Epic completes Whitbread deal

Epic Group plc, the UK's leading e-learning company, has finalised a contract with Whitbread - one of the UK's leading leisure groups.

The group commissioned Epic to carry out basic food safety training for its staff working in its various brands of hotels, restaurants and David Lloyd leisure sites.

Initially the programme will be distributed to around 1000 employees across six hotels and six restaurants. This training is intended as the first of a wide range of potential e-learning solutions. The business imperative is to standardise training across the brands, and to save on training costs.

The new programme, entitled 'Safe In Your Hands', uses a 'hands' metaphor in its graphical look and feel, to emphasise the purpose of the learning and trainees' personal responsibility towards food safety.

Under the internal brand line 'enjoy learning' it delivers learning on eight key areas of competence, via the Whitbread intranet. Trainees are quizzed on each area of competence as they learn, before taking a final test.

The training is interactive, making use of animation and exercises. The focus is on interactivity and making the training rich in graphic content. Epic has contact with a local Whitbread training centre to provide input and validate the course.

Ian Farringdon, Epic account director, said: "This is an ideal subject for e-learning. We are delighted to be working with Whitbread to develop a highly engaging and effective course."

Stuart Branch, of Whitbread, said: "I am very pleased with the final product we have from Epic, I believe the programme is both first class and leading edge for our industry. Epic is a professional organisation which is reflected in their project management and content detail.

"I am sure this programme will lead to Whitbread's food hygiene training being delivered faster, better and at lower cost."