News / Entrepreneurs
The Bristol platform training workforces around the globe
From farming techniques to solar panel installation, Learn.ink is an innovative platform designed to help train workforces in remote communities.
Software developer and UX designer Georgia Barrie spent four years in east Africa researching training options available before returning to Bristol to launch the startup that is now used by more than 100 organisations in 35 countries.
The entrepreneur set out to develop a mobile training platform that works to help businesses address the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid increase in smartphone use in more remote communities.
The company has now secured £20,000 from the West of England Growth Hub’s Business Innovation Fund to grow its operations.
Barrie, the co-founder and CEO of Learn.ink, says: “We found that most tools assume you have access to a laptop and a Wi-Fi connection and are familiar with navigating complicated interfaces and reading long sections of prose.
“Unfortunately, this kind of technology is completely inaccessible to most of the world’s population.”
Learn.ink developed a chat-style interface that includes games, challenges, quizzes and sound effects. It also has an offline mode to ensure training can be done even in areas without an internet connection.
Organisations can create microlearning courses and view analytics dashboards to monitor learning progress.
Learn.ink is used by more than 100 organisations in 35 countries
Kenya is one country where the platform is making a difference. Barrie explains: “Solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in Kenya and solar providers typically need to train large, remote teams of sales agents to install solar panels in off-grid communities.
“With Learn.ink, these companies can train thousands of agents across the country in a matter of days and track all of the learning outcomes in real time.”
The entrepreneur has previously been awarded Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Award, which included a £50,000 grant, and this latest successful grant application was supported by an Innovate UK EDGE funding specialist.
The £20,000 grant will be used to scale the Learn.ink platform.
From farming techniques to solar panel installation, Learn.ink helps trains workforces around the globe
All photos: Learn.ink
Read more: The Brislington team that has developed a way to grow plants with sound
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