Futuremedia offers its award-winning learning for all programme to small and medium sized businesses

Futuremedia offers its award-winning learning for all programme to small and medium sized businesses across the UK

European based e-Learning solutions provider Futuremedia Plc, today announced the launch of its award-winning Learning For All programme to small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) across the UK. The pilot launch of the programme was carried out with Canyon Europe Ltd in early August 2004 and will be followed by the launch of a broader scheme in September.

The SME initiative aims to provide smaller employers with the tools necessary to self-manage the launch of the Government’s Home Computing Initiative (HCI) within their company, while benefiting from the same quality of service as their larger counterparts. Historically, the HCI community has largely overlooked SMEs due to their size, even though they represent the largest and most heterogeneous sector in the market place. Futuremedia is aiming to bridge this gap by developing a programme specifically designed for companies with fewer than 1000 employees.

Based in Northern Ireland, Canyon Europe is a world leader in the design and manufacture of trigger sprayers and pump dispensers. After struggling to find a HCI provider that could offer its 65 employees the same benefits as larger organisations, Futuremedia’s SME initiative offered the necessary tools to join the programme.

Commenting on its decision to implement Learning For All, Samuel Cooke, HR manager at Canyon Europe said: Money and time invested in training and development are wasted if an employer doesn’t have a sound retention strategy. We operate within a highly competitive sector so it is vital that we hold on to experienced employees. The programme offered by Futuremedia is particularly valuable, offering a range of high quality learning applications that can be used at home, in addition to the computer hardware.

David Bailey, managing director of Learning for All at Futuremedia added: With 99% of all firms in the UK employing fewer than 250 people, it is essential that training programmes are designed to retain and recruit employees. The Learning for All SME scheme will provide employees with a valuable opportunity to improve their IT skills.

The Learning For All SME scheme offers employees access to a low-cost, quality computer delivered to their home, fully equipped with internet access, games, software and e-Learning programmes. The scheme also includes three years warranty and comprehensive support and is designed for professional, personal or family use.