Essex has stepped further into the forefront of information technology (IT) with one of the county’s top training organisations attaining a major grant.

ITEC Learning Technologies of Basildon is a member of the new Technology Exemplar Network and has won a grant for £7,500 to develop further its IT training service.

The grant, plus the possibility of a further £50,000 grant in the near future will enable ITEC to offer more sophisticated training methods to those who want to make IT a career. Plans include a full online opening learning centre at its headquarters in Burnt Mills Road, Nevendon.

ITEC has impressed the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency and the Learning and Skills Council to win the phase one grant. As a “developing provider”, ITEC can start equipping for a full on-line learning centre.

ITEC Business Development Manager Kirk Redhead said: “The first-phase grant we have received is a small first step towards developing a full open learning. It is appropriate that the IT training we offer at ITEC can soon be fully developed online.

“This will enable us to offer much more to those looking for training, and careers, in IT.”

ITEC is only one of 50 learning providers awarded exemplar status during phase two of the network. The Technology Exemplar Network is a new Government-backed approach to support learning providers in further developing their e-maturity and the sharing of effective practice with other providers across the country.