Newcastle-headquartered NCFE has already worked with Mansfield-based ForSkills on a partnership basis, providing customers with access to ForSkills’ diagnostics and interactive learning resources in order to support them in delivering NCFE Functional Skills. Building on this, NCFE decided to enter into an acquisition agreement with ForSkills so that the organisation can continue to meet customer needs and adapt to changes in the sector.
This follows on from NCFE’s acquisition of St Albans-based awarding organisation CACHE last year, and is part of its ongoing plans to grow and diversify.
ForSkills will continue to operate from its offices in Mansfield and County Durham, with its 14 staff – many of whom are specialists in online diagnostic testing and learning content for Functional Skills and GCSE qualifications. ForSkills will now be overseen by a management board made up of NCFE directors and Myles Ponsonby, Executive Director of ForSkills.
David Grailey, Chief Executive of NCFE, commented: “ForSkills joining NCFE is a great opportunity to further provide learners and our customers with an essential diagnostic platform for English and maths. These skills are essential to equip learners to be ready for the world of work and wider engagement with society.
“NCFE and ForSkills have worked closely together for the benefit of learners and customers for a number of years and this union will create new opportunities for learners, customers and both organisations. We’re looking forward to this new chapter and helping further education providers meet the challenges of employers and government.”
Myles Ponsonby, Executive Director of ForSkills, said: “Following on from a successful few years, in which we have enjoyed working with NCFE, we are pleased to now become part of the organisation. This is an exciting new chapter for us, and we are confident that NCFE – an ambitious and forward thinking organisation – is the right company to take ForSkills forward and pursue the opportunities in the growing Functional Skills qualifications market.”