E-learning boost for Melt from Learning Light

Learning Light (LL), a non-profit organisation, seeking to establish itself as a Centre of Excellence in the use of learning technologies in the workplace, is providing some ‘inspiration’ for South Yorkshire-based entrepreneurs who want grants of up to £50,000 to help them develop their artistic, media and technical talent to explore the creative and economic possibilities of innovative, creative content for new and emerging media platforms.

The grants are being made under the ‘Melt’ programme, funded by Yorkshire Forward, Objective 1 South Yorkshire and Arts Council England and organised by The Culture Company working with the BBC, Channel 4, Orange and PACT. The awards help recipients to take selected proposals from initial concept stage to pilot or prototype stage, where they can attract further development funding, production investment or full commissioning.

LL is organising a seminar focusing on the rich - but, as yet largely unexploited and unexplored - potential of the synergies between computer gaming, e-learning and cutting edge media arts. The event takes place in The Hubs, in Paternoster Row, Sheffield, from 5.30pm to 9.00pm on Thursday 13th July.

Mark Pittaway, LL’s CEO explained: “These are areas in which South Yorkshire has particular strengths. As a centre of excellence in the e-learning field, we feel that there is great potential in exploring the emerging demands for serious gaming within the context of corporate learning.”

Specialists in the field – including LL’s head of membership services, Vaughan Waller, Tom Betts of Nullpointer, Jacob Hapgood of Sumo and David Squire of DESQ - will provide expert insight into how new audiences are being created and where these markets will develop.

To book your place please email nigel.melt@theculturecompany.co.uk

end

Notes for Editors:

About Melt
Melt is a three year, £1.5m digital content development programme for South Yorkshire which was launched in 2005. It is a programme of The Culture Company (www.theculturecompany.co.uk) working with the BBC, Channel 4, Orange and PACT and is funded by Yorkshire Forward, Objective 1 South Yorkshire and Arts Council England. Melt operates in partnership with Screen Yorkshire.

Melt gives annual research and development (R&D) awards of up to £50,000 to leading artistic, media and technical talent to explore the creative and economic possibilities of innovative, creative content for new and emerging media platforms. The awards help recipients to take selected proposals from initial concept stage to pilot or prototype stage, where they can attract further development funding, production investment or full commissioning.

Melt also enables South Yorkshire creative and digital companies and individual practitioners to work with partners anywhere in the world. For full Melt 06 application information please go to the Melt website. http://www.lovemelt.com

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