Wider opportunities for Online learners in the south

Businesses and individuals across the South will have access to a greater range of e-learning courses from now on - with the launch of a brand new Hampshire company.

The Southern Learning Hub is the new commercial arm of the highly successful, Fareham-based firm HSLH, and has been set up in a bid to bring learning to a wider audience across Hampshire, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight.

HSLH (the Hampshire and Solent Learning Hub), currently provides a variety of online learndirect courses to thousands of people across the South, but the new company will significantly broaden the range of e-learning courses on offer.

Denise Candy, who is chief executive of both firms ñ and who set up HSLH in 2001 - explained: ìHSLH already supplies learndirect courses to a huge number of students, but we now want to branch out and offer additional courses such as the ILM (Institute of Leadership Management) range, national tests, and basic skills, Microsoft and City and Guilds qualifications.

ìIn addition, although we will still be using learndirectís range of learning centres, we will be supporting learners with further resources such as our new mobile testing unit. This is equipped with a number of laptop computers, and goes out into local workplaces and community venues to test learners under examination conditions. As a result, many more people will be able to study courses involving formal tests.

ìOur tutors also go out into businesses, and anywhere people are doing online courses, to provide training, carry out assessments, and offer vital support. Basically, the aim of SLH is to promote learning - and to help a much wider range of people fulfil their true potential.î

The Southern Learning Hub has been set up as a result of the success of HSLH, which last year extended its contract to provide courses to 100,000 people across Hampshire, won new contracts to deliver online programmes to Berkshire and the Channel Islands, and reached a landmark target of enrolling 10,000 employees of SMEs onto online training courses.

The new limited company is wholly owned by HSLH, but will have its own workforce of 15 staff, based at SLHís offices in Fareham. The new roles range from an apprenticeship in customer service or secretarial work, to the role of centre operations manager with responsibility for income generation and target delivery.

And the vacancies are already proving extremely popular - with over 800 applications received so far.

Denise went on: ìWeíve been amazed with the amount of interest weíve received. These positions mean local people can make a real difference to those with learning needs ñ so weíre looking forward to getting on with the job!î