Acquire Learning is Australia's first education-to-employment organization aimed at helping individuals improve their lives through education and job placement. The organization bridges the gap between vocational education and employment, with a goal of placing one million people in jobs they love by 2020. Despite its potential in a rapidly growing $10 billion sector, the industry faces challenges related to transparency and reputational issues among private training providers.

1. A SNAPSHOT OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
& TRAINING IN AUSTRALIA
EDUCATION-TO-EMPLOYMENT
V1/JAN2015
MEDIA BRIEFING PAPER

2. Acquire Learning is Australia's first education-to-employment (‘E2E’) organisation dedicated to bringing out the best in people. We firmly believe the way to a better life is through self-
improvement and learning. With offices in Australia and the UK, we match people to educational courses delivered by relevant providers; then we work closely with them to become job
ready; then we help them land their dream job roles. With our founders’ extensive experience in the education sector and knowledge of the job market, we are well positioned as the link
between students, education providers and employers.
We are committed to improving people’s lives by linking education to employment. Our goal is to get one million people into jobs they love by 2020.
ACQUIRE LEARNING – Overview
Today, the ways in which people study, train and seek employment have radically changed. Thanks to the internet, digital technologies and social platforms (such as social media),
borders have been obliterated. Today, people of all ages and from all walks of life can opt for online and blended learning study at almost any global education institution from wherever
they are in the world. Similarly, scouring online job boards and using social media platforms such as LinkedIn are common practice among people looking for their next job role. But the
education placement and employment recruitment processes have remained largely separate and siloed. Until now.
At Acquire Learning, we believe both education and employment are inextricably linked. We believe the bridge between the two is just as vital as the pylons either side. And that’s what
Acquire Learning is: the bookends AND the shelf in the middle.
Our purpose is to help students and job-seekers on the entire pathway from relevant study options leading to their ideal job roles.
EDUCATION-TO-EMPLOYMENT – The complete pathway
The vocational education & training sector in Australia is a $10 billion market1
and growing rapidly. Along with health, education is one of the biggest concerns for people from all walks
of life: whether at the government policy-setting level; in the service delivery (schools and higher education); and lifelong learning and education options covering everyone from school
leavers, job seekers, mid-life career changers and mature age students. Globally, the opportunity is HUGE. It is opportunity without borders.
Renowned business intelligence analyst IBISWorld predicts the online education industry alone will soar in the current financial year (2014-15), driving revenues of $6.48 billion: up 10.4
per cent from $5.87 billion in the 2013-14 financial year2
. In its own research, global financial services group Credit Suisse points to the megatrend3
of globalisation and the creation of a
global workforce, with private education a growth area in emerging markets such as Asia.
LARGE NUMBERS
Closer to home, Australia’s National Centre for Vocational Education research (NCVER) says 1.88 million students were enrolled in government-subsidised VET courses in Australia in
20134
. However, with certain training providers able to withhold such information and/or only offering full fee-for-service training (both aspects excluded from official NCVER figures)
and estimates for this student cohort non-existent, Credit Suisse notes that total enrolments may be understated by up to 100 per cent, therefore suggesting the size of the market
opportunity being almost four million VET students.
THE MARKET

3. Despite the size of and demand for the Australian vocational education and training sector, it is prudent to acknowledge some of the issues or perceptions that potentially affect the industry; issues
that also fuel intense and sometimes negative media scrutiny.
Such issues or perceptions might include:
• Private training providers not being (perceived to be) as transparent as public companies;
• Massive and unsustainable profitability on the part of individual RTOs, as a result of taxpayer funds being exposed to the market under the government’s VET FEE-HELP loan scheme5;
• Government policy changes;
• Industry reputational issues, such as unscrupulous private training providers abusing government funding.
THE ISSUES
For Acquire Learning, the opportunity is one defined and underpinned by the connection between education AND employment. For us, the opportunity is not some siloed vocational education
industry ‘honeypot’. It is about helping people to understand that, for them, anything is possible and that anyone can have the lifestyle and career they aspire to; supported entirely on their journey
from study options to salary.
It is about maintaining the focus on employment outcomes and assisting job seekers to get there by:
• Helping them ascertain their ideal courses and qualifications;
• Providing career champions to coach and mentor those candidates;
• Helping them look for work and matching them with partner employers.
ACQUIRE’S OPPORTUNITY
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Andrew Demetriou, Executive Chairman
Andrew has extensive experience in
commercial expansion, particularly as CEO of
the AFL, which saw unprecedented growth
nationally and internationally under his
administration.
As Acquire’s Executive Chairman, Andrew’s
role will be to mentor the founders as they
grow the business in Australia and globally.
John Wall, Group Managing Director
As Managing Director, John is leading the
business towards its goal of placing one million
people into their dream jobs in five years.
Prior to co-founding Acquire, John built a
significant education and training business
which he eventually sold to a major recruitment
company. He also has a background in sport
and real estate.
Jesse Sahely, Chief Executive Officer
Jesse seeded the idea of an education and
employment business while selling training
plans to businesses.
He identified a gap in the market where he
could help even more people and Acquire
was born. Before long, Jesse, Tim and John
were soon enrolling students into Acquire’s
online courses.
Tim Demetriou, Chief Operations Officer
As Chief Operations Officer, Tim is
responsible for building teams of people
who are enthusiastic and ready to help
students achieve success.
Tim currently heads up the London
operations of Acquire Learning and
is responsible for driving Acquire’s
international expansion.
Damien Dau, Chief Information Officer
Damien has overseen the implementation
of the systems and processes and data
management that drives Acquire’s
operations.
He also has primary responsibility for
compliance, regulatory and reporting
procedures.
Peter Lewis, Director of Finance
Peter has extensive experience in financial
management for media companies and
led the Federal Government’s inquiry into
the efficiency and operations of SBS and
the ABC.
Prior to that, Mr Lewis was Group CFO of
Seven West Media.
1. (Source: IBISWorld “Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Australia: Market Research Report”, ANZSIC P8101, October 2014)
2. (Source: IBISWorld “Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Australia: Market Research Report”, October 2014)
3. “Four investment ‘megatrends’ to chart the next decade” AFR June 18, 2014
4. (Source: NCVER “Snapshot of vocational education and training in Australia: infographics - October 28 2014, revised Dec 24, 2014)
5. ‘Payments under vocational equivalent of HECS leap 50-fold in five years’ The Australian, October 1, 2014

4. FOR ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
SIMON MOSSMAN
Media & PR Manager - Acquire Learning
P 0451 660 980 E simon.mossman@acquirelearning.com.au
acquirelearning.com.au
Acquire Learning Pty Ltd
2/863 High Street, Armadale VIC 3143
Acquire Learning Pty Ltd
ABN 29 168 523 279
linkedin.com/company/acquire-learning