Wexford e-learning firm seeks to scale global reach by connecting businesses with expert-led digital training.
A Gorey, Co Wexford-based e-learning company is setting its sights on international expansion following the launch of a new digital education platform designed to make professional training more accessible and scalable.
QedON, headquartered at The Hatch Lab in Gorey, has introduced ExpertEd, a shared online learning service that enables industry experts, trainers and organisations to create, host and monetise professional courses.
“ExpertEd takes real-world expertise and turns it into structured, high-quality digital learning that is both accessible and scalable”
The company is now actively pursuing growth opportunities in South Africa as part of its broader international strategy.
The business, which is supported by Enterprise Ireland through its High Potential Start-Up programme, has built a diverse client base across sectors including healthcare, beauty, nutrition, retail and business skills.
With ExpertEd it is aiming to extend that reach by addressing a longstanding challenge faced by organisations seeking to upskill staff.
There’s a market in that gap
Susan Madden, chief of Education at QedON, said the platform was developed in response to a clear gap in the market. “There was a lot of expert knowledge out there but no way for companies to acquire that unless at considerable expense,” she said.
“There was no lack of expertise but a lack of a scalable, affordable way to turn that into education. That’s where ExpertEd was born.”
The platform is designed to help organisations avoid the cost and complexity of building in-house training infrastructure. Instead, it aggregates specialist knowledge, structures it through instructional design, and delivers it digitally in a way that can reach large audiences.
“We gather all that expertise and information and package it for clients, so they don’t have to go to the expense themselves,” Madden said. “ExpertEd takes real-world expertise and turns it into structured, high-quality digital learning that is both accessible and scalable.”
QedON works directly with subject matter experts to capture and refine their knowledge into practical learning experiences. This approach allows content that would traditionally be limited by time, capacity or geography to be delivered consistently across multiple markets.
To strengthen credibility, ExpertEd has partnered with ATHE, an awarding body for training and higher education, enabling its courses to be aligned with internationally recognised standards. The company believes this endorsement will be an important factor in attracting both corporate clients and individual learners.
Expansion into South Africa is now a key focus, with QedON developing partnerships with businesses, education providers and industry organisations in the region. The company sees strong demand for flexible and cost-effective learning solutions in the market.
Global ambition
Dylan Smith, CEO, QedON
Dylan Smith, CEO of QedON, said the move reflects the company’s ambition to position itself globally. “South Africa represents an exciting growth opportunity for QedON and ExpertEd. We see significant potential to support businesses and industry experts with accessible digital learning solutions while building strong international partnerships,” he said.
The launch has also drawn support from policymakers and industry stakeholders. Speaking at the unveiling of ExpertEd Malcolm Byrne, TD, highlighted the importance of improving access to training for small and medium-sized enterprises.
He said smaller businesses have historically struggled to invest in learning and development, adding that solutions such as ExpertEd can help bridge that gap. “It shows that technology-driven eLearning can help address skills challenges and make training more accessible,” he noted.
Early adopters are already reporting tangible benefits. Women’s Aid, which partnered with QedON to digitise its training delivery, has seen a significant increase in reach since moving online.
Suzanna Knight, head of Training and Development at the organisation, said the shift has transformed how it engages learners. “Since launching our platform in November, we have already reached over 1,100 learners with eight courses live and a further four in development,” she said. “QedON helped us elevate our learning and expand our impact.”
The project has also attracted investor backing, including equity funding from both South African and Irish sources.
John O’Connor, CEO of The Hatch Lab, described ExpertEd as a strong addition to the local innovation ecosystem.
“The platform is a fantastic idea and a valuable addition to our community,” he said. “It is encouraging to see QedON secure investment and pursue international growth.”
With its new platform now live and international partnerships in development, QedON is positioning itself to capitalise on growing demand for flexible, digital-first training solutions across global markets.
Top image: Susan Madden, Chief of Education at QedON
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