The Best LMS for UK-Based Hospitality SMEs in 2025

Why Choosing the Right LMS Matters for Hospitality SMEs

Hospitality is fast-paced. So, you can’t afford to have your training systems slowing you down. Your LMS should help you:

• Train new hires quickly and efficiently
• Stay compliant with health, safety, and food handling regulations
• Upskill staff without interrupting daily operations
• Drive costs down

An effective LMS boosts employee confidence, enhances service quality, and can significantly reduce staff turnover. For SMEs, this means staying competitive in a tight labor market and growing sustainably. But most importantly, well training and happy staff means happy customer reviews.

Quick Comparison Table: LMS Platforms for Hospitality

1. Tayl

Best for: Growing UK-based hospitality SMEs

Tayl is a fresh take on staff training with a focus on hospitality. Their system is designed to be intuitive, flexible, and fair.

Its user-friendly interface makes it ideal for busy managers and front-line staff alike. From onboarding to compliance and skills development, Tayl simplifies the learning experience with a very affordable solution.

Highlights:

• Awarded “Best Value” and “Ease of Use” in 2025
• No lock-in contracts
• Simple pricing and hands-on support
• Ready-made, hospitality-specific course content
• Real-time reporting and progress tracking

2. Flow Hospitality Training (Mapal)

Best for: Larger, legacy hospitality operations

Flow is widely known in hospitality and offers a solid suite of training content. However, many SMEs find it expensive and inflexible.

Pros:

• Trusted brand recognition in hospitality
• Broad course library across roles and compliance

Cons:

• Long-term contracts that limit flexibility
• Higher cost per user, which adds up fast for growing teams
• Frustrations around platform updates and customer support responsiveness

If you’re locked into a Flow contract, it might be time to assess whether you’re getting the value your business needs.

3. iHasco

Best for: Compliance training

iHasco offers a wide range of compliance-focused modules that are relevant for hospitality businesses, especially in food hygiene, health and safety, and fire safety.

Strengths:

• CPD-accredited and up-to-date content
• Modern interface suitable for desktop and mobile
• SCORM-compatible for LMS integration

Considerations:

• Not built specifically for hospitality teams
• Less operational training compared to Tayl or Flow

For SMEs focusing primarily on compliance, iHasco is a reliable choice.

4. High Speed Training

Best for: Bite-sized, CPD-certified courses

This provider is known for quick wins when it comes to compliance and certifications.

Highlights:

• Pay-per-course model offers maximum flexibility
• Offers CPD-accredited training on-demand
• No need to commit to an LMS subscription

It’s ideal for seasonal training or businesses wanting to top up knowledge without ongoing platform costs.

5. Thrive.ai

Best for: Social and collaborative learning

Thrive takes a modern approach to learning by focusing on engagement, collaboration, and employee-driven content sharing.

Features:

• Social learning feeds and discussion spaces
• Gamification to boost motivation
• Advanced analytics and learner insights

Drawbacks:

• Not specifically tailored for hospitality operations
• Requires time and resources to implement effectively

If your team thrives in a collaborative environment and you have capacity to manage a custom rollout, Thrive is worth exploring.

6. 5Mins.ai

Best for: Microlearning powered by AI

5Mins.ai offers short-form, AI-curated learning experiences. It’s designed to fit learning into a few minutes a day, ideal for busy front-line staff.

Pros:

• AI-powered personalised content delivery
• Continuous and on-demand learning
• Great for fostering a learning culture

Cons:

• Courses may not be certified
• More suited to general soft skills than operational training

7. CPD Online College

Best for: Cheap and cheerful compliance courses

Perfect for ticking boxes without investing in a full LMS or needing platform features.

Pros:

• Extremely affordable
• Suitable for mandatory or refresher training
• Easy-to-access, online certification

Limitations:

• No learner management tools
• Limited engagement or customisation

Good for quick compliance needs, but not a long-term solution for structured learning.

8. TalentLMS

Best for: Generic business training across industries

TalentLMS is one of the most well-known global LMS platforms. It’s easy to get started and scalable.

Strengths:

• User-friendly interface
• Flexible plan options
• Broad feature set including quizzes, assessments, and certifications

Weaknesses:

• Not hospitality-specific
• Limited local support for UK SMEs

It’s a good generalist tool, but may lack the nuance and industry insight hospitality businesses need.

9. The Access Group

Best for: Enterprise-level organisations

Access offers a wide software suite including payroll, HR, and compliance. Their LMS fits well within their ecosystem.

Pros:

• Enterprise-level integrations and features
• Comprehensive analytics
• Deep customisation

Cons:

• High costs and long contracts
• Designed more for large organisations than SMEs

Ideal for larger hospitality chains, but less suitable for agile, independent businesses.

Conclusion: What’s the Best LMS for You?

If you’re a UK-based hospitality SME looking to replace Flow, consider these three tiers:

Top Recommendation:

Tayl — For its simplicity, hospitality-specific content, transparent pricing, and award-winning support.

Good Alternatives:

• iHasco — For compliance-focused needs
• High Speed Training — For flexible, pay-as-you-go learning

Best for Large or Non-Hospitality Use:

• Thrive.ai, TalentLMS, Access Group — Powerful, but potentially too complex or generic for SME needs