OutStart, learning and knowledge sharing software specialists, today unveils a global partnership with defence industry training experts Westland Helicopters Ltd, an AgustaWestland company, to deliver training to air, armed and navy forces. Westland’s Customer Training Centre (CTC) will incorporate OutStart’s entire portfolio of learning and knowledge products into its total training capability, this will be provided to existing and future military and civil customers worldwide.
Westland’s CTC supplies sophisticated training solutions to military forces across the world to ensure rapid understanding and knowledge of the latest defence equipment and technologies. Through this agreement, Westland will be responsible for installing, implementing and deploying all OutStart products. OutStart’s products will form the hub for the delivery of personalised, real-time learning and knowledge sharing; by developing, managing, assembling and delivering learning content to Westland employees, partners and customers.
Westland’s partnership with OutStart began when it was selected to train the UK’s Air, Army and Navy Force on the new BOWMAN digital voice and data communications system in 2003. Westland uses OutStart Evolution as the core platform to support the BOWMAN Training Management System (BTMS), which upon completion will have delivered training to 100,000 military personnel based in over 65 locations across the world.
Simon Dawes, Westland Bowman and Land Digitisation Programme Manager, says: “We selected OutStart’s product portfolio following the ongoing success of the BOWMAN programme. The Customer Training Centre’s “total training capability” is strongly reinforced by OutStart’s applications. OutStart’s Evolution has enabled us to build a repository of learning content of 1 million+ learning objects. This library of reusable learning content enables us to rapidly assemble, manage and update engaging learning experiences and deliver them in multiple outputs to learners; online, in the classroom or as hard copy study aids. Without this capability delivered by OutStart Evolution LCMS we could not respond to client needs as quickly or as efficiently or run such a profitable responsive service.”
Peter Nicol, OutStart EMEA VP comments: “This partnership heralds a new chapter in what has already been a successful vendor/client relationship and will help us build continued market share in the global defence market where we have already many key private and public sector clients.”
About Westland Helicopters
Westland Helicopters Limited is the UK arm of the Company AgustaWestland and is the UK’s only helicopter design authority, manufacturer and systems integrator. Over 1,000 Westland Helicopters are in service in 19 countries, and between them they have achieved over six million flying hours. With more than 80 years aviation experience, Westland is renowned throughout the world as a manufacturer of the most technically advanced, versatile and reliable helicopters.
About OutStart
OutStart software powers solutions that help make people more effective in a fraction of the time and cost. Unlike traditional training or knowledge management approaches that take too long, cost too much and fail to address the entire need, OutStart’s applications address the way people learn through a combination of formal training, knowledge sharing and expert collaboration that is available on-demand. Customers like Cisco Systems, ING, Sara Lee, Westland Helicopters and Unilever rely on OutStart to increase individual and organisational performance improve knowledge transfer, and lower operating costs. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., OutStart has offices throughout the US and Europe and can be found on the Web at www.outstart.com.
