Nottingham e-learning firm in Scottish swoop
Nottingham based Learning Pool, the online learning provider, has bought MediaCorp, the Hamilton, Scotland-based online learning and e-portfolio provider.
The company, founded and run by James Marshall, will become part of the Learning Pool group.
MediaCorp has developed its own online learning product for apprenticeship training programmes called Proof Positive which will now be delivered to Learning Pool’s 500-plus customers to help them manage qualification and apprenticeship programmes.
Learning Pool, headquartered in Derry, Northern Ireland, bought East Midlands competitor Mind Click in September 2016. Last October it moved into a new 6,000 sq ft office in Nottingham’s Lace Market and has announced plans to double its staff numbers.
Learning Pool moved 40 staff into the recently refurbished 19th Century Birkin Building on Broadway in the Lace Market. The former nightclub was remodelled by family-run property company, Spenbeck.
Learning Pool’s co-founder Paul McElvaney said: “The apprenticeship market is clearly a growth area and many of our customers are looking for solutions to help manage the complexity of delivering apprenticeship programmes that satisfy the requirements of the employer levy and help them change the profile of their workforce. This acquisition will help us accelerate our development in this area and I’m sure our customers will respond positively to that.”
Marshall added: “Having the backing of an organisation like Learning Pool will enable the company to do what it does best for our customers – build great e-learning solutions that will make a genuine impact for customers and push the boundaries of the dynamic tech landscape. I’m most excited about the innovation roadmap that Learning Pool is building. I have no doubt that our customers will welcome the fresh opportunities that AI solutions bring to deliver learning that’s just in time and just enough to help people improve their performance no matter where they are.”
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), an investment fund sponsored by The Carlyle Group and Cardinal Capital Group, is a major shareholder in Learning Pool having invested in the company in 2016 to support its continued growth and development.
