1101:
134:
159:
inspectors gave the company the lowest possible rating as a result of poor management processes, leading the company to seek judicial review and an injunction stopping the publication of this poor result. The court lifted the reporting restriction on 14 August 2017. Subsequently, the
Department for
339:
In
February 2020, a reorganisation saw the name of Stonebridge Colleges (Publishing) Limited changed to Learndirect Limited. In August 2020, Learndirect Digital Holdings Limited was created in order to acquire Learndirect Limited, Stonebridge Associated Colleges Limited and related businesses. The
308:
In August 2017, the High Court lifted the injunction and the report was published. Ofsted's overall effectiveness rating was 'inadequate', with five areas rated 'requires improvement' and two – 'outcomes for learners' and 'apprenticeships' – rated 'inadequate'. Ofsted noted positive changes in the
264:
Between 2012 and 2015, Learndirect’s profits declined 85%, while student failure rates doubled in its educational programmes, and achievement rates for its apprenticeships dropped below Ofsted's 62% minimum to qualify for grants. During this period, 84% of
Learndirect's profits were redirected to
335:
In June 2018, as
Learndirect drew close to insolvency, Lloyds Development Capital sold the company for a nominal sum to Dimensions Training Solutions (DTS), part of the privately-held Stonebridge Group. DTS is a work-based training provider established in Yorkshire in 1983, which was acquired by
190:
undertook a review of the programme in 2005–2006; it found that the programme had received a total of £930 million in public funding, and was critical of the poor involvement of businesses, the high cost of marketing, and the low number of learners recorded as meeting their training objectives.
176:'s stated vision of a 'University for Industry' in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and launched Learndirect in 2000. Learndirect Scotland was the public-facing brand of the Scottish University for Industry, but has since become part of
827:
304:
during the proceedings. In filings for this injunction, the managing director of
Learndirect claimed that the Skills Funding Agency said it would serve three months notice on all its contracts if its Ofsted rating were to stand.
149:, is a British training provider founded in 2000, owned by the private equity firm Queens Park Equity. The company has a network of learning centres in England and Wales, and also runs some courses online.
419:
312:
The EFSA decided to continue funding
Learndirect for the 2017/18 academic year, then withdraw funding from July 2018. Funding of Learndirect Apprenticeships Ltd, paid by large employers through the
835:
985:
959:
194:
Ufi announced in late 2009 that it would be unable to sustain the large network of centres due to proposed budget cuts. An agreement was subsequently reached with the newly established
446:
238:, on 4 October 2011. Learndirect thus became an independent training provider competing in the open market and Ufi Ltd became a charitable trust. Learndirect Scotland became part of
1034:
316:(which began in April 2017) is not affected. The National Audit Office published an investigation into the monitoring, inspection and funding of Learndirect in December 2017.
775:
1136:
205:
to deliver agreed targets in respect of qualifications achieved by learners, as well as a raft of quality, equality, and other indirect targets. However, following the
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528:
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of the report, on grounds that the sample size was insufficient and the lead inspector had predetermined the outcome; Learndirect requested and obtained a
320:
285:
against
Learndirect for 70% of its apprenticeship services not meeting state-required minimums. This was followed in the same month by an inspection by
374:
In March 2021, Learndirect acquired two training companies, one that specializes in animal welfare training and another, i-to-i, which specializes in
576:
750:
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218:
152:
By 2006 the organisation was assisting half a million learners per year, and in
January 2013 the cumulative number was in excess of 3.5 million.
1141:
184:
724:
495:
290:
206:
776:"Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the monitoring, inspection and funding of Learndirect Ltd - National Audit Office (NAO)"
278:
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352:
Learndirect offers courses, training and employment services. In August 2017, the number of enrolled trainees was reported as 73,000.
254:
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29:
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its parent firm to pay for dividends, debt-servicing, and legal fees, as well as half a million pounds to sponsor the
239:
177:
169:
160:
Education stated that it would withdraw all funding from
Learndirect, placing the future of the organisation at risk.
1065:
253:, in place between 2011 and 2017. The scheme was commonly known as "workfare", and formally by Learndirect and the
550:
363:
934:
250:
647:
355:
In 2004, an average of 65% of students completed their courses but this figure had improved to 92% by 2009.
258:
447:"FE Week successfully challenges training giant Learndirect's legal gag on revealing damning Ofsted report"
172:
which sold
Learndirect and its parent Ufi Limited to LDC in 2011. Ufi was created in 1998 to take forward
394:
202:
195:
1012:
694:
235:
198:, allowing for a smaller network of centres, with the closure of some between July and August 2010.
313:
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which it sought to abolish. The company and the Learndirect brand were then bought by LDC, part of
858:
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323:
said Learndirect should face an investigation after its Ofsted rating. The committee's enquiry
503:
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as 'My World of Work'. Learndirect still operates in Scotland, and has offices in Glasgow.
301:
226:
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909:
1100:
133:
341:
246:
1120:
673:"Over 1,600 jobs at risk after Learndirect fails bid to overturn Ofsted 'inadequate'"
173:
420:"Firms unable to take advantage of learning technologies due to lack of IT skills"
470:"Rejected appeal application looks like the beginning of the end for Learndirect"
551:
Extending access to learning through technology: Ufi and the learndirect service
266:
802:
37:
507:
61:
1111:
556:(Report). House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts. 2006. p. 3
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Learndirect participated as a provider in the UK government's mandatory
28:
529:"News - LDC Acquires UK's Leading Online Learning Provider Learndirect"
725:"Department for Education pulls all Learndirect contracts and funding"
496:"Department for Education pulls all Learndirect contracts and funding"
286:
231:
156:
626:"Learndirect faces collapse after failing to suppress Ofsted report"
695:"Independent learning provider inspection report - learndirect Ltd"
751:"Learndirect owners still winning government-approved contracts"
603:"LDC Acquires UK's Leading Online Learning Provider learndirect"
340:
ultimate owner is Queens Park Equity Partners, a Guernsey-based
230:, Ufi was included in a list compiled by the new government of
1094:
168:
Learndirect was formerly owned by the Ufi Charitable Trust, a
124:
362:" test, for candidates for British citizenship, on behalf of
319:
According to BBC reports in September 2017, the chair of the
1013:"'University for Industry' failed to attract private cash"
577:"One by one, the quangos are abolished. But at what cost?"
289:, with publication of the report delayed until after the
1106:
217:, the future of Learndirect became unclear. Funding for
960:"Learndirect Digital Holdings Limited: Annual Report"
119:
111:
103:
93:
75:
67:
57:
47:
35:
309:last year, leading to early signs of improvement.
400:. National Audit Office. December 2006. p. 2
221:through Learndirect centres ceased in July 2010.
859:"Senior staff quit en masse from Learndirect"
8:
21:
1099:
132:
27:
20:
1066:"Learndirect Acquires Training Providers"
803:"Learndirect 'should face investigation'"
1137:Training companies of the United Kingdom
1132:Education companies established in 2000
801:Jeffreys, Branwen (11 September 2017).
386:
219:English as a foreign or second language
215:Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition
376:teaching English as a foreign language
279:Education & Skills Funding Agency
16:Company based in Bournemouth, England
7:
1011:MacLeod, Donald (10 December 2004).
986:"Learndirect Limited: Annual Report"
828:"Funding of Learndirect ltd inquiry"
489:
487:
445:Ponsford, Dominic (14 August 2017).
273:2017 Ofsted inspection and aftermath
242:and was renamed "My World of Work".
1064:Farrell, Stephen (11 March 2021).
648:"ESFA: current notices of concern"
624:Shubber, Kadhim (14 August 2017).
14:
1035:"Case study: Life in the UK test"
366:, a division of the Home Office.
749:Neate, Rupert (16 August 2017).
723:Neate, Rupert (16 August 2017).
494:Neate, Rupert (16 August 2017).
255:Department for Work and Pensions
247:unpaid work experience programme
857:Wright, Robert (29 June 2018).
468:Offord, Paul (14 August 2017).
1127:Companies based in Bournemouth
575:Morris, Nigel (27 July 2010).
1:
1142:Virtual learning environments
358:Learndirect administers the "
213:government was replaced by a
1015:. London: Guardian Unlimited
188:Committee of Public Accounts
992:. 30 April 2021. p. 23
240:Skills Development Scotland
201:Ufi were contracted by the
178:Skills Development Scotland
170:not-for-profit organisation
1158:
966:. 30 April 2021. p. 1
884:"DTS Acquires learndirect"
360:Life in the United Kingdom
325:Funding of Learndirect Ltd
283:"notice of serious breach"
675:. FE Week. 14 August 2017
321:Public Accounts Committee
207:May 2010 general election
26:
364:UK Visas and Immigration
327:began in January 2018.
259:Mandatory Work Activity
1112:Online Centres Network
935:"Learndirect Limited"
780:National Audit Office
605:. LDC. 4 October 2011
531:. LDC. 4 October 2011
336:Stonebridge in 2015.
302:publishing injunction
251:Jobseeker's Allowance
203:Skills Funding Agency
196:Skills Funding Agency
1107:Ufi Charitable Trust
331:Changes of ownership
236:Lloyds Banking Group
888:www.learndirect.com
838:on 25 February 2018
449:. The Press Gazette
314:Apprenticeship Levy
296:Learndirect sought
277:In March 2017, the
84:Bournemouth BH1 1JN
23:
22:Learndirect Limited
782:. 14 December 2017
395:"Innovation Focus"
291:2017 snap election
115:Queens Park Equity
1045:on 19 August 2017
910:"Company History"
628:. Financial Times
426:. 30 January 2013
348:Services provided
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1087:External links
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890:. 26 July 2018
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836:the original
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755:The Guardian
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500:The Guardian
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127:.learndirect
76:Headquarters
48:Company type
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1039:Learndirect
996:28 February
970:28 February
944:28 February
919:28 February
894:28 February
868:28 February
842:24 February
786:24 February
760:24 February
734:24 February
708:24 February
560:10 November
424:Learndirect
267:Marussia F1
147:learndirect
95:Area served
43:learndirect
1121:Categories
1019:7 February
812:1 November
652:www.gov.uk
382:References
344:investor.
38:Trade name
1049:19 August
679:14 August
657:19 August
632:14 August
535:9 October
513:19 August
508:0261-3077
476:14 August
472:. FE Week
453:14 August
430:19 August
404:19 August
62:Education
807:BBC News
583:. London
104:Products
58:Industry
1075:8 April
232:quangos
164:History
120:Website
68:Founded
702:Ofsted
506:
287:Ofsted
211:Labour
157:Ofsted
698:(PDF)
554:(PDF)
398:(PDF)
112:Owner
1077:2021
1051:2017
1021:2008
998:2022
972:2022
946:2022
921:2022
896:2022
870:2022
844:2018
814:2017
788:2018
762:2018
736:2018
710:2018
681:2017
659:2017
634:2017
611:2012
589:2010
562:2019
537:2013
515:2017
504:ISSN
478:2017
455:2017
432:2017
406:2017
183:The
129:.com
71:2000
914:DTS
257:as
125:www
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
