ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, announced that the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has finalized a four-year partnership with Bluedrop Performance Learning (“Bluedrop”) (TSX-V:BPLI) for a demonstration project of SkillsPass NL. Joining Minister Mitchelmore for the announcement was Mark Browne, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
Over $5 million will be invested over four years to implement a demonstration project of SkillsPass NL, a tech solution that facilitates relevant and on demand skills training to workers and businesses. The innovative workforce technology improves access to training and skills development, resulting in greater employability and competitiveness of the labour force. SkillsPass NL will help employees and employers manage, track and validate current credentials on demand. ServiceNL has agreed to act as the first department in the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to demonstrate this new skills development solution to support workers and help them understand and meet regulatory requirements.
Bluedrop is a high growth, innovative firm headquartered in St. John’s, with an operating office in Halifax. The company currently employs 180 individuals, with over 90 per cent of employees located in Atlantic Canada. Bluedrop is an innovator in both the development of workplace e-learning and simulation as well as the way large organizations deliver, track and manage training. Its clients include a variety of government and commercial customers, serving 250,000 users in over 100 countries across the globe.
Bluedrop is a client of the Accelerated Growth Service initiative. This initiative of the Atlantic Growth Strategy is a one-stop shop model, helping to identify growth challenges, while working collaboratively with provincial and federal governments to resolve issues.
The SkillsPass NL demonstration project supports The Way Forward commitment to enhance government-wide service delivery by moving toward a digital service delivery model. The Business Innovation Agenda, the Technology Sector Work Plan, and many other actions also deliver on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
Quotes
“Bluedrop has been proudly headquartered in this Province since it spun
out of a Memorial engineering class project in 1992. We have delivered
successful learning solutions in dozens of countries from our St John’s
office. We commend the Province in this bold step to test and showcase
this globally unique technology and demonstrate its potential benefit
for the workforce. Having the Province as a critical early adopter will
provide a key ingredient for our growth and success.”
Emad Rizkalla
Founder
and CEO, Bluedrop Performance Learning
“My government has put a priority on innovation and entrepreneurship.
Bluedrop is one of the world’s prominent e-learning companies and is a
great example of the type of company we continue to focus on as part of
the efforts of our Cabinet Committee on Jobs. Our investment in Bluedrop
will validate the SkillsPassNL technology in a large government
environment and help to position the company to access export
opportunities, develop our highly skilled workforce and expand on our
emerging IT sector here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable
Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and
Innovation
Learn More
Bluedrop Performance Learning
www.bluedrop.com
Business Innovation Agenda
www.tcii.gov.nl.ca/innovation/pdf/BIA.pdf
Tech Sector Work Plan
www.tcii.gov.nl.ca/technologysummit/pdf/Technology_Workplan_Final.pdf
The Way Forward
thewayforward.gov.nl.ca
Follow Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on Twitter: @GovNL and @TCII_GovNL
Follow Bluedrop on Twitter: @BLUEDROP_BPL
This news release may contain "forward-looking information" as defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, constitute forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information is based on a number of factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information but which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions in connection with the operational efficiencies associated with the integration of technological and financial systems and general economic and market conditions. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Bluedrop’s expectations include general global economic conditions. For additional information with respect to risk factors applicable to Bluedrop, reference should be made to Bluedrop's continuous disclosure materials filed from time to time with securities regulators, including, but not limited to, Bluedrop's Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition for the year ended September 30, 2017. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date of this release and Bluedrop does not undertake to update publicly or revise the forward-looking information contained in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
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