Learning Light becomes UK learning trustee

UK e-learning industry supported by Learning Light as it becomes a trustee of UK LearnOnline

Learning Light (LL), a non-profit organisation seeking to establish itself as a centre of excellence in the use of learning technologies in the workplace, has become a trustee of UK LearnOnline.

In a major boost to the UK's e-learning industry, Learning Light has entered an agreement with the UK LearnOnline consortium of developers to manage and promote the sales of learning materials worldwide.

UK LearnOnline, a consortium of learning content producers which has developed the learning content for the National Learning Network (NLN) and will involve the promotion of the UK learning industry on a global scale, has appointed Learning Light (LL), a non-profit centre of excellence in the use of learning technologies in the workplace, as a trustee of the consortium.

In this matter, Learning Light was advised by Peter Rawlinson, partner at Wake Smith, specialists in IT/IP and corporate sector deals.

The UK LearnOnline consortium comprises of some of the UK's leading e-learning businesses: Epic, the Workshop, Digitalbrain and the National Extension College (NEC).

The learning content's production value has been estimated at some $29.55m (GBP15m) by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta), which has responsibility for ensuring that learning content in the UK is 'fit for purpose' and matches the needs of both the learner and the learner's organisation.

The NLN content is over 600 hours long and covers a wide range of topics, from travel and tourism and environmental conversation to performing arts, sports and recreation.

NLN content is intended for a wide range of learners - from 16 year olds through to adults - covering adult and community learning; further and higher education; offender learning, and work-based learning.

While the content is freely available in the UK, Learning Light is developing a number of channel partners in order to distribute this material outside the UK, by using its network of international expertise it has built up.

"The increased exposure of the UK learning industry through the activities of Learning Light working with UK LearnOnline will offer significant opportunities - internationally - for both locally-based and national e-learning organisations," said Mark Pearce, of theWorkshop and the chair of UK LearnOnline.

"In addition, there are plans to extend the UK LearnOnline consortium in order to include more NLN producers - and the learning content that they have produced, Both the UK LearnOnline consortium and Learning Light are keen to work with more UK developers to expand the consortium and promote quality UK e-learning content worldwide," he added.

"UK LearnOnline offers many exciting prospects for its member organisations," he continued.

"We're delighted that Learning Light is working with the consortium and is going to be devoting considerable resources and expertise to help the consortium achieve its aims and objectives".

Jim Farmery, head of innovation at Yorkshire Forward commented: "This is an exciting coup for Learning Light and the Yorkshire and Humber based e-learning industry".

"In its appointment to manage and promote the work of UK LearnOnline, Learning Light has been recognised as a world class provider offering access to world class knowledge, research and learning - the UK's e-learning offer will now be realised not only within the UK but to a worldwide market".

"The Yorkshire and Humber e-learning industry already holds two of the world's largest applied e-learning services," he continued.

"It is partnerships such as this that continue to place the region at the heart of the use of learning technologies in the workplace - increasing the skills of our workforce and moving the region forward".

"Our role within the consortium is to be the consortium's exclusive representative to manage the marketing, sales licensing and administration of the NLN materials directly and through resellers worldwide - that is, anywhere outside the UK," commented Mark Pittaway, LL's CEO.

"In particular, we are looking for partners using established networks in the US and elsewhere to help promote and further develop markets for UK e-learning overseas".

"This is highly significant for the UK's e-learning industry and shows Learning Light's commitment to growing the industry".

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