A Brighton-based electronic training company has won a three-year contract with the Royal Mail to deliver internet access to its 200,000 workers.

Futuremedia will install computers into employees' homes and connect them to the internet as part of its Learning For All (LFA) package.

The Nile Street firm could make more than £3 million from the Royal Mail deal - depending on how many workers take up the scheme.

The Government wants to improve computer literacy in the workforce and make sure as many people have access to the internet as possible.

To make this happen, companies are being offered tax incentives to offer their employees home computers at heavily discounted prices.

Futuremedia has developed its own electronic learning programme to help companies take advantage of the scheme.

Its LFA package provides workers with a computer, internet access, learning pro-grammes for the family and personal use and access to business programmes.

For workers who are not familiar with computers the PC is installed at their homes and they will be given a demonstration.

Royal Mail spokesman Tony McCarthy said skilled and motivated workers were critical to the company's success.

He said: "Our people often work difficult hours in environments that do not always lend themselves to learning.

"Providing the chance for a PC at home and supporting its use for learning is the sort of practical common sense initiative that makes a real difference to our people.

"The programme provides our employees, particularly those with school-age children, with low cost access to a whole range of learning opportunities."

Futuremedia chief executive Mats Johansson said: "We are very pleased to expand our service provision to the Royal Mail beyond the limits of PC access at work.

"We are confident the Learning For All model now pioneered by Royal Mail will become a core component of many organisations' learning strategies.

"We have also lined up an exciting group of partners for this scheme, details of which will soon be announced."

Now Futuremedia is on a recruitment drive in response to its increased workload and the recent acquisition of rival "elearning" firm IQdos.

Ten new members of staff have already been appointed and five more are set to follow.

The new recruits have skills ranging from graphical design, account management, multimedia development and project coordination.

Mr Johansson said: "We're experiencing strong growth from existing clients as well as from our acquisition of IQdos.

"We anticipate the cost of the new recruits will in future be more than offset by the projected increase in revenue."

Thursday November 20, 2003