The IT training sector defied the tough economic backdrop last year, with only one of the top 10 UK outfits suffering a decline in revenue.

QA remained the UK’s largest IT training provider last year with revenue of £86m, according to a list of the top 50 players by market intelligence firm Pardo Fox.

IBM Training finished second after growing estimated revenue by 26 per cent to £24.5m.

The top five were rounded out by Learning Tree International - which enjoyed five per cent sales growth - SAP and Logica. Those ranked from six to 10 – SkillSoft, Parity Training, Oracle University, ILX Group and Global Knowledge – all achieved revenue of between £14.3m and £18m.

Cisco and NetApp training firm Fast Lane claimed the findings indicate that the IT training sector is faring well in a tough market.

Fast Lane leapt from 25th to 23rd in the rankings and marketing director Karen Whittaker said: “We have been in the UK only five years and have almost doubled our turnover each year.

"To keep up this expansion, we are looking at innovative new technologies and products which will help us continue to meet the needs of our growing roster of clients."