Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
7th December 2009
The UK's e-learning sector is set to grow by up to eight per cent
next year, according to Learning Light's report
Learning Light's definitive report into the UK e-learning sector in
2009 not only highlights Sheffield as the UK's 'e-learning capital' but
also states that the sector is 'flowering'.
'The UK e-learning market 2009', a report by Learning Light, a company
limited by guarantee organisation which focuses on promoting the use of
e-learning and learning technologies, reveals that - despite the
current recession - the UK e-learning and learning technology industry
is flourishing.
The report's principal finding is that the UK e-learning industry
remains robustly positive in its view of the market and the prospect
for continuing growth. Using financial modeling and third party
research, the report suggests that the annual size of the UK e-learning
industry is currently between £300m and £450m; with growth rates
forecast of between 6.7% and 8%.
"Our premise that this industry is 'flowering' is based not just on
organic growth as more companies use e-learning and learning
technologies but also on other factors such as the role of marketing
departments in commissioning learning materials to support customers,"
commented one of the report's authors, David Patterson. "Another key
factor is the adeptness with which the UK e-learning industry is
adopting and exploiting new media for delivering learning, such as
gaming and immersive learning scenarios, leading to the eventual
contextualisation and personalisation of learning being promoted by
companies such as the LCMS producer, Giunti Labs."
The report recognises that the current recession has resulted in
downward price pressure on developers and vendors; while cuts in
training budgets and public sector projects have also had am adverse
effect. Nonetheless, Patterson and his co-authors - Glyn Jung and
Gillian Broadhead - remain optimistic that the UK-s e-learning
industry, concentrated in its two principal hubs around Sheffield and
Brighton, is set fair to weather the economic downturn.
"There is no doubt that companies will come and go - just as they did
in the easier times," said Gillian Broadhead. "We can only reflect the
optimism and confidence, the innovation and enthusiasm that
characterised our research findings."
In January 2007 Learning Light commissioned a briefing paper on the
e-learning market in the UK. The subsequent report, which was posted on
Learning Light's e-Learning Centre website (
www.e-learningcentre.co.uk ) became extremely popular and now,
after some two years, Learning Light felt it was time to update the
report's facts and figures.
"An important part of the process of information gathering and
interpretation for the 2009 Report has been a series of interviews with
organisations engaged in the e-learning market, from micro-businesses
developing innovative technologies to established major service and
product suppliers in the UK," said David Patterson. "Our goal has been
to provide both suppliers and purchasers with an understanding of
what's possible, what's available and where e-learning services and
products are going.
"We also comment on the convergence of technologies and design
techniques for business, entertainment, gaming, learning and
assessment. Finally, we include some analysis of public sector
procurement patterns derived from the Learning Light Market
Intelligence and Tender Information Service."
According to James Wilson, of Creativesheffield, which supported the
publication of Learning Light's report: "The global market for
e-learning content is growing at a rapid rate as large and small
businesses, along with educational institutions, are seeking to deliver
their learning in a smarter and more cost-effective way. Much of this
is enabled by advances in digital and new media applications and
through the deployment of new technologies.
"The digital and new media industries in the Sheffield region are
growing at a faster rate than anywhere else in the UK in terms of
specialist companies and new jobs. This is due to the significant
cluster of e-learning businesses in the city."
The report is available, as a free download, from
http://www.creativesheffield.co.uk/
End
Notes for Editors
About the Report
This report began as a simple attempt to update the report written by
John Helmer, on behalf of Learning Light, in 2007 on the size and value
of the UK e-learning industry. The 2009 Report updates this by
interviewing a number of leading players (vendors) in the industry to
ask their view of the market and by further seeking to quantify the
market size. This series of semi-structured interviews was conducted
over two months in 2009, with over 24 companies spread across the UK.
The edited narrative of the interviews is included in an appendix with
the full version of the report and a synopsis in the short version.
About Learning Light Ltd
Learning Light is a non-profit organisation that builds relationships
between learning technology researchers, suppliers, buyers and learners
providing learner-centric information to encourage the growth of
learning technologies. By sharing comprehensive research, highlighting
successes and failures, Learning Light helps to promote the learning
technologies community.
Learning Light provides bespoke and individual services to help both
buyers and suppliers of learning technologies (e-Learning). Its current
services include:
Research Services
Providing access to expert insights, advice and guidance built on
indepth research. Helping organisations to effectively implement
learning technologies (e-Learning) and integrate them within their
workflow processes.
Membership Services
Partnering with leading thinkers in the industry and providing a
network for all interested in the field to share information,
knowledge, insight, experience and expertise, through utilising online
community tools, networking events, conferences and guru seminars.
Professional Services
Our highly experienced team offers organisations access to range of
competitively priced consultancy services supporting buyers with the
effective implementation of their learning technology (e-Learning)
requirements. And, for suppliers, helping to provide a range of
services to assist market awareness and generate growth.
In addition, Learning Light provides a comprehensive Professional
Development programme to help Learning & Development professionals
understand the significance of learning technologies in the workplace
today and how to effectively implement them within the workflow
processes of their organisation.
Sheffield-based Learning Light is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the
regional development agency for Yorkshire, and the Humber and Objective
1 South Yorkshire.
Further information from:
Mark
Pittaway/ Kay Simpson, Learning Light, 0114 201 5703
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
www.learninglight.com
