How The Chartered Institute of Building tripled its digital learning revenue

We are in a really good place and I think what we need now is to go to the next stage of our progression and that is where Titus comes in

Sara Spencer, Digital Services Manager at Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Revene Growth
0 %
Product Growth
0 %
Learner Retention
0 %

Result

150% increase in revenue through learning & training since launching

Number of Learners

35,000+

Use Case

eCommerce

Membership Body

System

Moodle Workplace

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The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), established in 1834, is the world’s leading professional body for construction management and leadership, with over 45,000 members in more than 100 countries. Headquartered in Bracknell, CIOB promotes excellence, ethics, and innovation across the building industry.

They are at the forefront of the industry, exploring innovation, sustainability and the use of technology not just on building sites, but within all aspects of construction. An influential organisation, they regularly provide consultation to key industry stakeholders, including the British government’s legislative reforms.

The CIOB Academy supports professional development through digital courses, CPD, and initiatives like Project Aspire, inspiring a new generation to enter an industry often seen as “old-fashioned” and helping address critical skills gaps.

Impact at a Glance

  • 150%+ Revenue Growth: The CIOB Academy tripled its revenue since 2022 by strategically expanding its course catalogue and audience.
  • 200%+ Product Growth: The course catalogue has tripled in size, attracting a broader, more diverse audience beyond its traditional membership base.
  • 30% Learner Retention: The Academy boasts an impressive 30% average return rate for course purchases, driven by quality content and a seamless user experience.
  • Diversifying revenue streams: 90% of course buyers are now non-members, showing a successful shift from a member-only focus to a market-leading commercial enterprise

The Challenge: A Moodle that was “Glitchy” and a Strategy that was Stifling

Before partnering with Titus Learning, the CIOB Academy faced several obstacles:

1. A Coded-Off Community: The website catered exclusively to members, confusing non-members and creating a barrier to a broader audience.

2. A “Glitchy” Moodle: The LMS was clunky, hard to manage, and did not support scalable growth.

3. Manual Onboarding: Access to courses had to be manually granted after purchase, slowing down the learner experience.

4. Unscalable Content: Most content was PowerPoint-based, lacking a cohesive digital-first approach.

These issues limited the Academy’s ability to scale its audience, streamline processes, and deliver a professional learning experience.

The Solution: A Digital Partnership for Growth

To tackle these challenges and unlock its full potential, CIOB Academy formed a strategic partnership with Titus Learning, moving beyond a typical client-vendor relationship. This collaboration focused on both technology and strategy, creating a foundation for sustainable growth.

1. Custom Moodle Theme Development: Titus Learning transformed the existing Moodle LMS with the Titus Theme, addressing its “glitchy” reputation and enhancing usability. The platform was upgraded with a modern, professional design, improving navigation, UX/UI, and overall intuitiveness for both members and non-members.

2. Seamless E-commerce Integration: The team integrated the course purchase process with automated access, removing the need for manual approvals. Learners could now enrol and start courses immediately, creating a smooth, frictionless experience that encouraged engagement and repeat purchases.

3. Responsive Technical Support: Titus provided on-demand technical expertise, troubleshooting issues and implementing enhancements quickly. This support freed the CIOB Academy team to focus on content strategy, audience growth, and delivering high-quality learning experiences.

4. Scalable Content Delivery: With the upgraded platform and streamlined processes, the Academy could scale its course catalogue efficiently, experiment with new offerings, and attract a broader, more diverse audience.

Through this partnership, CIOB Academy gained the tools, confidence, and support to transform its learning platform into a professional, user-friendly, and commercially successful digital academy.

Results: Tripled Revenue and a Mindset Shift

With a new platform and the backing of a responsive digital partner, the CIOB Academy was able to radically change its strategy and achieve remarkable results.

Tripled Revenue & Courses

By focusing on new and popular content (such as legal and safety courses) and a strategic approach to creating "progression courses" (e.g., fundamentals to advanced), the Academy tripled its course catalog and subsequently tripled its revenue since 2022.

New B2B and B2C Growth

With a more professional and functional website, the sales team was able to confidently pursue new business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) leads, with word-of-mouth from satisfied clients becoming a key driver of new business. This resulted in the stunning statistic that 90% of their course buyers are now non-members.

User Retention

The focus on a quality platform and content led to an impressive 30% return rate, with a significant portion of their audience coming back to buy more courses

The Future: A Strategic Vision for 2026 and Beyond

With a solid digital foundation, CIOB Academy is now planning:

  • A website transformation to make content accessible to everyone, not just members.
  • Conversion of all courses into professional e-learning modules using Articulate 360.
  • Launch of global courses for emerging sectors, such as roofing and property development.
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The relationship between CIOB and Titus Learning is a testament to how a focused digital strategy, powered by a responsive technical partner, can transform an organisation’s learning offering from a logistical challenge into a powerful engine for commercial growth and mission-driven impact.

We are in a really good place and I think what we need now is to go to the next stage of our progression and that is where Titus comes in

Sara Spencer, Digital Services Manager at Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

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Phuong Nguyen Hong

Digital Marketing Executive

Super talented, unflappable and very funny, Phuong supports the whole marketing team in her role as Digital Marketing Executive. Phuong holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and recently completed a master’s degree in Management and Marketing. Originally from Hanoi in Vietnam, Phuong is now based in the UK and climatising brilliantly to our weather and food.

Phuong owns a food review Instagram page as travelling and food are her passion. She also has a cute little french bulldog.

Ellie Sharkey

Head of Marketing

Ellie was the first woman to join Titus and has paved the way for many more since then. After studying for a degree in Fashion and Marketing, Ellie was lucky to find herself at fashion weeks and photoshoots.

Now she’s switched from talk of the front row to front end design and has brought loads of transferable knowledge to Titus. Ellie has also found a real passion for tech, especially in the learning sector, helping clients create positive change for their organisations.

Callum Barrett

Senior Brand Executive

As one of the youngest people at Titus but at the same time one of the oldest serving members of the team, Callum has graced Titus with his broad smile and positive attitude for over 5 years now. As a key member of the marketing team, Callum works across all areas, both on and offline, to ensure that all Titus brands and communication are on point.

After missing out on the opportunity to go to University the first time around, management encouraged him to enrol in our course alongside his work. He is now studying to achieve his Level 6 Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing.

Dec Connolly

Acquisition Marketing Manager

Always bringing innovation and new ideas, Dec studied a degree in Journalism but found his passion in digital marketing. Dec has also worked in marketing for one of the countries biggest retailers and within the property sector.

Outside work, Dec Co-founded a news publication where he collaborated with global brands like Uber, Amazon, BooHoo and countless SMEs.