From Correspondence Courses to Global Online Learning: Glasgow Education Business ICS Learn Enters Its Next Growth Chapter

One of the world's oldest and most celebrated online learning businesses, ICS Learn, has re-affirmed its commitment to Glasgow as it unveils plans for sustainable future growth.

As part of ambitions to become a world leader in its field, the company says Glasgow will remain at the heart of future growth plans as it prepares to move to a new home in the city's Nelson Mandela Place this December. The new base has been designed to embrace a more collaborative approach to providing leading learning materials to students. Ahead of the relocation, the business has also unveiled a new brand identity to better reflect its evolution from a traditional correspondence course provider into a modern, global learning provider.

With a heritage dating back more than 130 years, ICS Learn has continually adapted to changing approaches to education and learning. Today, the Scottish business provides professional qualifications, business training and apprenticeships to learners and employers, with clients across more than 100 countries.

The company is a Scottish success story with more than 95 employees based in Glasgow and it's from the city that its new brand focusing on progress, ambition and the future, was developed. The major rebrand was created in partnership with award-winning Glasgow creative studio Imaginary Friends, following an extensive discovery process that involved the business's own senior leaders, employees and current and former customers.

The resulting identity is designed to respect the equity and history that have shaped ICS Learn, while creating a more contemporary and expressive platform for the business's next phase of growth. At the heart of the new brand is the idea "To learn is to live", connecting ICS Learn's original purpose with its future ambition. This is expressed externally through the proposition "Progress with purpose."

The rebrand of ICS Learn reflects a wider transformation in the education sector, as learners increasingly expect greater flexibility, accessibility and relevance from their learning experiences. Market research from Statista reveals the global online learning industry currently generates more than £211 billion for the world economy and that's expected to rise to almost £245 billion by 2031.

David Macfarlane, CEO at ICS Learn, said:

"The online learning world is going through a period of rapid growth and transformation and our plans are aimed at ensuring ICS Learn remains right at the heart of that community for the long-term future. While we're moving forward with exciting plans, our original vision remains our foundation. We want to help people unlock their goals - whether that's in their careers or simply just personal development. In order to do that, we've created even more partnerships with leading brands and businesses and we're working with more accreditation and learning providers than ever before.

"At the core of all of this is celebrating the fact that Glasgow is where we have flourished as a business and an employer. The city has been our home for generations and we remain committed to taking ICS Learn to new growth heights and digital transformation from our Scottish headquarters."

ICS Learn's commitment to Glasgow was reflected in its decision to work on its rebrand with leading design and creative agency, Imaginary Friends, which is also based in the city.

Martin Boath, Co-owner and Creative Director at Imaginary Friends, said:

"ICS Learn is a true Scottish success story and we were thrilled to play in our part in shaping its ambitious purpose-led vision for the future. Our brand strategy for ICS Learn was shaped by the people who actually know the business best - the learners, past and present, the partners and the incredible team of employees based in Glasgow. What struck us was the same theme coming up time and again - progress. ICS Learn is all about empowering people with the skills and tools they need to progress in their career and that long-standing commitment runs through everything and everyone within the company. With that underpinning everything, we created a bright, modern, flexible brand that makes ICS Learn look and sound like the sector leader they already are. We were delighted to work with the team at such an important step in their journey and can't wait to see their business flourish in the future."

About ICS Learn

ICS Learn is a Glasgow-headquartered education business with a history dating back more than 130 years. The business provides professional qualifications, business training and apprenticeships to learners and employers, with clients in more than 100 countries.

Find out more at: https://www.icslearn.co.uk/

About Imaginary Friends

Imaginary Friends is a Glasgow-based creative studio working with ambitious organisations to develop brands, creative platforms, digital experiences, websites and campaigns designed for future growth.

Find out more at: https://imaginary-friends.studio/