Epic to produce more 'virtually fantabulous' e-learning for the National Learning Network

Epic Group plc, the UK's leading e-learning company, has won a major contract in Round Three of the National Learning Network (NLN) Materials Development programme. Epic will develop 35 hours of e-learning materials in Social Studies, Physics and English Language for A-level and AS level on behalf of the NLN's target audience of close to six million learners in post-16 education across the UK.

The NLN is a national programme designed to increase the uptake of Information and Learning Technology (ILT) across Further Education. The Government has invested a total of £156 million in the NLN over a five-year period.

Epic has already developed forty hours of online materials for Round One of this programme, on Business Studies, Health Studies and Science. One of these modules was described by a student during user trials as 'virtually fantabulous!'

Joyce Martin, Head of the NLN Materials Development and Implementation Team at Becta, said: 'The commissioning and development of Round 3 has been highly competitive, and although we are now working with some new partnerships, it's particularly good to have the opportunity to build on the successful relationships that we have previously developed with suppliers such as Epic.

'I hope Epic enjoys developing materials that extend creative approaches to learning and teaching and that will be used to enrich and enhance Further Education. That's what this work is all about - helping both tutors and students achieve their goals in an innovative and interesting way.'

Donald Clark, CEO of Epic Group plc, said: 'The challenge in Further Education is to provide scalable, high quality content to cope with increasing student numbers. The NLN has provided some great educational e-learning. Success breeds success and these further topics should extend the reach of e-learning into more subjects and more colleges.'

The company fought off strong competition to secure this new commission, which builds on its strong presence in the education market, including recent work for Sheffield Hallam University, Heriot-Watt University, Cambridge University, Dundee University, and UKeUniversities.