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NATIONAL QUALITY MARK EQUALS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

FOR LOCAL ADULT TRAINING PROVIDER

Hampshire and Surrey based organisation, Communiweb has been accredited with the nationally recognised quality mark for organisations which provide support to individuals to make learning and work more accessible – the matrix Standard. Communiweb, who operate government sponsored learndirect training centres at Alton, Basingstoke, Camberley, Farnham and Liphook gained the matrix Standard after satisfying external assessors that the service they provided came up to the stringent standards.Communiweb has over 150 students and 20 staff and it wanted to ensure that these students and employees were receiving the best information, advice and guidance possible. The organisation decided that the matrix Standard, amongst other things, would help it to strengthen the professional service that it provides, free of charge to individuals and employers in the area. Katie Barnes, Communiweb Operations Manager says that the accreditation process took nearly a year. “All our staff were involved and where necessary were trained to ensure that the matrix standards were being achieved”. She said, adding that the entire process had sharpened the professional service, now officially recognised, that the organisation offers.

Communiweb will now offer free, independent and unbiased advice to those seeking to change a career path, find employment or simply re-train, which will include details of courses and qualifications that are available on a whole host of subjects.

David Morgan, Director of Marketing and Communications at ENTO, the company responsible for maintaining and promoting the matrix Standard on behalf of the DIUS, said of the organisation’s achievement, “This matrix Accreditation is another example of how the matrix Standard is proving effective for all types of organisations, helping them to provide a more professional service offering and to strive to be the best in their sector.”

Any individual or organisations that would like to know more about how the matrix Standard might be able to help, can find out more by contacting Communiweb 0n 0845 2267 259 or calling in to any centre.

The matrix Standard is the national quality mark for all organisations delivering information, advice and guidance services in an employer or client context.
The matrix Standard is highly adaptable to a range of organisational settings, regardless of size, from banks and high street stores to regional community and voluntary organisations.
The matrix Standard complements other quality and inspection systems, such as Investors in People, ISO 9000, PQASSO, the EFQM Excellence Model and the Charter Mark Standard.
The matrix Standard is maintained and promoted by ENTO on behalf of the DIUS.
The matrix Standard Assessment and Accreditation process is managed by EMQC Ltd on behalf of the DIUS.

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January 2008

A better job maybe just a course away.

With news that nearly a third (31%) of British workers are unhappy at work and cost their employers more than £40 million a day* in daydreaming or trying to find a way out of their job local learndirect operator, Communiweb are throwing open their doors in January so that the public can drop in, see how the Internet based courses make learning easy and flexible and discuss free training that leads to Nationally recognised Qualifications.

The research, commissioned by learndirect Careers Advice, the UK’s largest provider of free, impartial advice on careers and learning, reveals the state of the nation’s satisfaction levels across different jobs from plumbers to fitness instructors to accountants. When asked to rate the factors that made them unhappy at work, a third (33%) stated that being in a ‘dead end’ job through a lack of career progression & challenges was the biggest reason.

And being dissatisfied with work has a knock on effect in every day life making two in five people (41%) irritable, 21% find they can’t sleep, 6% say it even affects their sex life and 10% often comfort spend to compensate for the lack of job satisfaction. To get a more satisfying job, new qualifications are cited as the route to success, closely followed by being your own boss or retraining for a new career.

Communiweb who operate learndirect from 5 centres across the area will have tutors on hand to discuss individual needs, advise on sources of career information and answer any questions potential students have.

“Because learndirect courses are based on the Internet they’re very flexible and there is no need to learn at a centre if you have access to the Internet at home or work.” Explains operations manager Katie Barnes, “If you’re studying for an NVQ you’ll never have to leave your desk!” she adds.

All learndirect courses that lead to nationally recognized qualifications such as City & Guilds Certificates in English and Maths (equivalent to a GCSE) and NVQ qualifications are fully government funded subject to individual’s status. Computer qualifications including ECDL are generously subsidised too.

Communiweb are interested in talking to local businesses who want to up-skill their workforce and currently they have access to funds under the governments Train To Gain scheme.

The Open days Commence at Liphook on the 7th January, Basingstoke on the 8th, Farnham on the 9th, Alton on the 10th and finally Camberley on 11th. All centres will open from 9am to 5.30pm and refreshments will be available. For more details contact learndirect on 0845 2260 259.

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July 2007

Alton Based Training Company gain Regional Award

Communiweb, the Alton based training company that operates learndirect from centres across the region has been highly commended for it’s work with local business.

Ufi, the organisation behind learndirect launched a National Award scheme to recognise achievement of it’s learners, partners and providers. Communiweb were one of 1500 national nominees and at a Regional Awards Ceremony held in Reading recently they were Highly Commended for their work.

Alan Smith, Sales & Marketing Director at Communiweb says that the award is very much a team exercise, “This year we have been strengthening our work with local business by offering employees free Skills for Life courses leading to qualifications in English and math’s. These are equivalent to GCSE passes and have been very popular. In addition, we have been delivering NVQ’s in the workplace in a variety of subjects including Customer Service, IT and Health & Social Care. Our team of tutors and assessors have supported the students and helped them to gain new skills, improving their opportunities and providing their employers with skilled staff” he said, adding that whilst being obviously delighted with the commendation, their real reward is in seeing students gain new skills & qualifications that lead to promotion and improved opportunities.

Communiweb are putting the finishing touches to a new campaign aimed at ensuring that employees and employers are aware that they can gain new skills and qualifications, free of charge to qualifying students. “All employees need to do is to contact us and we will check their eligibility and even talk to their employers to ensure that they are fully supported” he added.

Employers interested in finding out more should email alan@communiweb.co.uk for more information.

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March 2007

learndirect opens in Basingstoke

learndirect, the government supported learning network are opening their Basingstoke centre next Monday, 5th March. Replacing 3 centres which closed at the end of July last year, the new centre based in Communiweb’s premises in Queens Road, off Worting Road will offer a range of on-line courses aimed at enabling Adults to achieve qualifications that will help them to gain employment, improve promotion prospects, access further education and training and build confidence. Alan Smith, Operations Director, says the qualifications on offer fulfil the requirements of many employers. “The European Computer Driving Licence is a must have qualification demanded by an ever increasing number of employers & is generously partly funded by the government - students can take advantage of our opening offer by paying just £200 for the entire course and tests (normal price £385). Courses in Maths and English that lead to the National Certificate in Adult Numeracy and Literacy are fully funded by the government and are often the last chance for Adults to gain a GCSE equivalent qualification that is Nationally recognised.” He added. learndirect also offer NVQ qualifications in IT, Health and Social Care and Customer Service, which are assessed in the workplace with the minimum of disruption to the employer and employee. These qualifications are provided free of charge to many qualifying Adults and are a well known and respected measure of ability.

learndirect courses are based on the Internet and because they can be studied in the centre, at home or on any broadband connected computer they fit in with an Adult lifestyle providing flexibility and support for the student.

The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm and appointments are not required. Call 0845 2260 259 for further details.

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March 2007

learndirect reports clever students

Communiweb who operate the learndirect centres in Farnham, Alton, Liphook, Basingstoke and Camberley say local students are becoming cleverer.

So far this academic year the Adult Education Provider says that 230 adults have qualified for City & Guilds or OCR Adult Numeracy and Literacy qualifications, 30 have obtained their European Computer Driving Licence, seen by many employers as the ‘must have’ qualification and 65 are working towards an NVQ.

Qualifications in Maths and English are fully funded by the government and are recognised Nationally as an equivalent to a GCSE, often allowing adults who perhaps didn’t do too well at school to gain a qualification that will help them gain work, go for promotion or carry on studies at a higher level whilst improving their confidence. Communiweb report that a further 250 students are working towards the qualification whilst 150 are studying for the ECDL. Commenting on the results, Alan Smith of Communiweb wouldn’t be drawn on whether students in Hampshire or Surrey were doing best. “I can’t comment on that but I can say that these results are much improved on the preceding year. The government agenda to improve adult education standards really seems to be getting there.” He said.

learndirect learning fits in with an adult lifestyle and because all the courses are based on the Internet they start every day, can be studied at the centre, at home or on any broadband connected computer at times to suit the student. “Gone are the times when students had to work around a college term, now we work around the students.” says Alan. “We still provide support and mentoring in the centre but we also extend this to on-line and telephone support.” He added.

The centres are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, with late night and evening opening according to location - appointments are not required.

Details of courses can be obtained from the centre or by calling 0845 2260 259.

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Expansion for Alton Based Learning Provider

Communiweb Limited, the Alton based Adult Learning Provider has opened a further Learning Centre, this time in Camberley, adding to the 3 existing centres at Alton, Liphook and Farnham. The company, which was formed in 1998 and has been operated by husband and wife team Alan & Catherine Smith for the past 5 years, successfully tendered for contracts from learndirect to enable them to continue offering courses in these areas last year. Not only were they successful in renewing existing areas but were also granted, funding for areas including Farnborough, Aldershot, Basingstoke and Camberley in addition.

“We are delighted to open a centre in Camberley bringing learndirect flexible courses to the local community” says Operations Director Alan Smith. “Since successfully tendering for an enlarged contract last July we have been working on a strategic expansion plan which includes opening new full time Centres in Camberley & Basingstoke as well as outreach venues in the Farnborough, Aldershot and Blackwater Valley areas.” He added

The ambitious expansion programme is being completely funded within-house demonstrating the financial stability of the company. Financial Director Susan Burgoo says the management structure within the business is strong and financial controls provide good cash flow allowing for planned expansion. “The business model that we have developed over the past few years allows us to work well with funded projects whilst retaining the autonomy of a limited entity” she said. The company has further plans including adding to the on-line courses offered under the learndirect banner with out-sourced material, offering Level 3 NVQ’s in addition to the Level 2 currently so popular with local business, and expanding its corporate involvement with e-learning in general.

Catherine Smith says the future for the company also includes offering Consultancyto companies which will include evaluating requirements, course sourcing, delivery, tutoring, mentoring and supporting Achievement. “We absolutely believe that the future of Adult Education and Training is E-based,” she says, “Communiweb are at the forefront of this technology and embrace the future with both arms.”

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learndirect open in Camberley

A much needed Adult Learning Centre that offers courses that fit in with an adult lifestyle is to open in Old Dean on 2nd January 2007. learndirect, the government backed flexible learning organisation is to finally open a centre in Camberley, which, until now, was the only major town in the area not to have the community facility.

Aiming itself firmly at those people who want to gain a qualification or improve their existing qualifications, learndirect offer adults free courses in English and maths that lead to Nationally recognized certification which at level 2 are equivalent to a GCSE higher grade pass, and courses that not only teach people about computers, but lead to the European Computer Driving Licence, the Nationally recognized standard of computer literacy demanded by many employers. NVQ’s in several subjects are also available Free of Charge to qualifying applicants

learndirect has a mission to use technology to transform the skills and employability of the working population, in order to improve the UK’s productivity. Improving skills is key to enabling individuals, businesses and communities to fulfill their potential, and in improving economic prosperity and social mobility across the UK as a whole. learndirect has a leading contribution to make in the drive to build skills, and in turn to build success on a personal, corporate and national level. The vast majority of courses are based on the Internet and can be studied at the centre or from home or work on any broadband enabled computer at times to suit the student. Catherine Smith of Communiweb Limited, the local operator of learndirect centres says people are realising that getting a well paid job or promotion is the end of a very long road which needs to be well planned. “A good starting point is to take a look at their skills and which ones are needed to succeed. We have a very quick and simple assessment programme that shows exactly were they are with their skills”, she said. The centre, which can be found at 12 Dean Parade will be open Monday – Friday from 9am to 6pm, late night & weekend openings are also planned.

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learndirect to re-open in Basingstoke and offer Camberley service

Since Basingstoke College stopped offering learndirect courses the population of Basingstoke have had no access to flexible on–line funded learning, including Computer courses, English and maths qualifications and NVQ’s, & the population of Camberley have never had the facility. Now all that’s about to change. Communiweb, the Alton based Adult Education Provider who recently won the contract to provide courses for the world’s largest e-learning organisation, learndirect, in their existing centres in Alton, Liphook and Farnham are to open centres in Basingstoke and Camberley within the next few weeks.

The company have been offering learndirect courses for over 5 years and are very experienced at this new on–line, flexible method of learning, “We are totally committed to learndirect and know that a great many people enjoy the flexibility of the learning that can be undertaken from a centre, on any broadband computer, even at home” said Catherine Smith, Communiweb managing director who, with husband Alan, operate the business, “We are looking forward to welcoming new and old learndirect users in Basingstoke and new learners in Camberley, offering them the opportunity to improve their qualifications” she added. Currently, Communiweb offer courses in English and maths that lead to City & Guilds or OCR certification, which at Level 2 is equivalent to an A*–C grade GCSE O level pass, vital for those who didn’t obtain any passes at school or whose grades were below C, who now want to train for a professional job, gain promotion or simply gain confidence. The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), the main recognised standard of computer literacy in Europe and demanded by many employers, can also be studied at the centres and Communiweb also offer NVQ’s in IT, Customer Service and Health Care which are FREE OF CHARGE to qualifying applicants. The new centres will operate 6 days a week and have some late night openings to allow access to all.

“Our contract calls for a great number of English & maths test passes and NVQ awards in areas were there is a high requirement, and we are very excited about offering all our services in Basingstoke & Camberley,” says director of operations, Alan Smith “We have already developed strategies that see us operate in community centres in Basingstoke at West Side in South Ham and Hart Neibourhood Centre in Hook for a day a week bringing learndirect to the community with courses accessesed by laptops, as well as building up a relationship with employers and conducting workplace training” he added. You are advised to call 0845 2260 259 for opening details.

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