTPaS-2FaflBOTTxLM8tcxkMdLiXMEMMeI8-2FHfQR8lpmtlA0ZTB8vQy1S9RUYxfsBPGliWztoHjPsyxchFfBJBJi2iVamceJx8cdjXn1Y-2F9Upd4BCZ-2FCV6yp1O9j1xiKUbyon5Hz1G2licp8e8wh2NxBy0K5p-2BvSIB0-2F9NVJMyF48DBx6Jhbpl347LipJocLKO9FJwbT1i2txuYDaIXLgwSOrKck2MI7kDHnCo-2Bq6kZz9vN8J-2FxdsoVkJ-2FcVvQM5gY-2B3zj-2FwUZRp-2B7y-2B85oA-2BeGwl-2F5HAKAa1LrUyOAzjCjEKErCKCR0QEGxFS4Mp52Eqi0YPYR) **About QA** [QA](http://email.prnewswire.com/ls/click?upn=3slWLw94I3jq-2B-2FedjFNgZAwFwsTsV-2FzdESsqubckh-2B0-3DePDX_YT-2BgtM2gIoe0GzKRNjnJV-2Baq84mrSK-2BmzF00OXffJOfjenjHD25L4RWkg8LeTPaS-2FaflBOTTxLM8tcxkMdLiXMEMMeI8-2FHfQR8lpmtlA0ZTB8vQy1S9RUYxfsBPGliWztoHjPsyxchFfBJBJi2iVamceJx8cdjXn1Y-2F9Upd4BCZ-2FCV6yp1O9j1xiKUbyon5Hz1G2licp8e8wh2NxBy0K5p-2BvSIB0-2F9NVJMyF48DBx6JauvrTHjxBLAOAxJW8ARCLfVmn0zUCGkTdHmLw2ChW8-2B1GmqhQg0afwcmtHALFfI0gMjX1Y-2FzZY9ae1EcB87Rse9Ei2Aq6e-2Bxh4Sj4Quv7gW9PIEVGqTA0wNepRQJQ8edVdFIpgVqtzvZChaZO1kDq) is the UK’s leading provider of tech skills, enabling organisations across the UK to be winners in the digital revolution. QA helps clients build their tech skills through a comprehensive range of [training and talent solutions that blend the best of live and self-paced digital training – including training courses](https://www.financedigest.com/prince2-and-msp-training-the-rise-of-online-project-management-courses.html "Prince2 and MSP Training: The Rise of Online Project Management Courses"), reskilling bootcamps, tech apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships. It also [offers over 150 undergraduate and masters’ programmes in conjunction with its university partners](https://www.financedigest.com/teads-partners-with-lumen-research-to-offer-attention-measurement-to-clients-globally.html "Teads partners with Lumen Research to offer attention measurement to clients globally"). [QA’s Cloud Academy](http://email.prnewswire.com/ls/click?upn=OXp-2BEvHp8OzhyU1j9bSWu0QigQqCtMJ9T1-2FQdO-2FgLko-3DNtTT_YT-2BgtM2gIoe0GzKRNjnJV-2Baq84mrSK-2BmzF00OXffJOfjenjHD25L4RWkg8LeTPaS-2FaflBOTTxLM8tcxkMdLiXMEMMeI8-2FHfQR8lpmtlA0ZTB8vQy1S9RUYxfsBPGliWztoHjPsyxchFfBJBJi2iVamceJx8cdjXn1Y-2F9Upd4BCZ-2FCV6yp1O9j1xiKUbyon5Hz1G2licp8e8wh2NxBy0K5p-2BvSIB0-2F9NVJMyF48DBx6LNWfp5lUqRswAJ2BVrm3866ftBbnvOzpWo-2Fcf321W0bt-2B16v4miHuEeXZMg0m5VPFXo62LSYghet6JLiJBTfa-2BaisBoWh9Hi-2FdAvIKIxxgBxdDI8kD4RZIOCQ3M3cRQAj-2B8GROYHa8sAFaZXOGLRpB) is a market-leading digital learning platform. Used by many of the world’s tech giants, it provides expert self-paced content on cloud, data and software. More than 200,000 people learnt with QA last year. It serves over 80% of the FTSE 100, many [parts of government and the public sector](https://www.financedigest.com/how-hyperconverged-infrastructure-is-driving-digital-transformation-in-the-financial-services-sector-part-1.html "How hyperconverged infrastructure is driving digital transformation in the financial services sector (Part 1)"), is one of Microsoft’s largest learning partners globally, and has a strong partnership with Salesforce, AWS and other leading technology vendors. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---