Bill Walker, Commercial Director at QA, comments, "QA has been developing and delivering instructor-led, bespoke eLearning and blended learning solutions for many years, and we are noticing that our customers increasingly require innovative virtual learning solutions. Over the coming months, QA will be launching further innovations around integrated and collaborative learning through a range of virtual learning environments."

"However", he adds, "we also recognise the value of working with trusted best-of-breed partners to simplify the market's engagement with providers. We believe that Epic's track record in the public sector, when combined with our own, will create additional value for customers. We will bring together our knowledge of the public sector to create integrated learning solutions that draw on our respective expertise."

Tracy Capaldi-Drewett, Epic's Commercial Director, is equally enthusiastic. "Our combined strength in developing learning solutions means we're ideally placed to deliver outstanding blended solutions to the public sector. We expect the partnership to go from strength to strength over the coming years."

The partnership has already started its first joint project, a major systems-training solution for the FCO that combines blending eLearning with a series of face-to-face workshops. A series of further opportunities is currently being explored with a range of Buying Solutions clients, as both Epic and QA are suppliers to Buying Solutions, the national procurement partner for UK public services.