A workplace training firm has secured £1 million in new funding.
Birmingham-placed Assemble You has devised podcast-style training in a bid to prevent low engagement from more traditional methods of learning such as lengthy videos and click-through modules.
The company said these methods often failed to resonate with learners or adapt to the time constraints and diverse needs of modern employees such as those who work remotely.
This new round of funding has been led by just under £500,000 from the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund alongside investment from London-based tech specialist Ufi Ventures.
The new capital will support Assemble You's expansion plans in several areas including content creation which will expand their library of training tools in fields such as sales and marketing.
It will also work on translating its training modules into German, French and Spanish in order to target overseas markets.
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Birmingham venture capital firm Midven, which manages the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund, will support Assemble You by providing advice, introducing it to networks and supporting it with future fundraising and recruitment.
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Assemble You's co-founder Adam Lacey said: "This investment will have a huge impact on Assemble You and our mission, allowing us to tackle the widespread problem of disengaged employees head-on.
"Traditional digital training methods simply aren't working and we're providing a solution that's not only more engaging but also truly accessible to everyone, including deskless and neurodiverse workers.
"This funding will enable us to expand our content library, reach more learners and ultimately create a more skilled and future-ready workforce."
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added: "Assemble You is full of the energy and creativity that is going to drive our economy into a new era of prosperity.
"They're using innovative new technology to help businesses keep their employees happy and productive, in particular the most vulnerable, in a rapidly changing workplace."
Huw Sparkes, investment manager at Midven, said "We are delighted to invest in Assemble You, a company that has demonstrated innovation and forward-thinking in the digital learning and development space.
"Their mission to democratise workplace learning through high-quality educational content positions them well for significant growth."
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Helen Gironi, director of Ufi Ventures, said: "Assemble You's podcast-style audio approach tackles some of the biggest challenges in workplace learning - engagement, accessibility and inclusion.
"As the demand for continuous reskilling grows, they are delivering a format that truly meets learners where they are. We're pleased to be backing them again and excited to support their next phase of growth and impact."
The West Midlands Co-Investment Fund is a £25 million pot launched by the West Midlands Combined Authority in partnership with the West Midlands Pension Fund.
It provides equity of up to £1 million to high-growth SMEs in the combined authority area, matched on a one-to-one basis by private co-investment.