Learning Light promotes inward investment from USA

The North of England Inward Investment Agency (NoE) is joining with Learning Light (LL), a non-profit Centre of Excellence which highlights and promotes best practice in the use of learning technologies in the workplace, to encourage US-based producers of e-learning and related products and services to expand to, and invest in, South Yorkshire.

Representatives of both NoE and LL will be in evidence at the ‘Learning 2006’ conference, which is being held in Orlando, Florida, from 5th to 8th November, with the NoE as one of the event’s sponsors. With over 1,200 delegates already booked to attend the event, which is hosted by US e-learning guru, Elliott Masie, Learning 2006 is a major event in the US e-learning calendar.

”The NoE highlights the advantages which the North of England can bring to a company's strategic vision and can add value to clients' plans by working closely with them connecting them to its private and public sector network, while providing a powerful, independent consultancy service,” explained the organisation’s UK Project Director, Piers Willson. “Furthermore, it partners with companies that have already invested in the region, helping them to anticipate strategic shifts and facilitate operation in the region, while constantly improving their North of England experience.”

Willson added that, since LL is a Centre of Excellence promoting best practice in the use of learning technologies in the workplace, the NoE is enlisting its help at Learning 2006 in explaining, to the event’s delegates, the e-learning market in the UK and the benefits of them establishing a base in Yorkshire.

“There are also some grants being made available to attract inward investors from the US e-learning industry to south Yorkshire,” revealed LL’s David Patterson.

“There are already some 800 US companies with bases in the NoE region, which encompasses the North West and North East of England, as well as Yorkshire. These companies are a valuable source of employment in the region and there is every reason to suppose that more US firms can benefit from investing here – and creating jobs locally.

“Sheffield, for example, has excellent communications with the rest of Britain, a strong pool of skilled workers who are experienced in the ‘digital industries’ and a number of large, potential customers for these e-learning products and services.”

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Notes for Editors:

About the North of England Inward Investment Agency

North of England Inward Investment Agency highlights the advantages which the North of England can bring to a company's strategic vision. It offers a tailored approach to service delivery to respond to clients' unique business needs when planning a North of England presence.

It adds value to clients' plans by working closely with them as part of their team and connecting them to its private and public sector network while providing a powerful, independent consultancy service. Furthermore, it partners with companies that have already invested in the region to anticipate strategic shifts and facilitate operation in the region, while constantly improving their North of England experience.

The North of England Inward Investment Agency is a team of 13 people located in four offices across North America. It represents the three Regional Development Agencies for the North of England: Northwest Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward and One NorthEast. This enables the North of England Inward Investment Agency to call upon the expertise of some 1,000 industry, business and economic development specialists. Given that these agencies are UK government sponsored, it also means that it is in a position to advise organisations not only expertly and confidentially but also free of charge.

About Learning Light Ltd

Learning Light is a non-profit organisation that highlights and promotes best practice in the use of learning technologies. It also 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, 0044 (0) 114 201 5703
Kristen Hirst, North of England Inward Investment Agency, 00 1 404 995 6949
Ian Stewart, North of England Inward Investment Agency, 00 1 404 995 6949
Piers Willson, North of England Inward Investment Agency, 00 44 (0) 191 229 6319
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0) 1727 860405