AFINITI ACQUIRES LEARN-IT
IT consultancy Afiniti Ltd has acquired the Hemel Hempstead based business of IT training company Learn-it. Afiniti says its own business has specialised in the consulting, implementation, training and support of large-scale IT roll-outs, while Learn-it has traditionally focused on bespoke training packages for small to medium-sized projects. Meanwhile the Aberdeen-based component of Learn-it continues to trade as before, providing training, coaching and project management services for multi-national clients implementing large scale IT systems in the Offshore Oil & Gas and Petrochemicals industries. The combined Learn-it business was ranked 31st in IT Skills Research’s Top 50 IT Training Providers in 2006, with estimated training revenues of £3.2million. Jan 2007

NEW FROM PARITY: BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT
Parity Training has launched a series of courses aligned to the world’s first standard for Business Relationship Management – BS 11000 – and to PAS 11000, the Publicly Available Specification that serves as its precursor.
Parity says that with growing demand for outsourcing and off-shoring, businesses must manage their internal and external relationships effectively and transparently – hence the need for a recognised and rigorous methodology for Business Relationship Management. Working with Partnership Sourcing Limited (PSL), whose CRAFT methodology underpins PAS 11000, Parity has developed a range of courses and workshops that will be delivered as public scheduled courses and as closed, organisation-specific events.
The new standard was launched towards the end of 2006 and has already generated considerable interest. It has potentially wide applications across the public sector, as well as the commercial and non-profit sectors, for facilitating collaboration. Jan 2007

FALLING STAR
Star Consulting, the learning services company based in Brighton, is in receivership. In December the company had been hopeful that it would be acquired by a major industry player, and discussions were at an advanced stage. But on the day the deal was due to be signed, the potential acquirer pulled out and the receiver was called in. Star had revenues of £1.8 million in 2005, and was ranked 10th by IT Skills Research in the Top 10 Managed Training Service providers in the same year. Jan 2007

EBI ZADEH JOINS FROST & SULLIVAN
Ebi Zadeh has joined Frost & Sullivan, a leading global growth consulting company, as the head of Corporate Training, Europe and Africa. Ebi was previously MD of the Training business at Parity. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading the Corporate Training business into new markets to provide its international ‘blue chip’ clients with cutting edge Executive, Sales and Marketing, Management and Technology learning solutions. Jan 2007

RON ORME IS BACK
Ron Orme, formerly Managing Director of Parity Training and Spring IT Training, has joined Stagebeach Ltd as its CEO. Stagebeach is venture capital backed and was set up to acquire a traditional management skills ILT business (GBS Corporate Training Ltd) and a technology business (Atrium Communications). Atrium has an IPTV capability called Videocast, a low-bandwidth video/TV system to which it has added e-learning/LMS functionality. It already has several prestigious clients using this to support their workplace learning. By integrating these businesses the company plans to add a technology dimension to the current GBS learning solutions (to offer blended learning) and to add further technology elements into the mix such as virtual classrooms, online simulations and packaged content, to create “a total delivery solution capability”. Jan 2007

PPI LEARNING SERVICES
PPI Learning has quickly found a "new" owner. The assets of PPI Learning Ltd have been transferred to PPI Learning Services a business created by a New York based investment company Burnham Hill Partners who will continue to operate PPI Learning Services as a going concern. Marie-Paule Donsimoni (formerly CEO of IKM - a sister company of PPI Learning - and Managing Director of Vidyah International) has been appointed as Chairman and CEO of the new business. The company will be issuing another statement early in the New Year, hopefully explaining how they intend to repay the old creditors. (repeat)

STEED WELCOMES LEITCH, BUT ASKS: "WHY IS OUR INDUSTRY IGNORED?"
Colin Steed, chief executive of the Institute of IT Training, has welcomed the Leitch Review on Skills to 2020: "I am delighted to see the Leitch review's focus on the critical importance of higher level skills and increased employer involvement in the design of skills and training". Steed said the report also recommends that private firms 'pledge' to train more staff at work – something the Institute has long called for. If firms fail to undertake such training voluntarily the report calls for workers to be given a statutory right to workplace training.
Steed continued that it is imperative that the Government work with professional bodies, educators and employers to continually raise the level and standards of skills. "It always amazes me how our world-class training providers are overlooked whilst Government consult academic providers. We have the best training providers in the world and yet no-one consults them. It's scandalous." Jan 2007

FREE TRAINING FOR NHS STAFF
Microsoft has launched a new e-learning initiative, available free of charge to all NHS staff. Learners will be able to choose from training on Microsoft Office 2003, SharePoint 2003 and InfoPath 2003. The training is completely free to anyone with an NHS email address and the service can be used by individuals or scaled up to support a whole team. Staff will be able to complete the training anywhere they have access to the Internet. Microsoft has developed the training resources with both beginners and experienced IT users in mind. The training content is hosted on Microsoft’s resource portal on behalf of Connecting for Health. (Reported by 24dash.com/cblearningnews.com) Jan 2007

MOBILE LEARNING FOR LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES DELEGATES
Organisers of the Learning Technologies conference have announced that all bookings made before 24th January will include an iPod and speaker podcasts as part of the delegate package. The conference, which runs alongside the Learning Technologies exhibition, is now in its eighth year. The complete conference programme, speaker and session details, booking information and details of the iPod offer can be found here. Jan 2007

LEARNING TREE LAUNCHES REALITYPLUS
Learning Tree International has announced the introduction of its RealityPlus™ curriculum of management courses, based on the principles of performance-based learning. With these courses, characterised as "management education for the real world", Learning Tree says it is introducing "a revolutionary approach designed to significantly improve the effectiveness of employees of public and private sector organisations worldwide". RealityPlus course participants are immersed in real-world scenarios where they apply new knowledge and skills under the guidance of expert facilitators. The courses include computer simulations, interactive multi-media scenarios, real-time data acquisition and analysis, and collaborative activities. Jan 2007

E-LEARNING: TOWARDS MATURITY
The Skills for Business Network e-learning project (based at e-skills UK) has concluded an in-depth study to identify why organisations are investing in e-learning and the impact it is having on their business and staff. Over 200 organisations from a range of sectors participated and provided detailed insights into their plans, opportunities and challenges. Initial findings are available now, and the full report – ‘Towards Maturity’ – will be launched at the Learning Technologies Conference on 31 January. For more about initial findings, see Other Research pages. Jan 2007

BCS ENLISTS TRAINING SYNERGY'S HELP
Delegates following the Synergy Training Accreditation (STA) Project programme are taking part in a British Computer Society pilot to gain the BCS's new Accredited Course for Tutors and Trainers (ACTT) qualification. The pilot runs until July 2007, with a view to the ACTT being formally launched in September 2007 (see Industry News Dec 2006). The STA Project programme is run by the training services company Training Synergy. The programme is already mapped against the Institute of IT Training's defined skills framework, but Training Synergy says it is keen to also ally the programme's standards to those of the new BCS ACTT. Jan 2007

ITQ CONFERENCE – APRIL 2007
e-skills UK is to hold a national conference supporting and promoting ITQ best practice. It will take place at the International Conference Centre, Birmingham on 24 April 2007. Delegates from training organisations, from all sectors, will explore the impact on performance which ITQ can deliver and the current thinking around best practice delivery models, as well as providing valuable opportunities for networking. With over 1,000 accredited centres already offering ITQ, this conference is the first national event to raise the profile of ITQ and celebrate the first 3 years of achievement. The event will include the launch of the new e-skills UK ITQ Charter programme for training providers. The conference title, programme and speakers are still to be finalised. For further information, email beth.oconnor[at sign]e-skills[dot]com. Jan 2007

QA-IQ INSTRUCTOR IS BCS TRAINER OF THE YEAR
QA-IQ instructor and Principal Technologist, Dave Britt, has won the BCS 'Trainer of the Year' award for 2006. Britt has been working with Microsoft's UK Deployment Centre of Excellence (COE) and other Microsoft partners to share expertise, best practice and methodologies around deployment of Windows Vista. Training and Certification Manager at Microsoft, Kim Rubbo, said: "Dave has provided in-depth technical training on Microsoft technologies as a Microsoft Certified Trainer for many years. He's done a fantastic job providing high-quality skills and knowledge, and the feedback we've had has been excellent. This award is much deserved and great testament to the high standards of delivery in the Microsoft Certified Trainer Community." Jan 2007

INTELLEGO ACQUIRES EMEDIT
Intellego has acquired 'selected assets and liabilities' of eMedit Ltd, a supplier of e-learning systems for the health, medical and pharmaceutical markets. Intellego says it has worked increasingly closely with eMedit over the past year and has taken part in several successful joint bids. Intellego is paying £50,000 in shares for eMedit, which is currently loss-making. The assets acquired have a net book value of £95,000. Jan 2007

GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE CHIEF ARCHITECT NAMED MICROSOFT MVP
Thomas Lee, Chief Architect at Global Knowledge, has been named as a Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) for the twelfth year in succession. The latest MVP Award makes Lee one of longest-serving MVPs in the world and gives Global Knowledge advanced access to exclusive technical and development information. Microsoft describes the MVP Award is its way of acknowledging and supporting the significant contributions that individual professionals make to Microsoft communities through the open and objective exchange of knowledge, and the active sharing of their real-world expertise with users and with Microsoft itself. Jan 2007

HOST ACHIEVES IBM TRAINING PARTNER STATUS
HOST Computer Services has achieved full accreditation as an IBM training partner. It is one of only three hardware training providers to be certified by IBM, and says it offers "a distinctive approach to learning and development: providing real-life experience, rather than e-learning or virtual training". HOST claims to be the only external Hewlett-Packard Authorised Training Centre in the UK, and also offers accredited and bespoke courses for Cisco, Sun Microsystems and other leading manufacturers. Established in 1992, the company is based at its dedicated residential training facilities near Telford in Shropshire. Jan 2007

KNOWLEDGEPOOL ENHANCES ITS TRAINING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
KnowledgePool has added new functionality features to enable clients to customise its web-based training management and administration system. KnowledgePool has an online catalogue of over 10,000 courses, provided by partner suppliers. Clients can search and book these courses through a web-based portal called LiveBooker. The routine administration aspects of their booking - such as confirmations, joining instructions and reminders - are fully automated and the system also manages the authorisation, purchasing and post-event evaluation processes. Clients can now create and add their own in-house schedule of courses to LiveBooker; resolve invoicing issues by accurately allocating costs to in-house courses; and completely tailor the automated course authorisation process. Jan 2007

BCS-QAA DEAL TO BENEFIT ACADEMIC REGULATION
BCS and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) have agreed to work together more closely in their higher education activities relating to computing. QAA works with higher education institutions to define academic standards and quality, and carry out and publish reviews against them. Under the agreement, the BCS will make a contribution to the development and review of the QAA academic infrastructure where it has a bearing on BCS accreditation activities: higher education institutions will be encouraged to share their BCS accreditation reports and outcomes with all stakeholders: and the BCS and QAA will collaborate on joint research of mutual benefit. Jan 2007

QA-IQ EXPANDS ORACLE OFFERING
QA-IQ, already an Oracle Approved Education Centre, has announced the expansion of its approved Oracle partner status. The number of QA-IQ Oracle approved training centres has increased, offering customers the choice of a wider range of Oracle curriculum in a greater number of locations. QA-IQ centres in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Swindon and Aberdeen are all authorised to hold an extensive range of accredited Oracle courses, and attendees will be able to complete recognised Oracle certifications. Jan 2007

REDTRAY PARTNERS WITH SKILLSOFT
Blended learning company Redtray has signed a strategic partnership with online learning provider SkillSoft. The new partnership means SkillSoft, which specialises in generic e-learning courseware with over 3,400 titles available, can offer Redtray's custom training capabilities to its EMEA customers, while Redtray has access to SkillSoft's range of resources for its own clients. Jan 2007

MORE WINS FOR ATLANTIC LINK
Atlantic Link says another three major organisations have purchased its Content Point, Capture Point and Knowledge Point rapid e-learning software. They are Slaughter and May, the international law firm; CIGNA, the health care specialist, and Best Deal Insurance, an on-line insurance specialist. In addition, Atlantic Link says Abbey is the latest bank to select its authoring tools for its in-house e-learning development. Abbey joins Barclays, HBOS, HSBC, First Direct and Sainsbury's Bank on the growing list of financial organisations selecting Atlantic Link's software. Jan 2007

ISO 27001 LEAD AUDITOR QUALIFICATION COURSE AT 7SAFE
Information Security services firm 7Safe is offering qualification training for the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor course, hosted from 7Safe's new training centre. The course is accredited by the International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA) in association with ISO 27001 auditors' Bureau Veritas, and includes the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor examination. Over five days, the course prepares delegates for the qualification process for ISO 27001 and trains them on how to conduct audits for certification bodies. Jan 2007

TRAINER1 EXPORTS E-LEARNING EXPERTISE TO RUSSIA
Learning consultancy Trainer1 is supplying its e-learning expertise and experience to Business Training Russia (BTR), one of Russia's leading short-term business education and training companies. Among the Moscow-based company's internationally known clients are Audi, Bacardi, Sony, Volvo, L'Oreal, IKEA and Diageo. Trainer1 says BTR is experiencing a growth in demand for blended rather than purely classroom-delivered learning, so BTR has approached Trainer1 to help it to build a strategic plan to develop its blended learning offering and its capability to produce and deliver e-learning materials. Jan 2007

TRAINING SYNERGY HELPS BRITISH ENERGY'S XP MIGRATION
Training solutions provider Training Synergy has provided training support to a Windows XP rollout throughout British Energy offices in the UK. Training Synergy supplied security-cleared IT training specialists with experience of tutoring users in Windows XP and Office 2003, to train some 6,000 users across seven sites. The company provided a team of ten trainers who delivered not only the basic training but also 'floorwalking' support to mentor the users once they had received their basic training. They also conducted review meetings via telephone, and local Training Synergy trainers provided just-in-time support as and when required. Jan 2007

PEAKDEAN INTERACTIVE WINS SECURITY TRAINING CONTRACT
UK bespoke training and e-learning specialist Peakdean Interactive has won a contract to develop its fourth e-learning package on Information Security. The contract has been awarded by one of the world's leading financial services companies and is to be rolled out to over 35,000 users around the globe. Peakdean says the package, which is currently under development, adopts a highly innovative scenario-based approach with continuing assessment in the form of a mystery game where the user has to find the identity of an office hacker. This follows on from three other successful security packages for leading UK banks and financial service companies. Jan 2007

NEW COMMITTEE FOR THE ELEARNING NETWORK
At its recent annual general meeting, the eLearning Network elected the members of its steering committee for 2006/07. They are Phil Green (Chairman), Geoff Berridge (Treasurer), Neil Lasher (Membership Secretary), Howard Hills (Awards Co-ordinator), Mike Alcock (Marketing Communications Manager), Jan Seabrook, Mike Corker, Jason Woodford, Angus Turpin, Alex Welsh and Adam Woods. The eLearning Network intends to hold at least six conferences during 2007. Jan 2007

7SAFE UNVEILS STATE-OF-THE-ART IT TRAINING FACILITY
Information security specialist 7Safe will hold its courses at its new purpose-built training suite located at South Cambridge Business Park from January 2007. 7Safe offers a diverse portfolio of services including IT security education & certification, penetration testing, digital forensic investigation and ISO 27001 consulting. Jan 2007

INFOBASIS RELEASES SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND LOCALES
InfoBasis is launching the latest version of its technology platform with the addition of support for multiple languages and locales. Total Capability Manager (InfoBasis TCM) will allow users to input and display data in a variety of supported languages, initially including French and German. The system will also support languages which read from right to left, such as Arabic. Because of the system's architecture, different users can access the same system concurrently in different languages based on their personal preference. In addition, the platform will support different locales - that is, choices of display of other localised information, such as the ways dates and numbers are displayed. Jan 2007

TRAINING SYNERGY TRAINS BANK STAFF
Systems integrator Getronics has partnered with Training Synergy to provide training resources for the implementation of new front office counter terminals to some 10,000 users within 1,643 branches of a major high street bank. Training Synergy's trainers worked with the bank to develop, design and deliver an accredited trainer programme; trained cashiers and counter managers on the new system; provided 'live proving' and 'go live' support to each branch; and carried out branch briefing visits to explain the new changes. Jan 2007

NEW IT PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCY MODEL FROM E-SKILLS UK
As part of its work on the ‘Professionalism in IT’ programme, e-skills UK has conducted a series of workshops and has now published a report on its findings. It says there is a hunger amongst IT professionals for professional career paths and external recognition of competence; there is a growing need for structured development programmes for IT professionals, particularly in the light of offshoring; and that it is therefore necessary to have a simple, flexible model for the IT workforce.
e-skills UK says it will devise a draft model, based on the workshop findings, designed to support the following objectives:

• The establishment of an internationally-recognised framework for IT & Telecoms professional development
• The establishment of a simple, fit-for-purpose structure of qualifications for IT professionals which are valued by employers
• Improvement in the availability, accessibility and uptake of training opportunities for IT professionals.

Competency in this context will be defined as encompassing knowledge, understanding and demonstrated skill. Jan 2007

UPDATE FROM Ufi
Following significant changes in 2006, Ufi has outlined its strategic objectives at a forum for Sector Skills Councils. They are
• Learndirect Courses - To enable adults without level two or Skills for Life qualifications to gain the skills and qualifications they need to find a job or to achieve and progress at work
• Learndirect Business - To sell products and services to UK employers to improve the skills and qualifications of the workforce and enhance national productivity
• Learndirect Advice - To strengthen Ufi’s position as the leading learning advice and guidance provider, extending the reach and scope of the service to increase the employability of individuals and the productivity of businesses.
(Reported by e-skills UK) Jan 2007

GORDON BROWN: WE MUST INVEST IN SKILLS
Gordon Brown has asked UK employers to become partners with government in building the excellence in education that the UK needs to compete globally. Speaking at the CBI Annual Conference, Brown said the UK produces 37,000 computer scientists a year, but China now produces 150,000. The number of engineers is also 37,000, but this compares to the 375,000 of China and India. “These people are not only raising skills in their countries, but challenging Britain and other advanced nations in a race to the top.”
On the skills of the wider workforce, he pointed out that 70% of the workforce of 2020 is already in work today. “For today's 6 million British adults without basic skills there are now jobs for only 3 million – and by 2020 there will probably be jobs for only half a million. So either we will have to bear the social security costs, or they will have to gain new skills. Some people ask if we can afford to invest in skills. The actual truth is we cannot afford not to.” Jan 2007

GROWING TAKE-UP FOR ‘TRAIN TO GAIN’
More than 15,000 employers are now using Train to Gain, the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC’s) service offering expert advice and sourcing training for businesses. Demand for the service has soared, with an eight-fold increase in the number of employers who have started training since the service was rolled-out across England in August. Train to Gain focuses on employers who need most help with training their staff. 55% of those involved have never worked with training providers or invested in the development of their workforce before, and 95% of employers involved in Train to Gain have fewer than 50 employees. With £1 billion committed to Train to Gain until 2010, the service is forecast to benefit 33,000 employers in 2006-07, rising to 53,000 employers in 2007-08 and in successive years to 2010. Jan 2007

IMPROVEMENT IN ADULT SKILLS TRAINING
Standards of publicly funded education and training for six million adults in England have improved dramatically, according to the Adult Learning Inspectorate. But its Chief Inspector David Sherlock warns that the progress made over the last five years could be reversed if constant changes to the infrastructure continue. The ALI report says that five years ago, 60% of work-based training providers failed inspection. Now nearly 90% succeed, which means more learners are gaining the skills and qualifications for employment. But in his last report as Chief Inspector before the ALI is merged with Ofsted in April 2007, Sherlock highlights three key areas of concern: success rates for learners are still lagging behind; he expresses anxieties about a number of current policies and their potential impact on the standard of learning – in particular proposed ‘lighter-touch’ inspection and greater self-regulation by providers; and he argues that continuous improvement demands continuity. He says that “where providers have not done well, it is because they have been confused or disrupted by constant changes to policy and structure”. Jan 2007

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