KnowledgePool celebrates ten years on the Web
KnowledgePool, the managed learning services company, is today celebrating the tenth anniversary of its web presence.
The company's first website, which went live on 1 December 1996, was a pioneering attempt to utilise the potential of the Internet for business communication. Over the past decade, KnowledgePool's website has undergone major reconstructions and modifications - with the addition of features such as a search facility, greater use of graphics, menu pages, market news, company news and career opportunities - culminating in a completely new design launched in May 2006.
A thought-leader in web-enabled services, KnowledgePool has also made innovative use of the internet for online learning. It has created the UK's biggest online 'live schedule' catalogue of 3,800 training courses and it has pioneered the automation of training administration and supplier management as well as the use of online Kirkpatrick level 1 and 3 evaluations.
Paul Jefferson, CEO of KnowledgePool, said: "The web has become part of everyday life and an indispensable tool for business. Ten years ago, the internet was still relatively new in terms of public use and acceptance but it had obvious potential and we were keen to grasp that. Today our website has a fresh, contemporary look which reflects the energy, creativity and fresh perspectives we bring to the marketplace. We're also leading the way in using the web as an access point to online training and other leading-edge services."
In 1996, KnowledgePool was already over 30 years old and well established as an IT training provider, having been founded in the 1960s as the in-house training services division of ICL. The company has since transformed itself to become the UK's leading provider of vendor-independent managed learning services.
Unlike many training companies, KnowledgePool has a small permanent team and no training centres. Instead, it works with an extensive network of partner suppliers and individual associates to help government and blue chip organisations - such as British Airways, the Home Office, Lloyds TSB, Merrill Lynch and Orange - to transform their learning & development programmes, meet business needs, improve service levels and evaluate the learning benefits from training.
An expert in managing outsourced learning and development, the company's services also include learning consultancy, training administration, supplier management, management of bespoke training programmes, evaluation and management intelligence.
Since 2004, KnowledgePool has been an independent limited company, owned by Root Capital - a niche private equity house.
"In the next ten years, look for continued improvements and enhancements both to the KnowledgePool website and to our portfolio of web-enabled services," said Paul Jefferson.