Enter a Learndirect office almost anywhere in the country and you can expect to see individuals tip tapping away at keyboards, or trying to master the sometime unfathomable personality of the mouse. Watch the TV ads and you might think they’re solely for improving basic skills and computer literacy, but this is not necessarily the case.

Mike Ley, Manager of Kennedy Scott’s Bedford Learndirect explains, "Whilst it is true that Learndirect is there to help users develop and improve basic skills, it is less well known that we do a good deal more. We are here to help not only those finding difficulty in securing work due to their lack of numeracy and literacy, but also to offer support for those who feel they are prevented from gaining promotion because of a lack of IT, management or other skills. It’s always interesting to see what e-learning facilities we will be asked for next". Mike is hoping to offer an increased number of foreign languages shortly.

By delivering a range of programmes from Bedford, Kennedy Scott is able to capitalise on their efforts. Supporting a client on Learndirect who is already in employment in gaining a promotion has a very positive knock on. Apart from the obvious rewards for the individual themselves, the vacancy resulting from their promotion offers opportunity for those attending the Programme Centre or New Deal Gateway. KS staff are on hand to make that all important introduction to the employer!

One of our long term learners Sharon, has successfully gained twelve certificates ranging from improving her basic skills to Customer Service. Sharon told us "Coming to Learn Direct has improved my confidence as well as giving me all these new skills. The tutors have helped me along the way and I now feel less anxious about attending interviews". Another student wrote to say that he enjoyed the courses very much and thanked the tutors for their help stating that he “looked forward to learning a lot more” and went on to say that that the friendly atmosphere, coupled with the personal learning experience, made learning a fun and pleasurable experience. He hopes to go on to expand his knowledge and thus secure for himself a better future. Mike is proud of the accomplishment of his centre and in the last seven months has met and exceeded all his performance targets set by the Hub, Herts ELP by a whopping 74.16% Whether it’s brushing up on some thing learnt years ago and just not used, or learning something completely new, the Kennedy Scott Learndirect Centre is working hard to keep abreast of demand. The appointment book is constantly full and the range of e-learning materials, advice and support available is ever widening.