UK business gets dedicated helpline

As part of its dedicated service to business, learndirect, the UK’s leading online learning provider, is piloting a helpline for employers.

The helpline - 08000 150 750 - will provide an advice service that is able to respond to inquiries from businesses in an appropriate manner and with agreed deadlines. Advisors can provide callers with a variety of general information, arrange for learndirect staff to call back or even visit businesses to discuss their needs in person.

Phil Puddefoot, commercial director, explained the background to these recent developments: “As the company extends its operations into SME and Corporate sectors there is a clear need for different services and products which contain new content specifically tailored to suit large and small employers.

“We have also recruited a number of sales managers who will be based out in the regions dealing with SMEs through a network of intermediary organisations. It is often small businesses that have the greatest difficulty accessing courses because of the barriers of time and cost. Online learning overcomes these barriers by allowing people and businesses to learn in ‘bite-sized chunks’ at a pace and at times that suit them and wherever they have access to the internet.”

This latest scheme comes on the back of a number of initiatives aimed at helping UK businesses to access flexible and cost-effective online courses. In September two new services - learndirect business and learndirect corporate - were introduced and recently the learndirect website - www.learndirect.co.uk - was redesigned to be more business friendly. (MB)