Introducing the Towards Maturity Community Interest Company
Towards Maturity CIC started as an e-skills UK project originally funded by the LSC to understand how employers can make the best use of learning technologies. As a result of its success, the original project (which formally closed on 31st March 2008) has taken on a life of its own. This has resulted in the formation of an independent ,not for profit, community interest company - Towards Maturity CIC – to extend the value of the original work to an even wider community of employers and learning providers.
Through our website, www.towardsmaturity.org, we aim to provide research and resources to support a wide ranging communitiy of organisations and individuals interested in improving the impact of learning technologies at work by identifying and sharing effective practice.
Which community members will benefit from the resources on this site?
- employers ( large and small, private and public)
- Organisations representing employer skills needs (such as Sector Skills Councils, and industry and professional associations)
- Learning Providers ( both commercial and public sector)
This is a broad subject, open to interpretation. When we refer to learning technologies or e-learning on this site, we mean the following: ‘The use of any technology across the learning process, including skills diagnostics, learning delivery, support, management, assessment, informal and formal learning’
Learning technologies and work - why does this continue to be important?
Organisations are increasingly looking for improved access to learning. and flexibility in delivery. They are looking for learning solutions to deliver the skills that will make a difference to the bottom line of their businesses.
Likewise the Leitch report has challenged providers of education to respond to employer demand by creating learning that is fit for purpose. Learning Technologies have a potential role to play to address the demand for skills in the workplace.
Over the years employers have had varied experience in using technology to support learning. Large investments have been made but often with very little return. However research from e-skills UK has shown that employers who are mature in its use perceive a positive difference on both their staff and business productivity.
The Towards Maturity CIC looks at what really works when it comes to using learning technologies at work– what types of technologies are appropriate and how can they be used to build skills that impact business performance? We aim to identify and share good practice within the community so that we can learn from each other ( and avoid each other's mistakes!)
Learning from Experience
We firmly believe that employers, and those working with employers, are in the best position to say what works and what doesn’t when it comes to learning technology at work. Since its inception, Towards Maturity has relied on a broad VIRTUAL group of interested organisations and individuals who are keen to share their experiences of learning technologies at work. Members of our Virtual Advisory Network come from all workplace e-learning backgrounds including:- Employers across all sectors currently using e-learning to build skills
- Commercial e-learning providers and consultants
- Employer bodies supporting the use of e-learning in the workplace
- LSC funded work based learning providers and colleges
Employer success stories, research, tools and techniques provided by our Virtual Advisory Network are all shared via regular blogs on the Towards Maturity Website.
What is a Community Interest Company?
Community Interest Companies (CICs) are limited companies but created for the use of people who want to conduct a business or other activity for community benefit and not just for private advantage. This is achieved by a 'community interest test' and and an 'asset lock' which ensure that the CIC is established for community purposes and that the assets and profits are dedicated to these purposes.
Towards Maturity CIC has been approved by the Regulator who also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role. More information can be found at www.cicregulator.gov.uk.
Find out more:
Anyone interested in improving the impact of learning technologies at work can keep in touch by registering for the Towards Maturity Newsletter.
If you are interested in sharing your own experiences of e-learning in the workplace, find out more about joining the Virtual Advisory Network .
The original project was based at at e-skills UK, the sector skills council for IT and Telecoms (funded by The Learning and Skills Council and the Quality Improvement Agency.).
Moving forward, a key sponsor of the work of Towards Maturity CIC's work with their community is Becta, the government agency leading the national drive to ensure the effective and innovative use of technology throughout learning.
For further information e-mail elearning@towardsmaturity.org
As founding ambassadors for this national , industry led campaign, we are continually looking for examples of Next Generation Learning @ Work so we can share the secrets of success with others. We invite you to be part of this , to shape national thinking and inspire change. 
