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PRESS INFORMATION ISSUED ON BEHALF OF:
MyKnowledgeMap
37a Mickelgate, YORK, YO1 6JH
tel 00 44 (0) 1904 466081; fax 00 44 (0) 1904 659465
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Improve takes sector skills development online
An online hub has been developed by learning development specialist,
MyKnowledgeMap (MKM) on behalf of Improve, the food and drink sector
skills council for a ?4.4m national skills academy (NSA) providing
education and training for more than 28,000 employees of UK food and
drink manufacturing over the next four years
The academy is one of three core projects launched by Improve,
constituting the development of a sector skills agreement providing an
industry-wide plan to deliver key skills; a new qualifications framework
providing the industry with the skills needed; and the development of the
skills academy to provide delivery.
The web-based portal will enable the academy's network of specialist
training providers to advertise their services and help both food
industry employers and individuals to locate relevant, local training to
support their business or personal development.
Users can access a wealth of free tools and resources as well as
industry-specific e-learning courses and general business information.
MKM has also produced an e-learning course in Production Management,
authored by Grimsby Institute specifically for the skills academy.
Young's employees Chris
Howden and Tina Birks register to study ?Production Management: a Lean
Approach', produced by MyKnowledgeMap
The course was accessed and studied at an official launch event at
Young's Seafood in Grimsby, where employees Chris Howden, a technician,
and shift manager Tina Birks, became the first students in the country to
log onto the skills academy.
As one of the UK's biggest employers in the food and drink manufacturing
sector, Young's was invited to host the event, where Chris Banks,
chairman of the government's Learning and Skills Council officially
launched the academy's online training and information centre.
He was joined by top employers and representatives of seven regional
training establishments which are the first to be accredited as physical
Academy Centres.
Young's employees Chris Howden and Tina Birks register to study
?Production Management: a Lean Approach', produced by MyKnowledgeMap.
More than 200 employees throughout England have registered for courses
offered through the Improve skills academy, including a further 35 other
employees from Young's who have signed up to undertake a management
training course: a new initiative specifically aimed at encouraging more
women into management roles.
Chief executive of Improve
Jack Matthews, chairman of the government's Learning and Skills Council
Chris Banks and two students from Young's Seafood
Jack Matthews, chief executive of Improve describe the Improve skills
academy as a "vital step in meeting the skills challenges that the food
and drink manufacturing sector faces."
"It has been designed by employers for employers, and will provide an
effective and accessible system to deliver high-quality, relevant
training through a mix of online, distance and site-based vocational
courses," he said.
Chief executive of Improve Jack Matthews, chairman of the government's
Learning and Skills Council Chris Banks and two students from Young's
Seafood.
Improve anticipates having 35 regional training centres operational
within three years.
The fourth government-sponsored NSA to launch, Improve's is expected to
help template
more to follow in other industries.
York-based MKM is the UK's leading supplier of infrastructure systems for
national skill academies with clients including Skillsmart Retail and
SkillsActive now covering food & drink manufacturing, sport & active
leisure, care, and retail sectors.
The company also offers e-Academies for commercial and local government
sector customers.
More information MKM National Skills Academies at
http://www.myknowledgemap.com/2_B_academies.asp
Ends
Editors Note
About MyKnowledgeMap
Founded in 2000, MyKnowledgeMap (often known as MKM) is a dynamic company
delivering web-based knowledge systems designed by individuals for
individuals.
Operating in the corporate, public and education sectors, MKM's range of
products and services includes:
? Academies: MKM is the UK's leading supplier of infrastructure systems
for national skill academies, including those in the UK for food & drink
manufacturing, sport & active leisure, care, and retail. MKM's e-academy
infrastructure helps learners and people with a stake in a particular
skill to progress from entry to degree level.
Working with the UK's
national Sector Skills Councils (MKM's clients include Skillsmart Retail,
Improve and SkillsActive), MKM has pioneered online academies that can
help people with everything from day-to-day productivity to discovering
and achieving relevant qualifications. MKM also offers e-academies
tailored to the needs of organisations in the private and local
government sectors.
? Skills diagnostics: MKM's Skills Diagnostic suite allows clients to
build their own system of skills diagnosis and training regimens. Its
sophisticated software tools are designed to meet clients' specific
needs, and to facilitate, not impose, the required solutions.
? Learning: MKM's e-learning solutions, including e-learning content,
delivery systems and teaching aids, are used by a worldwide and growing
range of organisations from Lloyds TSB to the RSPB; from manufacturing to
retailing; from the police to local authorities; from the University of
York to colleges in Delhi, Bahrain and Nairobi. MKM produces inventive
and versatile applications that are can be shaped and contextualised by
their users to meet the rapidly-changing needs of contemporary work and
training, either for use within an e-Academy environment or as
stand-alone products.
Further Information from:
Rob Arntsen / Tom Holland, MyKnowledgeMap 00 44 (0) 1904 659465
Released July 2007 by BLP&PR. Contact: Peter Muir
c/o/ Whiteleaf Business Centre
Buckingham Industrial Park
Winslow MK18 3AF
UK
Tel 00 44 (0)1296 715228 Fax 00 44 (0)1296 715486
