A new year doesn't just bring fresh budgets and strategy decks. It brings a harder question.
Is your learning model actually fit for the year ahead?
As we settle into 2026, online learning is no longer the disruptor. It's the standard. The real disruption is happening elsewhere, in how learning is priced, scaled, and delivered inside organisations.
The data makes one thing clear. The revolution isn't coming. It's already underway.
The Market Isn't "Growing". It's Rewriting the Rules
The global online education market is forecast to reach £206 billion by 2029, with revenues already pushing beyond £150 billion. Growth is tracking at over 8.5% year on year, and by the end of the decade, online learning will account for around 16% of the global education market.
Demand for learning isn't slowing. The only question is whether your model scales with it.
Learners Have Changed. Permanently.
Learners expect freedom, relevance, and control. Anything that puts friction in their way will quietly be ignored.
- 81% of learners value learning at their own pace
- 84% choose online learning for convenience
- Online learning can reduce energy use by up to 90% compared to classroom delivery
- Retention rates of up to 60% continue to dwarf traditional training outcomes
Translation? 2026 is about removing barriers.
Global Momentum, Local Pressure
Globally, online courses represented around £40 billion in education spend last year, and adoption continues to climb as digital access improves.
In the UK, one in five adults took part in online learning. For 18–24-year-olds, it's nearly one in two. This isn't casual consumption. It's driven by career progression, professional qualifications, and skills survival.
Your workforce isn't asking whether learning can be online anymore. They're asking why access still feels restricted.
What the Data Really Says
These statistics don't just point to more online learning. They expose a deeper issue.
When demand is rising, retention is higher, and flexibility is non-negotiable, models built on restricted access and per-user limits start to look outdated.
2026 is about getting the right training, without extortionate cost, and without artificial limits on access.
