Electric Paper to Roll Out ECDL Testing Product Across Learndirect Centres.

Business Editors

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2003

Electric Paper, part of ThirdForce plc, announced today, Tuesday 7th October 2003, that it has been selected to provide the learndirect network of centres across the UK with its acclaimed automated testing product, in addition to the best-selling ECDL courseware it already provides.

Learndirect Centres are operated by Ufi (University for Industry), part of a Government initiative in the UK, to stimulate life long learning thereby increasing business competitiveness and improving people's career prospects. With almost 900,000 learners enrolled on more than 1.8 million courses in just three years, Ufi's learndirect network is the world's largest supported e-learning initiative.

Electric Paper will deliver secure and convenient computer-based tests to the network of 2,040 learndirect centres throughout the UK. This new offering accurately tests learners' understanding of the ECDL syllabus and their ability to put their IT skills to practical use.

Commenting on the announcement, Electric Paper Managing Director Jonny Parkes said: "learndirect is transforming learning for all sections of the UK economy including individuals, SMEs and large corporates. There is no comparable initiative in terms of scale and ambition anywhere in the world. This is potentially Electric Paper's most significant piece of business ever and reflects the unrivalled skills we have built up in selling to and servicing the Government sector".

According to Howard Lincoln of Ufi, "We are pleased to be working with Electric Paper to deliver the UK Government's targets for IT Literacy. We chose Electric Paper due to their deep understanding of the learning process and the quality of their training and testing materials. The new automated testing solution has been very well received by learners and centres alike and we are confident that there will be high take-up of the new offering".

Brendan O'Sullivan CEO of ThirdForce said, "With the addition of two thousand learndirect centres, we will become the dominant ECDL testing provider in the UK. Our strategy of complementing our direct channel with key strategic partners like Ufi will help us to achieve our mission of becoming the leading global player in IT literacy."

Electric Paper is already supplying training materials to learndirect for introductory and advanced level ICT courses. However, by catering for all levels of learners who want to study for and sit the ECDL examination in the shortest time possible, the new offering takes the relationship to a new level.

This complete ECDL solution has been in pilot test with 50 centres since May of this year. Feedback has been very positive with candidates - even those with no prior experience of online tests preferring to take online tests rather than a paper based one. Centres that switched to automated testing have reported significant time savings and reduced administration.

Note for Editors:

About ThirdForce plc

ThirdForce plc is listed on both the Developing Companies Market (DCM) in Dublin and Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in London, with a current market capitalistion of approx EUR26 million. It is building a global business as a provider of e-learning products to the wider population. The company aims to achieve its goal through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. The acquisition of Electric Paper, completed in First Quarter 2003, is the first step in this process.

Electric Paper specialises in the development of e-learning courses that assess, train and test IT literacy. The company's interactive courseware is accredited to the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) and Computer Literacy and Information Technology (CLAIT) standards. It also creates products to support e-learning programmes.

www.thirdforceplc.com

About Ufi

1. learndirect is the network of learning services operated by Ufi Limited, the company bringing about the government's vision of a 'university for industry'.

2. The learndirect e-learning network

There are over 2,040 learndirect centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Research commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills and published in September 2002 describes learndirect as "one of the largest single on-line learning initiatives in the world".

3. learndirect information and advice services

The learndirect national learning advice line (0800 100 900), operated by Ufi Limited, is the UK's largest free learning information advice line. Since February 1998, it has taken over four and a half million calls from people wanting to know what they can learn and where.

4. Ufi refers to Ufi Limited, a company limited by shares. The DfES is committed to support Ufi during is development phases and has allocated to it funds of GBP76.25 million for 2002-03.