ARUNDEL, United Kingdom, April 29, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- eLearning solutions provider Futuremedia Plc (Nasdaq:FMDAY) today announced that the Royal Mail Group plc (formerly Consignia), one of the world&'s largest distribution companies, has decided to renew its existing contract with Futuremedia. This follows two years of successful delivery of a complete eLearning service to Royal Mail. Under the terms of the new contract, continuation is on an annual basis, with automatic rolling renewal.
Royal Mail will continue to use Futuremedia's Learning Management System for the delivery of a wide portfolio of eLearning products including: induction training, generic management and IT training skills, bespoke internal IT systems training, marketing and leadership skills across its organisation. Futuremedia will continue to manage the software, platform and site hosting, as well as provide a content brokerage service for ongoing eLearning requirements. For this, Royal Mail's ongoing training requirements are assessed, and then course search, negotiation and administration and technical testing and integration are handled on the organisation's behalf.
Royal Mail, together with Futuremedia plc and Tata Interactive Systems won the Personnel Today e-learning award in 2001 for the creation of an eLearning managed service accessible by all 31 of its business units where six months previous no such capability had existed.
Nigel Marsh, eLearning Lead Project Manager, Learning and Assessment Services of Royal Mail, stated: "We have been very pleased with Futuremedia's delivery of a fully integrated eLearning service over the past two years. In particular we appreciate Futuremedia's flexible and innovative approach to meet our specific requirements. This strategic partnership has proved to be very effective with Futuremedia proactively developing creative proposals ensuring eLearning solutions satisfy business objectives. Our decision to renew the contract with Futuremedia is a direct result of the value we place on this partnership, its achievements to date and the expectation we have of what will be delivered in the future."
Mats Johansson, Chief Executive Officer of Futuremedia, added " We are very pleased that Royal Mail has decided to renew this contract. It further illustrates the capabilities of our company to provide eLearning solutions in a cost-efficient and scaleable manner. This contract exemplifies our strategy of providing complete turn-key eLearning solutions including learning management system, content brokerage, support and services to drive business performance for large corporations and public organisations."
About Royal Mail
Royal Mail is one of the U.K.'s leading businesses employing around 200,000 people and generating annual revenues in excess of 8.4 billion Pounds, delivering some 82 million items on a daily basis to around 27 million addresses through its branded Royal Mail unit, whilst also providing more than 170 different products and services ranging from financial products, travel services, government information and retail products through The Post Office(TM). Parcelforce Worldwide, a third unit, is focussed on the growing express market for UK time-guaranteed and next day services and international parcels. It provides access to the world's largest delivery network, covering more than 99.6 per cent of the global population and reaching 239 different countries and territories.
About Futuremedia
Futuremedia plc (est. 1983) is a Solutions Provider in the growing e-learning market with 20 years experience in the interactive media field supplying products and services to industrial and commercial business sectors and government, mainly in the U.K. and Continental Europe.
The Company has a proven track record in providing knowledge and training via Solstra, its proprietary Learning Management System which in its largest application has a capacity for 240,000 users.
Incorporated within its principal operation headquartered in the UK, Futuremedia's Professional Services team identify and specify client requirements and Futuremedia's Content Studio then design and develop custom content for clients' needs. The Futuremedia Library unit specifies and administers any content required from its comprehensive range of third party products. The Solstra Team deploy Futuremedia's own Learning Management System enabling training to be rapidly administered, delivered and progress tracked.
Futuremedia's customers include Royal Mail, Syngenta, BUPA and BT. Training content from partners SmartForce, Centra Software, SkillSoft and NETg is supplied and supported. Futuremedia can be found on the Web at http://www.futuremedia.co.uk
Safe Harbor Statement under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: This press release contains forward-looking statements related to future results and speaks only of the Company's expectations as of the date hereof. Such statements include discussions concerning the future performance of the Company's products. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The risks and uncertainties include the early stage of the Internet and intranet learning and communications market, the management of growth, the ability of the Company to develop and successfully market new products, rapid technological change and competition, and other factors detailed in the Company's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in expectations or in information on which any such statement is based. All product names and trademarks mentioned herein are trademarks of Futuremedia or their respective owners.