Digital learning provider creates 10 jobs with new office launch

A digital learning provider has announced the opening of a new office in Sheffield, which will create ten jobs.

Sponge, headquartered in Plymouth, said it is making the move to the South Yorkshire city due to its “innovative spirit and commitment to the rapidly developing creative and digital industries.”

The new office, based at Sheffield Technology Parks in the city’s Cultural Industries Quarter, will be looking to recruit learning experience directors, learning designers, developers, digital designers, project managers and sales account managers.

Sam Lydiat, Sponge’s newly-appointed head of project management, is taking the helm of the Sheffield office.

Lydiat brings more than 20 years’ of digital learning experience, gained primarily in project management, team leadership and client services roles. In addition, he will manage a team of project managers across the company’s four other locations, including its Plymouth headquarters, and remote workers.

Alan Bourne, vice president of operations at Sponge, said: “Historically known as the ‘Steel City’, Sheffield has undergone major regeneration in recent years. When we were scoping locations, we were struck by the city’s innovative spirit and commitment to the rapidly developing creative and digital industries.

“With Sponge having been at the forefront of creative digital learning for 15 years, we see Sheffield as the ideal location for our first office in the north of England and our new space in the Cultural Industries Quarter is the perfect fit.”

Lydiat added: “I’m delighted to join the Sponge team and very much look forward to establishing the company’s Sheffield base, as well as heading up a dedicated team of project managers across the UK and Ireland.

“I’ve already been blown away by Sponge’s creativity and leadership in learning innovation and foresee a very bright future for the company in Sheffield. It’s no coincidence that companies such as Boeing and McLaren have also chosen this vibrant and thriving city as their base.”