Virtual College Ltd

Bespoke Content Development

Our bespoke team create learning solutions to change behaviours, develop knowledge and influence organisational culture change. The solutions range from rapid design e-learning to digitisation of your L&D strategy. We design solutions that combine a range of elements from gamification and immersive challenges to contextualised scenarios and videos.

Features

• Creative scoping, innovative designs and wide range of digital assets
• Content published in the preferred format, including SCORM
• Accessible on all devices - mobile responsive
• Flexible approach to suit the learner, topic and learning outcomes
• Instant help and support for learners and administrators
• Consultancy to support digital transformations of face to face options
• Learner focused - underpins design, digital assets and delivery
• Course assessments and evaluations
• Experienced project management team with capacity and strong capabilities
• Evaluation methodology and success criteria built in to project design

Benefits

• Successful impact on learners and learning objectives achieved
• Rapid development to support short timescale requirements
• Seamless integration with blended learning solutions
• Innovative solutions that meet learning outcomes and budgets
• Easily tracked to monitor success and impact
• Use of different digital interventions; catering to more learning styles
• Excellent learner experience through media, videos, graphics and games
• Long-term relationship underpins your L&D strategy with relevant digital solutions

£6,000 a transaction

• Education pricing available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at contracts@netexlearning.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 13

Service ID

296694160855681

Contact

Pauline Wood
+441943605976
contracts@netexlearning.com

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: Yes
• What software services is the service an extension to: In most cases a system will be needed to host the content, such as a learning management system. Alternately some files can be published in HTML format and be accessed as web pages.
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud
• Service constraints: Content must be hosted in a platform such as a learning management system. The host system may also dictate the file format of the content (e.g. SCORM).
• System requirements: Access to a hosting platform

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Full email support is available to all our users, including system administrators and individual users. This service is available from 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, via our help and support team. Our response standards are within two hours of receipt or next working day if received outside working hours. 80% of all support emails are answered within 2 hours and 95% of emails are resolved without the use of further correspondence.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: All users have access to our learner support team - accessible by phone or email during business working hours. ; All users have access to our learner support team - accessible by phone or email during business working hours. If the content is hosted in our learning management system help and support guides are also available. If more extensive support is required (for example if purchasing a large selection of titles or support with roll-out) then Account Management support is also available. ; ; A dedicated Account Manager will provide: ; • communication and support including regular catch-ups and reviews; • coordinate responses to incidents and issues. ; ; Issues can be escalated to the Technical Team and dealt with in relation to their severity. ; ; Account Managers will acknowledge all email requests within 1 working day. Each business wide training implementation program will be supported by an implementation team of at least a dedicated Account Manager and Second Line Support Executive, overseen by a manager.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Each project begins with a scoping session, where we agree your success criteria and learning objectives, the build requirements and delivery schedule. Working closely and communicating with you and your stakeholders we will define your overall vision for the project and the most effective approach of creating this. We will share a project plan with you that defines all the milestones, timescales and actions, including your requirements.; To ensure success, we will:; • Allocated a dedicated and experienced team from across our content and learning designers; • Manage and monitor the project plan and review progress with you at agreed, regular times; • Flag any risks or concerns as part of the initial project planning and identify mitigating action.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • PDF
  • Other
• Other documentation formats:
  • Powerpoint
  • SCORM
• End-of-contract data extraction: The client will be sent the source file of for each module developed upon the completion of the contract.
• End-of-contract process: Upon completion of the contract the client will have access to all the resources we have developed for them. The source files are securely transferred to the client along with any additional content.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: All the content we produce can be used on mobile devices. In most instances the content will appear on the mobile device as it does on a desktop.
• Service interface: Yes
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Description of service interface: The design of the course interface is dependent on the client's brief, however we also include elements such as clearly labelled text, narration, keyboard navigation and other accessibility features (such as compatibility with screen readers) to ensure the content can be viewed by a wide learner base.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
• Accessibility testing: We test all our content on Internet Explorer 11, Firefox, Android, Google Chrome, Safari and Edge as well as on our own learning management system.
• API: No
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: If a customer has access to the authoring tool used to design the content then they are able to customise any aspect of the content as they wish. ; ; Our content development team can also customise content on behalf of a client should their expertise be preferred. There would be costs associated with this.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: Each allocation of the module via a host platform is separate, meaning that one user going through a piece of content cannot affect another.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: SCORM compliant systems will also be able to track SCORM files they host.
• Reporting types:
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: None

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: No
• Datacentre security standards: Managed by a third party
• Penetration testing frequency: Never
• Protecting data at rest: Physical access control, complying with another standard
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
• Equipment disposal approach: A third-party destruction service

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: If the module is produced in SCORM format then any host SCORM platform will be able to track completion statistics for the content.
• Data export formats: Other
• Other data export formats: SCORM data
• Data import formats: Other
• Other data import formats: Text input

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks: Other
• Other protection between networks: All the client requires for this service is the source file, therefore they are not reliant on any of our systems to run the content. Should the client use our host platform the LMS would be dealt with separately.
• Data protection within supplier network: Other
• Other protection within supplier network: We supply the source file, meaning our clients are not reliant on anything within our network to run the content.

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: SLAs for our bespoke development services depend on the particular project due variables such as timescales, resource, amount of content to be developed etc. Therefore we produce a bespoke SLA for that particular project.
• Approach to resilience: Our services are hosted in modern cloud hosting environments and our hosting providers are verified and have the required accreditations. Further details are available on request
• Outage reporting: Any delays to delays to the project or outages during bespoke projects are communicated to the client via their relationship manager.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: No
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: We transfer the source file to our clients upon completion of the development to a staff member nominated by the client. This ensures that only the nominated individual has access to the source file in the first instance and they are then able to decree how the file is access themselves.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Username or password
  • Other
• Description of management access authentication: Management access to the source file is controlled by transferring the file only to an individual named by the client upon completion of the development. It is then for them to distribute access as they see fit.

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: User-defined
• How long system logs are stored for: User-defined

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: No
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: No

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: Other
• Other security governance standards: Cyber Essentials Plus
• Information security policies and processes: Virtual College takes its data management responsibilities seriously. We encourage all colleagues to identify and report all potential risks so that we can take positive measures to eliminate or control these risks whilst working within the data management principles. We are proactive in providing information, training and supervision so that all those associated with the organisation can take reasonable care of their own and other people’s information and feel able to report any situations in line with our Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy. These high standards are applied to any staff member processing your data so you can be sure that whilst user data is being uploaded to the system, and throughout the ongoing support, it will remain strictly confidential at all times.; ; Virtual College complies with all aspects of data protection and we train all our staff on what this means in practice. We work with an independent consultant in the continuous improvement of our approach and undertake regular audits in order to ensure all staff work within our policies and procedures. Our registration number is Z7723545.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: We have a strictly defined quality process which is managed as part of our ISO9001 accredited quality management policy. A copy of this policy is available on request.
• Vulnerability management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Vulnerability management approach: We have a strictly defined quality process which is managed as part of our ISO9001 accredited quality management policy. A copy of this policy is available on request.
• Protective monitoring type: Supplier-defined controls
• Protective monitoring approach: We have a strictly defined quality process which is managed as part of our ISO9001 accredited quality management policy. A copy of this policy is available on request.
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Incident management approach: We have a strictly defined quality process which is managed as part of our ISO9001 accredited quality management policy. A copy of this policy is available on request.

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Supplier-defined process

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Social Value

• Fighting climate change:

  Fighting climate change

  Our training offer is 100% digital provision. This delivery of digital training solutions is a green and sustainable option for training reducing the need for tutor and learner travel. As part of our external impact, working in partnership with the Carbon Literacy Project, we’ve developed an online course to help the general public understand how our climate is changing and their role in taking action. ; ; Over 90% of our staff are based within 10 miles of our office and we have established hybrid working patterns, with staff working from home 3 days a week. Whilst some client meetings are returning to face to face, the majority (90%) remain virtual. Reducing staff and client travel, costs and emissions. ; ; We also ensure our premises are managed and operated to preserve energy and resources e.g. low energy lightbulbs; heating set at 1°C lower than last year.; ; We reflect and integrate sustainable development into business wide policies, plans and decisions our Environment and Sustainability policy is reviewed annually in line with environmental regulations and best practice.; ; Focusing internally, Virtual College identified potential environmental impacts our activities may have by creating and reviewing/updating our Environment and Sustainability policy annually in line with environmental regulations and best practice.; ; We consider the environmental impact our business decisions and actions and support sustainable development. A copy of our policy is available upon request.
• Covid-19 recovery:

  Covid-19 recovery

  The situation necessitated a comprehensive real-time test of our Business Continuity Plan. We moved the entire business to home-working at within 2 weeks with no interruption to customer service and no disruption to our internal systems and operations. Due to the nature of our business, we were able to maintain business operations throughout the pandemic and into the recovery from it. This has allowed business to continue as normal. As a company, we have now adopted a hybrid working pattern. ; ; Alongside the short-term plan, we have executed a long-term financial plan to secure the future of the business in the face of continuing uncertainty. We have taken measures to reduce the structural, long-term cost-base of the business and have recently been acquired by Netex, a listed company on the Spanish BME stock market. This enables us to continue as a standalone business with a secure financial future. ; ; We continue to monitor the ongoing financial risks on a regular basis to respond to emerging threats. However, we believe that future home working and home education will cause a greater step change in the transition from traditional face-to-face learning to digital learning and blended education models which will ultimately accelerate growth in our digital learning markets. ; ; At the start of the pandemic, we were keen to support employers and those impacted by: ; ; • Creating two free courses to raise awareness on infection and prevention around Covid-19, designed to support managers and employees. These courses have been accessed by 182,01 people. ; ; • Supporting the government Skills Network site, providing free access to online courses targeted at reskilling and upskilling those impacted by the pandemic and furlough, with 3,100 courses accessed.
• Tackling economic inequality:

  Tackling economic inequality

  As part of our social value offering, we aim to tackle economic inequality by delivering free of charge, a selection of targeted vocational e-learning courses to learners who are currently economically inactive. These free courses are currently live on our website. ; ; Our catalogue of 600 ready-to-go online courses, spanning a range of sectors, is used by local colleges and adult education providers to offer job-focussed upskilling and compliance training through their adult education funded skills training. We are thereby helping to develop vocational skills to improve learner chances to re-enter the job market or further their career. ; ; In addition, we have a comprehensive local authority offering with courses that are specifically designed to combat socio-economic inequality such as pre-tenancy training for housing association clients. Collaborating with our clients in these sectors, and using their insight and research, has enabled us to design and develop courses that meet tenants needs and helps them adapt and live well in their property.
• Equal opportunity:

  Equal opportunity

  Through our human centred design approach, we identify how to make the learning created for clients inclusive and accessible for all. Learning Design includes identifying appropriate, inclusive and relevant characters, language and scenarios. Design also identifies digital learning that supports everyone, including those with access requirements. All our digital learning is built to WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. ; ; Our approach to ensuring implementing EDI effectively throughout our own business, in addition to our legislative obligations, includes: ; • Improving recruitment and selection process to reduce unconscious bias through involvement of wider colleagues in the selection process plus EDI training for hiring managers ; • Clearly written job descriptions based on role-specific criteria used to short-list candidates – based on evidence of relevant knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience; • Flexible working policies are open to all and support candidates and employees who might not be in a position to work full time; • A full review of our recruitment, selection and onboarding approach following the BLM working groups recommendations; • Fact sheets shared with all new starters on unconscious bias and BLM in their induction goodie bags.; • All new recruits complete EDI courses during Induction ; • Our Good to Great People Strategy includes Fair Employee Practice (including BLM) and measured progress via our regular Staff Surveys; • Annual salary reviews, based on cost of living increases, merit/market rate and UK Payscale is used an objective benchmark; • Our employee stats are reflective of local data (ethnicity) – Ilkley 98% white, Bradford 58% white, Leeds 79% white. VC’s stats are: 58% female, 42% male, BAME 8% (92% white), Disability 1%; ; We have an internal BLM working group. The collective goal is to address racism and discrimination through awareness raising, self-education and learning. Encouraging people to research, find out more and draw their own conclusions.
• Wellbeing:

  Wellbeing

  Virtual College has created a free digital mental health and wellbeing resource pack to support any organisation. The pack includes a range of downloadable resources and learning on topics such as stress management and work-related mental health. ; ; Topics include: ; • Mental Health and Wellbeing Resource Pack ; • Resilience ; • Personal development and Self Awareness ; • Dealing with stressful situations ; • Get moving, get healthy ; • Prepared to save a life ; • FGM ; ; For our own staff, a Health & Wellbeing benefit package is provided through a specialist supplier to support staff at all life stages to manage their mental, physical and medical health. Support includes complimentary medicine and health-checks for preventative and holistic wellbeing, fruit baskets, online meditation and exercise classes, book club, gardening club. In addition, we provide series of digital learning and resources e.g. mental health & wellbeing resource pack, infection prevention which are regularly updated, easy to access, flexible source of information to support staff as and when needed.; ; We also offer flexible working hours and a hybrid working approach.

Pricing

• Price: £6,000 a transaction
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: No

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at contracts@netexlearning.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.