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History1992: Start in Australia - Early years - Mobile:Following extensive research in the USA (COMDEX in Las Vegas and an operator in New Jersey) Computer Gym was founded in Queensland Australia by Carl and Louise Planting in response to the demand from schools to deliver to young pupils (aged 3-7) computer-based learning. Schools didn’t have the budgets, software or IT-skills to deliver such classes, so they bought-in for specific weekly sessions the 8-workstation Computer Gym Mobile Learning Centres which provided an innovative mode of delivering training on-site to a number of geographically dispersed schools, each day. The concept won a number of business awards and rapidly grew to 20 franchises along the East coast of Australia.1997: UK Launch - Early Years, Housing Associations:The operation launched in the UK targeting the same market, and by 1999 was operating 3 Mobile Learning Centres (MLCs) out of its Thames Ditton, Surrey base.However schools by then were starting to receive IT-training budgets to be utilised by more IT-literate teachers. At this point Housing Associations such as the Peabody Trust in South London, and then Home Group in Newcastle, wanted Computer Gyms to improve their residents’ IT (and therefore employability) skills. Their branding dominated the sides of the 7.5 tonne MLCs and associated them with a more positive impact on their residents than simply rent collection and mending roofs! The campaigns proved such as success that IT-suites and copycat “Digibus” MLCs were developed by the housing associations after a couple of years. 2001: UK change - UK Online + Basic Skills (Literacy & Numeracy):The experience delivering to disadvantaged adult groups enabled Computer Gymto successfully tender for four UK Online-initiative-funded MLCs: two in Newcastle and one each on Newham (East London) and Bromley. These contracts demanded “soft” outcomes (improved confidence and IT skills) with running costs covered by a patchwork of local funding initiatives such as Social Regeneration Budgets, local councils etc. Hugely time-consuming to fundraise and manage many funder returns, tutors on the vehicles found that they had to take a step back with learners in order to take a step forward with their IT skills. In other words, they had to teach them English and Maths in order to progress with Word and Excel. This was Computer Gym’s first foray into the delivery of basic skills (literacy & numeracy).
2002: Learndirect centres - access - outcomes based:The advent of the “Learndirect” initiative signalled an end to the UK Online contracts. Almost overnight over 3,000 local IT-training centres could offer free basic courses to learners. Computer Gym’s “on your doorstep” advantage largely disappeared as there was a Learndirect centre just around the corner. Additionally the government only had to pay the provider upon delivery of hard outcomes, whereas the UK Online initiative largely paid out regardless of results. Computer Gym opened its own Learndirect centre, but this only allowed funded delivery within Surrey – although the courseware could be used nationally.2003: Change in delivery - Skills for Life, employability skills:It was decided that it would be prudent – in fact absolutely necessary - to diversify in order to facilitate growth. Two low-risk options that utilised Computer Gym’s core competencies were available:
Buoyed by the Government’s “Success for All” White Paper that in essence declared that access to free “Skills for Life” (Literacy, Numeracy, English for Speakers of Other Languages and Information & Communication Technologies) training up to Level 2 was a basic right for UK adults, Skills for Life contracts were won with Learning & Skills Councils in County Durham, London East, London South and Essex. Meanwhile a £750,000 contract with Jobcentre Plus/European Social Fund targeted Computer Gym with delivering employability skills (CV-writing, interview and IT skills) training to 800 learners.
2004: New accreditations - barriers to entry:These contracts were delivered and Computer Gym gained or renewed accreditations with LSCs, European Social Fund, Employer Training Pilot, Edexcel, City & Guilds, British Computer Society (European Computer Driving Licence & new Information Technology Qualification), Investors in People and Quality Assurance ISO9001:2000. These considerable barriers to entry enable tendering for the same pots of money that colleges can go for, whilst providing a severe impediment to new or small market entrants.It was decided not to continue delivery of Employability Skills: targets had been met but the contractual behaviour of the funders was something of a disincentive (8 month late contracts, hidden provision for retaining 1/3 of sums until the project end etc). However the delivery of basic skills assessment, training and National “online” Testing was proving very successful - particularly in a pilot for Probation Services in the Southwest London area.
2005: Training provider - higher margins, lower volumes - Employer Training Pilot, Probation, Workforces:This successful culture change towards a professional, highly accountable training provider took a financial and personnel toll on the business. Additionally the new Finance Manager was encouraged to, in essence, run a “due diligence” process on the company:
A focus upon higher margin activities rather than just turnover, saw net profits jump from -£9K on £1.7m turnover (2003-4) to £140K on £1.3m turnover (2004-5). Computer Gym proactively pursued more targeted workforce development and Probation Skills for Life contracts. Probation contract values are growing: from the £12,500 pilot in 2004 to over £500,000 in 2005, with tenders being regularly submitted exceeding £500K in value each. 2006-8: Vocational Training & Entry to Employment Enhanced Skills for LifeThe company has found its niche - innovative outreach skills for life training and testing. Its brand value is increasing and it is making considered refinements to operations, communications and management information systems to accommodate the significant anticipated revenue and profitability growth from 2006.The demand for skills for life training provision has never, and Computer Gym leads the way in integrating vocational qualifications (NVQs) and Entry to Employment skills into its literacy and numeracy programmes to maximise the benefit to the learners and employers. |
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website: Midaspider |
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