Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
19th April 2010
Academics and industry value Learning Light's e-learning sector
report
Learning Light's definitive report into the UK e-learning sector in
2009 is winning recognition not only among the corporate e-learning
community but also among UK academics.
‘The UK e-learning market 2009', a report by Learning Light, a
company limited by guarantee which focuses on promoting the use of
e-learning and learning technologies, published at the end of last
year, has prompted positive responses from both the commercial and
academic worlds.
Using financial modeling and third party research, the report -
which updated an earlier market survey by Learning Light, published
in 2007 - suggested 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%.
"This is exactly what I'd been looking for," commented Anita Pincas,
Senior Lecturer and a specialist in e-learning from the Department
of Continuing and Professional Education at the University of
London's Institute of Education. "The report is extensive, clearly
presented and among the best things in the field that I've seen."
Anita Pincas was alerted to the Learning Light report by Dr Maggie
McPherson, Senior Lecturer in ICT in education at Leeds University,
who is also deputy chair of the Board of Learning Light.
Endorsing Anita's viewpoint but from a commercial sector point of
view, Vaughan Waller, Senior Instructional Designer with the
international accountancy firm Moore Stephens LLP, said: "The
e-learning sector has always been extremely difficult to define and,
therefore, to quantify accurately. So far, Learning Light is the
only UK based organisation that has grasped the nettle firmly and
has produced trends and forecasts that are realistic and believable.
"The benefit of Learning Light's pioneering work in this field is
that with two reports at reasonable intervals, we can begin to view
and track trends in this sector over the last couple of years. Both
suppliers and buyers of e-learning will be looking forward to
further updates of this report."
"The Learning Light reports make interesting and informative
reading," commented JJ van Delsen, sales director of Giunti Labs UK
- the UK arm of Giunti Labs, the multi-national learning and mobile
content management solution provider. "Importantly, the report also
draws comparisons between the state and sizes of the e-learning
markets in a number of European states."
Matthew Lloyd, Managing Director of Omniplex, a provider of
e-learning solutions with bases in the UK and North America, added:
"Our own market research data in the UK is beginning to confirm some
of the findings in the most recent Learning Light report. In
particular, we're seeing an increase in demand for simpler, easy to
use learning management systems as well as a significant rise in
interest in mobile learning, along with the personalisation and
contextualisation of learning content."
"Our goal in producing the report was 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,"
said David Patterson, one of the report's three authors. "An
important part of the process of information gathering and
interpretation for the 2009 Report was a series of interviews with
organisations engaged in the e-learning market,
"We also commented on the convergence of technologies and design
techniques for business, entertainment, gaming, learning and
assessment. Finally, we included some analysis of public sector
procurement patterns derived from the Learning Light Market
Intelligence and Tender Information Service."
The report is available, as a free download, from
http://www.e-learningcentre.co.uk or
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 updated 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.
The 2009 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%.
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
