Case Study: Wyre Academy achieves streamlined, cost-effective blended IT apprenticeships with Totara

Wyre Academy IT Apprenticeship Scheme success driven by open source blended learning portal

Wyre Academy is a UK-based IT apprenticeship programme that helps employers grow skilled staff while enabling apprentices to “earn while they learn.” Faced with a need to deliver structured, personalised blended learning—just-in-time digital training combined with real-world, work-based assessment—TDM required a platform that supported booking, competency tracking, pathways and robust assessor reporting.

Using Totara Learn as the core LMS and extending it with custom integrations, TDM added single sign-on to the Mahara ePortfolio to capture reflective evidence and create portable learner portfolios. The combined solution streamlined online delivery and assessment (reducing assessor site visits), cut costs, and improved quality; since launching in 2011 the academy has engaged 30+ organisations, enrolled 50+ apprentices, earned recognition in Parliament and become the Linux Professional Institute’s Master Affiliate for the UK and Ireland.

Wyre Academy

Tony McDowell

Managing Director, Encryption IT Security