Established for over twenty years, Masstock have continued to provide UK farmers with the skills necessary to equip their businesses for the future of British farming. Consisting of twenty autonomous sites, Masstock provide the UK's largest portfolio of input products and consultancy services through a unique blend of field representatives and local depots distributed all over England, Scotland, and Wales.
Masstock's Gloucester office relies on a team of 10 strong IT professionals to service over 500 mobile field scientists and twenty heavily manned individual depots. Having sustained a period of rapid growth over the last 3 years, best of breed IT support was mission critical for the business, resulting in limited time for individuals to embark on their own personal development.
IT Uplift
The organisation decided that training all personnel on Microsoft platforms would improve individuals' knowledge of internal business systems while employees would work towards Microsoft's MCSE, MCSA, or MCTS certification. The chosen training vendor would have to provide a programme that could be delivered around a vigorous project schedule as not to effect the day to day operation of the organisation. In addition the solution would have to appeal to wide range of individuals with mixed experienced and learning styles.
Computerworld put together a true blended learning programme utilising there distance learning products and first class instructor led training. Marketing the programme effectively to the IT team was imperative to success, so they attended a Server 2003 technical course at Computerworld Bristol to mark the kick off of the programme and get the team back into a learning mindset. After this event the team were given individual access to an online Elearning platform, and given time out of the business on specific days to detach themselves from their busy schedule to work through an exam programme designed by Computerworld.
Huge impact
The benefits of this programme to the client were huge. These individuals are now able to perform critical tasks within the team, whilst more experienced members have improved their knowledge in new areas. In addition this improvement has been achieved without unduly affecting the day to day operation of the business.
After a hugely successful learning year Masstock are now evaluating the next step up from self paced distance learning. Computerworld have proposed a customised SkillSoft ® KnowledgeCenter platform launched by Skillport. In addition to self paced e learning courses the site will be host to the latest in distance learning technologies all accessible via one portal.
