Epic leads on framework for the Environment Agency

Epic Group plc, the UK's leading e-learning company, has been selected by the Environment Agency (EA) to take the leadership role as one of its newly qualified e-learning Framework Suppliers. The initial contract is for a term of one year with an option to extend for up to four years.

As well as developing significant amounts of content, Epic will be acting as strategy consultants to develop the longer term direction for this ambitious project, which involves both the creation of new e-learning and blended learning programmes and the conversion of existing training courses.

As the UK's environmental regulators, The EA needs to be constantly reviewing, revising and initiating environmental guidelines, licensing arrangements and regulations; resulting in huge demand for training and its 11,000 staff and the general public.

Several e-learning projects have now commenced. Epic has already started work on the strategic consultancy and the extremely important 'Definition of Waste' programme. This programme is designed to bring staff rapidly up to speed with recent EC legislative interpretations that will affect future rulings and regulations. Critical to the activities of the majority of EA's staff, it is due to be delivered in early 2004.

Gabriel Kyne, the EA's organisational training and development e-learning project manager said: 'In recent months the amount of operational and regulatory change that the Agency has introduced has meant that traditional methods of training would not be able to deliver all requirements within an operationally acceptable timescale.

'We have accelerated our adoption of e-learning through this framework arrangement and are very pleased to have Epic as lead partners. As well as commissioning content development from them, their understanding of our organisational requirement and their developmental approach was exactly what we needed to ensure that our own departmental capabilities are enhanced as the programme gathers pace.'

Steve Rayson, Epic's Director of Government Services commented: 'We are delighted to be involved in this programme with The EA. The added dimension of being able to provide advice and assistance to help the Agency develop its own knowledge and skills ensures a very productive working environment. We look forward to an extremely long and productive relationship with the Agency'.

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