learndirect really means business!
June 14th 2005 Learn East Ltd has teamed up with learndirect to launch an e-skills training programme specifically for the Energy & Utilities Industry In 1998 the government launched the concept of a “university for industry”
Its mission is to use e-learning to boost the employability of individuals and the productivity and competitiveness of organisations
The outcome of this plan was the establishment of learndirect as the country’s leading e-learning organisation, and indeed the largest government-backed supported e-learning initiative in the world
The aim then as today is to boost the skills of individuals and, in turn, the productivity of UK Plc. Today learndirect operates throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland reaching over 1.5 million learners through its network of over 2000 Centres. The majority of these centres are managed by Geographic Hubs or Industry Sector Hubs
The National Energy & Utilities Sector learndirect Hub is operated by Learn East Limited, which also operates the Northamptonshire Geographic Hub as well as the National Hospitality Leisure, Travel & Tourism Hub
Learn East Ltd’s considerable experience and success in running the learndirect Northamptonshire Hub resulted in its successful tender for these national learndirect contracts
The Hub manages these contracts with our network of over 30 delivery centres. These centres are a mixture of private training providers, colleges and public centres as well as in-company centres
For example our best performing centre, PP Training are run by husband and wife team Roy & Jo Ingham and specialises in bespoke and blended training solutions for the sector
To the majority of people in the UK, learndirect is now a household name offering more than 550 different courses covering a range of subjects, including Business & Management, ICT, Skills for Life and Languages, at all levels. More than three quarters of the courses are available online allowing people to learn wherever they have access to the internet – at home, at work or at a learndirect centre
learndirect’s flexible learning is available to individual adults wanting to improve existing skills or to learn new ones, and to employers looking for an innovative way to develop the skills of their workforce
The cost to the business is reduced and in certain circumstances, may be free. The great benefit is flexibility as e-learning allows people to learn at their own pace, anywhere they can use the Internet. It is also substantially less expensive than traditional classroom based training
The main emphasis will be on learndirect courses targeting skills needs in literacy and numeracy, which are needed by many young people coming into the industry
Generally, Energy and Utilities businesses have had difficulty developing their people to best advantage, with a distinct lack in ICT and basic skills
With a number of Industry Specific learning centres throughout the country learndirect can offer the full range of services to the man on the street and to businesses. The flexible nature of learndirect provision (you learn at your own pace and where you choose) ensures that it is always a hit with busy people who have to juggle many commitments
With courses that can be tailored to the specific needs of the workforce, learndirect provides an economical, in-house delivery style that offers maximum gain and minimum disruption to the modern business environment
The Hub has a dedicated Sectors Business Manager, James Bambridge, who is the main contact point at Learn East Limited. He can be reached on 01536 419556 or via email jbambridge@tresham.ac.uk Lorna Slater is the Hub Tutor Support Co-ordinator and works closely with the Business Manager to support the sector hubs achieve their objectives
In addition training to centres is provided by our Quality Assurance Manager, Learner Support Co-ordinator, Skills for Life Co-ordinator and our Audit Team. The web site www.learneast.co.uk has a host of further information including the Hubs Venue Handbook . | 
