Virtual College chairman welcomes government minister

Dr Robert Gomersall, chairman of Ilkley-based online training pioneer Virtual College, rubbed shoulders with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson when he visited Shipley to officially open the new offices of the Advanced Digital Institute (ADI).

Virtual College chairman Dr Robert Gomersall is pictured right at the ADI launch with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Yorkshire Forward’s He was greeted by the vice-chairman of Yorkshire Forward, Linda Pollard, who hosted the event, and Councillor Adrian Naylor, Bradford Council. Dr Gomersall, who lives in Ilkley, is chairman of the ADI, a publically funded company that provides research, development and business support to high-tech enterprises.

Linda Pollard said afterwards: "The work being done by the Airedale Partnership isn’t all about hi-tech digital technologies. It's about infrastructure, lifestyle, connecting communities to education and work and social and economic opportunities."

Founded in 1995, Virtual College has developed into one of the UK's leading providers of e-learning courses delivered via the internet. It has just registered its milestone 250,000th e-learner.