BLACKROCK, Ireland, September 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ThirdForce, the UK's leading e-learning provider in the hospitality and Skills for Life sector, celebrates this week with its partner, Whitbread, the UK's leading hotel and restaurant group, having received an excellent Ofsted report. ThirdForce partners with Whitbread to deliver the literacy and numeracy element of their highly successful Skills for Life programme.

ThirdForce delivers Skills for Life to Whitbread employees through U-Skills, an innovative blended solution centred on online teaching resources coupled with face-to-face learner support. It has been designed to help tutors and workplace employers deliver skills for life training quickly and effectively.

U-skills breaks new ground in combining diagnostic tools to assess a learners level and existing knowledge of literacy and numeracy with a bespoke Individual Learning Plan (ILP) and engaging e-learning resources to teach the additional skills required.

The Whitbread Ofsted inspection focused on specialist provision in hospitality and catering and literacy and numeracy. For literacy and numeracy ThirdForce received a very pleasing Grade 2, "good" rating with an overall success rate of 93 per cent. The Ofsted report also highlighted the following strengths in the ThirdForce delivery of Skills for Life provision:

    - Very high overall success rates
    - Good development of motivation, confidence and skills by
      learners
    - Very flexible arrangements to access learning
    - Highly effective support

Success of the U-skills solution throughout the learner journey was highlighted as; "Initial and diagnostic assessments are used effectively to assess learners' levels of literacy and numeracy" through to "most learners achieve their qualification at their first attempt."

The blended approach to Skills for Life delivery using the U-skills solution is endorsed by the Ofsted inspection team who commented that "effective coaching and strong use of information learning technology improves most learners' literacy and numeracy skills and helps them to achieve their qualifications."

Sandra Kelly, core skills and apprenticeship manager at Whitbread commented: "Improving the confidence of our teams by offering support with literacy and numeracy is a key part of our Skills Strategy. Embedding these key life skills has really helped individuals embrace their personal development, boosting their self esteem and their work based competence. We look forward to continuing to develop the programme in the future."

Alan Maguire, managing director of ThirdForce UK and International explained "We are delighted to read the highly successful Whitbread Ofsted report. To receive this level of endorsement from the inspection team validates our belief in our U-skills blended solution and the dedication of our team of Learning Support Managers. We would also like to congratulate Whitbread on receiving an "outstanding" rating for the vocational Hospitality and Catering element of their apprenticeship programme. We look forward to sharing in the continued learner and business success of the programme with Whitbread."

For more information, please visit http://www.thirdforce.com

Follow ThirdForce on twitter http://twitter.com/thirdforce

ThirdForce Corporate Backgrounder

With over 26 years experience, ThirdForce Plc, is a leading independent e-learning solutions provider, with a proven track record in delivering state of the art, technology enabled e-learning solutions to over 17 million learners in leading companies in the commercial, hospitality, education, government and healthcare sectors.

Blending technology, multimedia and pedagogy into unique learning experiences that lift performance and raise standards, ThirdForce provides a wide portfolio of e-learning solutions including IT Certification courses, Compliance training and Business Skills.

E-learning courses and assessments prove to be highly cost effective and change the way our clients do business. The ThirdForce business model is flexible to the needs of each client, avoiding a 'one size fits all' approach. The extremely user friendly interface, makes the e-learning content challenging, rewarding, relevant and, motivational.

ThirdForce plc is a global e-learning company, with commercial head quarters in London and Columbus Ohio, with regional offices in Ireland and Canada. It is listed on both AIM and IEX; further details are available at http://www.thirdforce.com

    Public Relations Agency:

    Mango Marketing
    Nicola Petitt
    Tel: +44(0)1932-829077
    Fax: +44(0)1932-827576
    Email: nicola.petitt@mangomarketing.com

SOURCE ThirdForce

Back to top