Engineering Real Results (ERR) has triumphed at this year’s E-Learning Awards winning 2 golds for Best simulation or virtual environment and Best e-learning project – private sector, as well as a collection of silver and bronze trophies.

ERR, which is an innovative resource for trades training, were among the winners gathered at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London to celebrate the strength and depth of successful e-learning that is taking place worldwide.

The gala was hosted by Deborah Frances-White and Phill Jupitus.

“ERR’s Vocational Virtual Reality (VVR) training has revolutionised the way in which students become fully qualified constructions workers and is contributing to reducing the UK skills shortage.”

“ERR has a track record of an impressive innovative use of technology to improve vocational skills training which is being used in an equally impressive manner to revolutionise the way tradespeople become fully qualified.” – The panel of the Judges said.

The proof of the pudding …

We may have taken the prizes but these are the real winners – our students who, with the benefit of using our award winning technology (5 e-learning prizes in the 5 categories entered) are now fully qualified and going from strength to strength, building a brighter future.

NVQ Success Stories so far in 2015 (up to 30/10 2015)

These are some of the companies ERR competed against:

British Army, City&Guilds, Transport for London, Channel 4, Trevis Perkins, Vodafone, pwc, Barclays, University of South Wales, Rentokil Initial, Virtual College, Sponge UK, BP, Tesco, Zurich Insurance, TATA Interactive Systems, TUI, NHS, BSH Hausgerate, TalkTalk, Lloyds Banking Group, Tour de France, M&S, Citibank, Virgin Media Business Virtual Consultant, Home Office, E.on, Rosetta Stone, BT, G4S, LAS, openSAP, Royce Rolls.

ERR is proud to announce to be the only company to get 5 awards out of 5 entries.

Britain leads the way in training ambitions

A survey of private sector companies in Europe has revealed that British managers are the most ambitious when it comes to training their workforce.

The Observatory’s Barometer, carried out by the Cegos Group, found that 57% of British managers consider that attracting and retaining talent was a “very high priority” compared with 38% of French and German managers.

Around 600 human resources directors and training managers, and 2,500 employees were interviewed, across France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. The findings of the survey seem to suggest that many companies do not think of training as a priority, with the UK being the apparent exception.

The report highlighted differences found in UK companies, showing that almost 50% of UK HR professionals regard supporting their employees’ career progress as a “very high priority” compared with 28% for Germany. Francis Marshall, managing director of Cegos Ltd took the results as good news for UK businesses.

He said: “The UK results show some very positive signs – clearly there is a significant difference in approach in Britain. Effective, high-quality training that truly engages staff is essential to the good health of any organisation – and to the development and retention of talented and committed employees.”

The Government has announced 18 new Enterprise Zones and extended eight zones as part of its Spending Review that will boost growth and create new jobs.

These 26 new and extended Enterprise Zones will cover 3,226 hectares, an area equivalent to 4,529 standard sized football pitches.

Enterprise Zones are a key part of the Government’s strategy for enabling growth in local areas. Current Enterprise Zones have strong sectoral focus in automotive aerospace, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

The new ones bring to the mix the very first agri-tech and advanced ceramics Enterprise Zones.

Helping to rebalance the economy, nine of the new and extended Enterprise Zones are in the Northern Powerhouse.

Fifteen of them are in smaller towns or rural areas taking the Enterprise Zones programme beyond core cities and major urban areas.

The benefits to business of locating to an Enterprise Zone are business rates discounts or enhanced capital allowances (in assisted areas). And local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) retain 100 per cent of the business rates for 25 years to invest in local economic growth.

In total there will be 44 Enterprise Zones in England – 18 new, 24 existing (of which eight have extensions), plus Blackpool Airport and Plymouth Enterprise Zones which were previously announced in the Budget that took place in March 2015.

Mouchel Consulting, now part of the Kier Group, has secured a major new contract to deliver consultancy services for North Yorkshire County Council.

The sole provider framework, which starts in April 2016, spans a range of services including estates management, property projects and highways services, and is worth up to £40 million over its duration of four years.

The framework is designed to enable the council to not only deliver improved services and value for money, but to also support the delivery of its vision, ‘2020 North Yorkshire’ – transforming the ways in which services are provided for people across the county.

David Virden, Mouchel Consulting managing director, said: “This is an important win for Mouchel Consulting with a leading local authority like North Yorkshire County Council, and further demonstrates the value of the breadth and depth of our collaborative offering, at both a client and sector level.

“We are very much looking forward to working closely with North Yorkshire County Council to manage and improve the county’s critical infrastructure and assets as part of delivering their vision 2020 North Yorkshire.”

Nearly 200 highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs could be created in the Midlands thanks to a £16.6 million investment boost the Chancellor announced this week.

The Chancellor, George Osbourne, confirmed that a research consortium, led by Jaguar Land Rover, would receive a £16.6 million grant to develop a more efficient transmission system for potential use in future models of their cars.

This crucial funding will create an initial 60 roles in research and development, and if successful could lead to the creation of a further 130 manufacturing and engineering roles. The new funding will also ensure the security of a further 150 roles.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: “I’m determined to build on the success of Britain’s Engine for Growth in the Midlands, and today’s announcement is a crucial step in our plan.

“In the Spending Review I set out how we’re making significant investments in the Midlands, across transport, energy and culture. This grant is a further example of how this Government is backing businesses in the Midlands to grow and create jobs and support working people at every stage of their lives.”

Dr Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The collaborative research programmes we lead bring together some of the best engineering minds in the UK and allow us to multiply the effect of our investment and nurture UK-based technology investment. This approach is helping to develop the skills and technologies that will make the UK even more competitive.”

The £16.6 million government grant is being awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) and is matched by funding from the automotive industry.

The APC is a 10-year £1 billion partnership between government and the automotive industry to bring innovators and producers of low carbon propulsion systems together. This will help transform Britain into a world leader for low carbon development and production.