Our history and evolution

QA has been at the forefront of business skills training for over 30 years. Through a mix of growth and acquisitions we now have the most extensive national presence with training centres and locally based customer support and account teams across every area of the UK from Aberdeen to Bristol, including three centres in London. 

QA Limited was formerly trading as QA-IQ Limited. QA was created in December 2008 after QA-IQ Limited acquired the businesses of both QA Training Limited and Xpertise Limited.  

Today the IT Skills Research ‘Top 50 Report’ places QA as the leading training company in the UK in terms of revenue.

Initially founded as a distributor of a range of memory and graphic cards, our organisation began trading in 1983 under our first trading name of InterQuad Group Limited. InterQuad Group was an IT Services Group, with all activities being carried out through two operating companies: [1] InterQuad Learning Limited for training and associated services, and [2] InterQuad Systems Limited, an award-winning solutions provider, distributing quality Application Access Infrastructure, Virtualisation, Network Management and IT Security solutions to the UK channel.

Together, the companies focused on providing education programmes, technical skills and software products for network computing technologies to a primarily UK-based client base.

In 1991 InterQuad acquired the business of one of the largest Novell distributors in the UK, which also launched InterQuad into the business of educating IT Professionals.

Throughout the 1990s the business continued to evolve in the expanding networking and communications market.

New products, curriculum, and locations were added to the training portfolio, and InterQuad became experts in the highly successful Microsoft networking operation system family of products.

On 16 June 2006, InterQuad Group Limited acquired the business of QA plc and began trading as QA-IQ Limited.

QA was created in December 2008 after QA-IQ Ltd acquired the businesses of both QA Training Ltd and Xpertise Limited.

In September 2009, QA Limited acquired Remarc Limited.

In October 2011, QA acquired Aikona, combining the leading project and programme management expertise of the two organisations. The acquisition strengthened QA’s market leading position in project management training and delivered an enhanced service for the provision of customised training courses and consultancy for private and public sector organisations.

Internal Note:  Professional Development Specific

In 2006, Xpertise acquired Watermans, to boost its soft skills portfolio. A strong portfolio of management and personal development training skills was built through the QA (then known as SkillsGroup) acquisition of The Knowledge Centre, Pontis Consulting and Cap Gemini (UK) Training.

Mergers and Aquisitions

• Interquad Group was established in 1983 as an IT Services Group, specialising in distribution of memory and graphic cards
• QA Training was founded in 1985 as a specialist learning and technology solutions provider
• In 1991 Interquad Group acquired the business of one of the UK’s largest Novell distributors and began its training business, we became one of the first Novell Authorised Education Centres in the world 
• A strong period of growth was experienced in the 1990s, as InterQuad and QA built upon their expertise in the technology training market. A wide range of new courses and locations were added and strong relationships were formed with Microsoft and other technology vendors 
• A strong portfolio of Professional Development training skills was built through the QA (then known as SkillsGroup) acquisition of The Knowledge Centre, Pontis Consulting and Cap Gemini (UK) Training
• InterQuad Group was the subject of a Management Buy-In during February 1999
• (In 2006, Xpertise acquired Watermans, to boost its soft skills portfolio)
• Following the acquisition of QA plc by InterQuad Group Limited in June 2006, the Group was renamed to QA-IQ Group.
• In September 2008 Xpertise was acquired by QA-IQ Group to become part of the largest provider of technology training in the UK, as well as benefiting from an expanded portfolio of professional best practice and management skills. QA-Xpertise was formed 
• In December 2008 the training arm of the Group was renamed QA
• In September 2009, Remarc was acquired by QA, The acquisition was effective from Monday 7 September, and brought all of Remarc’s business in to QA. The acquisition gave all customers immediate access to the UK’s widest range of technical, business applications, project management and service management, and professional development courses, as well as an improved service for tailored requirements
• In October 2011, QA acquired Aikona, combining the leading project and programme management expertise of the two organisations. The acquisition strengthened QA’s market leading position in project management training and delivered an enhanced service for the provision of customised training courses and consultancy for private and public sector organisations.
• In January 2015, QA acquired F1 Computing, a Microsoft Gold Partner.  The acquisition further strengthens QA’s CRM/Dynamics and Developer capabilities. The knowledge and specialisms within F1 will further strengthen our trainer community, and enable us to extend the services we offer to our customers.