Earlier in the year their overarching Learning & Development strategy had been challenged by the general economic downturn and the squeeze on training budgets. Two parts of the business were using different versions of Microsoft Office and training was vital to ensure a smooth migration for the whole business to Microsoft Office 2007. In order to still achieve training objectives under these circumstances another delivery method needed to be put in place.

Catherine Horner at A & N Media IT Services worked with Bytes Technology Group, one of the UK's largest software services and document solutions businesses. Catherine explains, "Our strategy relies on unlocking the potential of the entire team. We need different methods of addressing development goals aligned to business need, with greater return on development budgets."

Bytes Technology Group provided a Microsoft Software Assurance Agreement which included e-learning credits. Rachel Lomas, an e-learning consultant engaged by Bytes Technology Group worked with Catherine to ensure that these were easily made available to members of the IT Support desk.

Rachel was already aware of the Managed Learning Services that Edvantage group offers and pinpointed the Microsoft hosting within Learning Gateway (Learning Management System) as an 'easy win'. Using this user-friendly interface customers are able to deliver valuable training skills using the Microsoft Office 2007 e-learning library paying purely for content hosted on the Learning Management System. The portal can then track progress and activity in order to determine ROI.

Feedback on the first phase of the roll out has been very positive:

"The learning interface was good, and the content quality was sufficient without being too bulky"

"Online exercises after the lesson were good"

"The site is accessible and easy to use. I think it is a valid medium"

The next phase of the rollout is due to start in November and should be completed by the end of December 2009.