Fujitsu Services

Diversity training rolled out for 10,000 DTI Staff

e-Learning programme to help DTI staff understand and put into practice new legislation and obligations

Bracknell, 14th October 2002 — KnowledgePool, as part of the PTSC (Personnel Training Services Consortium) has provided the technical and creative expertise required for the development of an e-Learning programme to help DTI staff to recognise, understand and deliver the benefits that diversity can bring to the workplace. Due to be launched at the DTI's headquarters 1 Victoria Street, London on 10 October by Permanent Secretary, Sir Robin Young, the programme covers new obligations and legislation placed on all public authorities within the UK.

Mark Dean, director of PTSC explained: "The concept of diversity recognises that although individuals may come from differing races, cultures and backgrounds, and have different languages, religions, ages, abilities and ambitions - the harnessing of these differences brings innovation and versatility to the workplace that will ultimately increase performance. This e-Learning programme which operates within the Modernising Government Agenda will show DTI staff how to actively recognise and capitalise on diversity."

Dean continued: "The need to take a proactive approach to diversity across all policy-making activity is consistent with changes in legislation. DTI must now comply with new, wider reaching equality legislation; The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Government wants its policies to be relevant to the lives that people live today. Everyone at DTI who is responsible for developing or managing policy; carrying out a function or providing a service must be aware of diversity issues and be proactive in bringing them into their daily work." ¹

The PTSC is the preferred training supplier appointed to provide training to DTI staff and members include the DTI's Personnel Training Service, KnowledgePool and ITM Group.

²Practicing a pro-active process whereby individuals' differences are taken into account when developing new procedures and processes to deliver a process that will work for everyone.

The e-Learning programme will be available at the desktop of over 10,000 DTI staff across the DTI intranet and will encourage and foster acceptance and understanding of how diversity should be taken into account and applied when developing new policies and services. The course looks at diversity issues from the point of view of DTI's policies, functions and services and aims to clarify what the obligations are for DTI as a whole.

Mark Dean continued: "Delivering communications through the DTI intranet is growing rapidly - making the diversity e-Learning programme available in this way will allow DTI staff to access the programme at a time that fits into their daily schedules as well as providing a useful source of just-in-time information."

Paul Butler, chief executive officer at KnowledgePool added, "Diversity is about capturing the imaginative, sensitive and intelligent use of employees' talent and differences can bring real business benefit when organisations truly recognise and act positively on the differences of people with a wide range of expectations, skills and capability."

KnowledgePool Key Statistics:

• First company in the world to deliver interactive training over the Internet in May 1995
• European market leader in e-Learning
• Wide range of delivery methods - offering flexible, blended learning solutions
• Blue chip, global client base
• Leading e-HR service - allowing clients to effectively manage employee development, retention and succession planning
• Extensive experience of delivering logistically complex, large scale customised training programmes
• Complete end to end service from consultancy, design and delivery of training through to post course support
• Specialists in organisation, people and career development

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About KnowledgePool

KnowledgePool is a worldwide training provider, with over 35 years experience of delivering effective training solutions. KnowledgePool's award-winning service covers personal, business applications and IT skills, which can be delivered via an e-Learning service, face to face, or as a flexible, blended learning solution.
KnowledgePool's Managed Learning service addresses the need of large organisations to engage a single supplier to provide managed learning for their human capital development, enabling businesses to focus on core activities. KnowledgePool's extensive experience in the design, development and deployment of logistically complex training programmes, their expertise in business and training needs analysis and broad service offering form the foundation of this comprehensive service.
KnowledgePool's customisable e-HR product, Talent Management System (TMS) is based upon web technology and designed to support all aspects of personal development within an organisation, from personal development through performance management to succession-planning and staff retention.
KnowledgePool is a subsidiary of Fujitsu Services (previously ICL, which rebranded in April 2002). KnowledgePool works closely with its sister organisation, Fujitsu Learning Media, to address the delivery of training on a worldwide basis.
For more information, please see: www.knowledgepool.com

About PTSC

The PTSC is the preferred training supplier appointed to provide training to DTI staff and members include the DTI's Personnel Training Service, (PTS) KnowledgePool and ITM Group.
PTS has been the leading supplier of training to the DTI for over 30 years and has been instrumental in supporting cultural change, communicating central management messages throughout the Department and also makes a significant contribution to the development of HRD [policy within the Department.
The PTSC mission is "To develop people and organisations so that they can achieve their objectives"

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