PeopleCert recorded an impressive 179% increase in revenue for the first quarter of 2026, reaching approximately 80 million euros, according to statements made by PeopleCert’s President and CEO, Byron Nikolaidis, during a recent meeting with journalists in Istanbul.
At the same time, the company is preparing to launch an AI Governance certification soon, while it has already begun the process of establishing a Global University of Applied Skills.
It should be noted that a few months ago, PeopleCert completed the acquisition of City & Guilds, an organization with 148 years of history and a leading position in vocational and technical certifications in the United Kingdom. As Mr. Nicolaides noted, following the acquisition, the company’s workforce now stands at 2,500 full-time employees, while an additional 3,000 people are employed on a part-time basis.
Regarding PeopleCert’s annual financial results for the period ended March 31, 2026, revenue totaled 67.3 million pounds, marking a 179.3% increase compared to the same period last year. EBITDA reached 16.4 million pounds, up 33.7%, while adjusted EBITDA stood at 17.8 million pounds, marking a 43.7% increase. At the same time, EBIT rose by 20.5% to 10 million pounds, while adjusted EBIT reached 11.4 million pounds, up 35.3%. Profit before taxes (PBT) stood at 8.1 million pounds, compared to just 0.4 million pounds in the corresponding period of 2025, while net financial debt decreased to 276 million pounds, down from 286 million pounds at the end of 2025.
AI Governance Certification Is Coming
Speaking about Artificial Intelligence and the changes it brings at the organizational level, Mr. Nikolaidis pointed out that AI tools are radically changing the way organizations operate, and that one of the most important issues arising in this context is AI governance.
For her part, the Group’s Chief Corporate Development Officer, Eleni Nikolaidou noted that currently only 20% of AI projects launched by organizations manage to generate a return on investment (ROI), a fact which, as she explained, is due to the lack of effective AI governance. On the other hand, according to her, employees who possess AI skills and list them on their resumes earn, on average, 20% higher salaries.
Consequently, as Mr. Nikolaidis revealed, the company is preparing to launch an ITIL AI Governance certification regarding how governance is regulated within a company using AI. According to Eleni Nikolaidou, it will be released this summer—late July or early August.
Finally, when asked about the company’s potential listing on the stock exchange, Mr. Nikolaidis replied that it is not part of the company’s immediate plans.
“As an organization, we are always prepared. We comply with all international standards. We are listed on the bond market. So far, we have determined that we have no reason to list on the stock market. That does not mean we are ruling it out. We will evaluate the situation,” he stated.