Capita signs contract to deliver learner suppor...

19 March 2009

           CAPITA SIGNS CONTRACT TO DELIVER LEARNER SUPPORT SCHEMES                            

The Capita Group Plc ("Capita") has signed a contract to manage the
administration of a range of allowances to support learners, including the
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and the Adult Learning Grant (ALG) with
the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

The contract is valued at £68 million over four years, from 4 May 2009 to the
end of August 2013, with an option to extend for a further two years. It builds
upon the Government's commitment to ensure that both young people and adults
have the opportunity to fulfil their full educational and skills potential.

Today's announcement follows a statement in November 2008 that Capita were to
take over the learner and learning provider helplines, the applications
processing and payments service with immediate effect, after the ending of the
LSC's contract with its previous provider. Capita brought in a new senior
management team to oversee the staff and operations in the Coventry, Manchester
and Darlington processing centres during this period and prior to signing this
contract.

Paul Pindar, Chief Executive of The Capita Group Plc, commented: "Since
November Capita has been focusing on achieving a smooth transfer of the
services and on working closely with the LSC to review existing processes and
move towards an efficient and timely service. We are delighted to be playing a
part in delivering this service which is key for those young people and adults
seeking to improve their skills."

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For further information:

The Capita Group Plc
Tel: [phone]
Paul Pindar, Chief Executive
Shona Nichols, Corporate Communications Director

Media enquiries
Capita press office
Caroline Mooney
Tel: [phone] or 0870 2400 488 (out of hours)

Note to editors

About the scheme
EMA is an allowance payable to students between the ages of 16-19 to encourage
attendance at school. As a result, students will get up to £30 a week,
depending on parental income, with additional bonuses, worth up to £300 per
year, for attendance and achievement. The Adult Learning Grant provides income
assessed support of up to £30 per week during term time for adults who are
studying full time for their first full Level 2 or first full Level 3
qualification. Capita was responsible for setting up and successfully running
the scheme, on behalf of the Government, from September 2003 and for the
duration of the contract until July 2007. Liberata was subsequently awarded the
contract to administer the National Learner Support Administration Service and
ran the service between July 2007and November 2008 until Capita was asked to
take over.

The Capita Group Plc is the UK's leading provider of BPO and integrated
professional support service solutions.  With 36,000 people at more than 300
sites, including 62 business centres across the UK, Ireland, the Channel
Islands and India, the Group uses its expertise, infrastructure and scale
benefits to transform its client's services, driving down costs and adding
value. Capita is quoted on the London Stock Exchange (CPI.L), and is a
constituent of the FTSE100 with revenues for 2008 of £2,441 million.

Further information on The Capita Group Plc can be found at: 
http://www.capita.co.uk