Tuesday 19 July 2016
We are delighted to announce that we have acquired ForSkills, an e-learning business that provides diagnostic assessments and learning resources for Functional Skills qualifications to organisations across the UK.
We have already worked with Mansfield-based ForSkills on a partnership basis, providing our customers with access to ForSkills’ diagnostics and interactive learning resources in order to support them in delivering our Functional Skills qualifications. Building on this, we decided to enter into an acquisition agreement with ForSkills so that we can continue to meet customer needs and adapt to changes in the sector.
This follows on from our acquisition of St Albans-based awarding organisation CACHE last year, and is part of our ongoing plans to grow and diversify.
ForSkills will continue to operate from its offices in Mansfield and County Durham, with its 14 staff – many of whom are specialists in online diagnostic testing and learning content for Functional Skills and GCSE qualifications. ForSkills will now be overseen by a management board made up of NCFE directors and Myles Ponsonby, Executive Director of ForSkills.
ForSkills joining NCFE is a great opportunity to further provide learners and our customers with an essential diagnostic platform for English and maths. These skills are essential to equip learners to be ready for the world of work and wider engagement with society.
NCFE and ForSkills have worked closely together for the benefit of learners and customers for a number of years and this union will create new opportunities for learners, customers and both organisations. We're looking forward to this new chapter and helping further education providers meet the challenges of employers and government.