The Virtual College

The Virtual College, founded in 1995, works with companies and public sector organizations (including UFI, NHS, Police and General Electric) as well as providing e-learning to individual learners. Based in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, it employs over 70 people including technical staff and designers, but it is not clear how many are teachers, nor how many live online classes are delivered (as opposed to self-contained courses). Although most of the learners are adults, 18-21 year olds also participate, making it in scope for VISCED.

As well over 150 e-learning courses available direct from the college or developed alongside distance learning partners, it also runs its own Learning Management System. It claims to have over 600,000 current registered online learners, mostly on vocational courses such as Business Skills, Continuing Professional Development, Fire Safety, Food Hygiene Training, Safeguarding Children, Housing Associations, Moving and Handling, NHS & Social Care, Health & Safety, Healthcare, Engineering and Productivity. Two of the most popular online courses are Food Hygiene Level 2 and a mandatory electrician's course.

Free E-Learning Courses for NEETs were available in the last quarter of 2011. It is likely that most of the take-up came from 18-21 year olds.

The Virtual College Network is also home to numerous e-Academies; specialist websites that concentrate on a sector to ensure that a team is meeting specific training needs, as well as providing a hub for updates and developments in policy and legislation. The most recent addition to the e-learning network is the 21st Century Apprenticeships hub, which is designed to help organisations get the most out of advances in training solutions, maximising learner progression while minimising costs and administration.