Keystrokes: Learning and Development

£25K innovation grant helps Knaresborough company
develop online skills audit tool

Knaresborough training consultancy Keystrokes Ltd has come up with a new, on-line diagnostic tool that has the potential to transform the way that organisations identify their IT skills needs and the merits of the company’s new idea have won it a £25,000 Innovation Promoters grant to help to bring the product to market.

Innovation Promoters is a Yorkshire Forward programme, supported by Business Link Humber, which has already helped over 200 other companies in the region to turn their good ideas into profit. The programme offers a wide range of advice and hands on practical support to help businesses improve their performance and put innovation at the heart of their future development.

Keystrokes, a successful training provider that names many local authorities, police forces, construction companies and utilities amongst its clients, has been developing this new skills audit tool, named Fiz-assist, for over two years. Now, with the financial support of the grant and expert advice from the Innovation Promoters programme, Fiz-assist is about to be launched and has already helped Keystrokes to secure a major new three year training contract with a police force in the region

Through Innovation Promoters, in addition to the grant, Keystrokes is drawing on the support and advice of an experienced Innovation Promoters adviser. Bob Kelsall is working with Keystrokes directors, Gaynor Pearson and Sue Palin, to refine the product following rigorous trials in five client organisations, to undertake market studies and to identify potential customers.

Bob Kelsall said, “Keystrokes has a great product. Unlike other skills audit tools on the market this one is new and innovative, because it identifies skills gaps by comparing current skills with pre-defined job roles. This is a strong selling point that has already helped the company to win a substantial contract that will help the business to grow.” Following a series of successful pilot programmes many Local Authorities are also now using Fiz-Assist and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council have even decided to use Fiz-assist to assess the IT skills of all their elected Council Members.

Sue Palin, business development director at Keystrokes, is delighted that after the company has put so much work into Fiz-assist, the product is now ready for launch. She said, “We knew that the product we had was valuable especially following the five trials in local authorities earlier this year, but we are used to providing a service so promoting and launching a product was new to us. Bridging the gap between having a product and taking it to the market is where the Innovation Promoters scheme has been so helpful.”

The Innovation Promoters scheme is looking to help even more companies in the Yorkshire and Humber region to exploit new ideas. “The programme is to support initiatives in all areas, not just science or technology,” said Bob Kelsall. “It can support new systems and procedures as well as new products.”


	Click here to discover some of our latest projects, including Fiz-assist skills gap analysis. Click here to read about some of our successes. The latest events and updates from Keystrokes HQ. Click here to view archived news.	News & Press - Back to News Index £25K innovation grant helps Knaresborough company develop online skills audit tool Knaresborough training consultancy Keystrokes Ltd has come up with a new, on-line diagnostic tool that has the potential to transform the way that organisations identify their IT skills needs and the merits of the company’s new idea have won it a £25,000 Innovation Promoters grant to help to bring the product to market. Innovation Promoters is a Yorkshire Forward programme, supported by Business Link Humber, which has already helped over 200 other companies in the region to turn their good ideas into profit. The programme offers a wide range of advice and hands on practical support to help businesses improve their performance and put innovation at the heart of their future development. Keystrokes, a successful training provider that names many local authorities, police forces, construction companies and utilities amongst its clients, has been developing this new skills audit tool, named Fiz-assist, for over two years. Now, with the financial support of the grant and expert advice from the Innovation Promoters programme, Fiz-assist is about to be launched and has already helped Keystrokes to secure a major new three year training contract with a police force in the region Through Innovation Promoters, in addition to the grant, Keystrokes is drawing on the support and advice of an experienced Innovation Promoters adviser. Bob Kelsall is working with Keystrokes directors, Gaynor Pearson and Sue Palin, to refine the product following rigorous trials in five client organisations, to undertake market studies and to identify potential customers. Bob Kelsall said, “Keystrokes has a great product. Unlike other skills audit tools on the market this one is new and innovative, because it identifies skills gaps by comparing current skills with pre-defined job roles. This is a strong selling point that has already helped the company to win a substantial contract that will help the business to grow.” Following a series of successful pilot programmes many Local Authorities are also now using Fiz-Assist and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council have even decided to use Fiz-assist to assess the IT skills of all their elected Council Members. Sue Palin, business development director at Keystrokes, is delighted that after the company has put so much work into Fiz-assist, the product is now ready for launch. She said, “We knew that the product we had was valuable especially following the five trials in local authorities earlier this year, but we are used to providing a service so promoting and launching a product was new to us. Bridging the gap between having a product and taking it to the market is where the Innovation Promoters scheme has been so helpful.” The Innovation Promoters scheme is looking to help even more companies in the Yorkshire and Humber region to exploit new ideas. “The programme is to support initiatives in all areas, not just science or technology,” said Bob Kelsall. “It can support new systems and procedures as well as new products.” Back to top

Keystrokes Ltd, Conyngham Hall, Bond End, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire HG5 9AY t: 0845 3301101, f: 01423 799160, e: info@keystrokes.co.uk