Logica-led consortium wins £14 million "University for industry" infrastructure contract

The government's University for Industry or Ufi - set up to deliver learning and skills to employees in several identified industry sectors via a network of over 1000 learning centres and the web - has awarded the lucrative contract for its communications and technology infrastructure to a consortium led by Logica. The selection has been a long time coming: it started with an ad in December of last year which attracted over 120 responses from interested parties. Logica, understandably, says it is "delighted".

In effect, the consortium will build and operate the infrastructure which links together the 1000 Ufi local learning centres, develop and manage the website and provide ongoing support.

Other members of the consortium include Cable & Wireless (communications, facilities management and webhosting); David Jennings Associates (education consultancy); Interactive Bureau (website design) and Fretwell Downing Education (learning environment and education business system software components). Logica will lead the consortium, pulling together the various contributions, providing help desk support and a systems management tool "that will allow changes to be made to the system quickly, to avoid interrupting the Ufi service". Logica will also provide a "call centre" scripting package that will be used to support call advisers when they are answering queries about learning.

The idea behind Ufi is consistent with the government's commitment to lifelong learning - and like the rest of the inititiative, is designed to use technology to take learning to the student wherever they are and whatever they may be learning. Ufi will be in national operation by Autumn 2000 which is when the website and learning infrastructure will also go live. Logica says that work will start this month on the project so that business milestones can be met.

Ufi's priority areas for the first years will include information and technology skills, basic literacy and numeracy, skills for small and medium-sized businesses and four business sectors: automotive components, multimedia, environmental technology and services; distributive and retail trades.

Further information: http://www.ufiltd.co.uk/ufi
Learning Direct helpline: 0800 100 900
UFI development plans: 0141 300 4924