media

UNOCO Plays Key Role in DfES Lobby

Leading East Midlands based training and development company the UNOCO Group is lobbying the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) to fund basic Information and Communications Technology (ICT) training for businesses.

UNOCO’s Chief Executive Officer Ted Stanley, who is on the steering group of the ICT Skills for Life Bulletin and represents UNOCO on the ICT Pathfinder Project, an initiative which aims to develop and pilot approaches to delivering the ICT Skills for Life curriculum said: "Nowadays, technology plays a vital part in everyday life therefore basic ICT skills should really be included on the Skills for Life agenda along with literacy and numeracy."

"However whereas funding is available for NVQ Level 2 programmes for those with some IT experience, surprisingly it is not available for basic ICT skills, despite pilot schemes that have highlighted the demand and demonstrated the benefits derived by both the business and the employees from such training," said Ted.

"Improving the basic ICT skills of working people will not only improve their quality of life, but also increase efficiency and productivity within the organisations where they work and facilitate the implementation of new technology and ultimately, business growth," he continued.

One company that has seen some real benefits from ICT training is Buxton Mineral Water. Parent company Nestle Waters were introducing a global satellite system which meant that the Buxton employees, most of whom had never used a computer before, needed to acquire ICT skills to cope with the new technology. An intensive programme was designed and implemented as part of a pilot scheme by Network Learning, part of the UNOCO Group, in conjunction with the LSC to develop competency in basic IT skills amongst staff. Training was delivered in the work place and 45 members of staff successfully completed the course, with each achieving their foundation certificate in ICT with some later progressing to the ITQ level 2 course.

Both of these qualifications have been developed by the UNOCO Group as part of its work to develop policies, practices and products relating to ICT as a Skill for Life.  Begin IT is a foundation VRQ for those with no previous IT knowledge and iTQ, an NVQ level 2 programme for those with some IT experience which use a successful combination of learning techniques and resources such as multimedia tools, online learning and standardised portfolios.  They have also developed Course Manager, a new online learning system which monitor learners’ progress in IT training and moves them through a systematic learning process, continually assessing their needs and allowing for progression.

For further information contact:

Ted Stanley, UNOCO Group, Tel: 07967 479 288
Dianne Allen/Ruth Gross, Gemini PR & Marketing, tel: 0115 852 3850