PepsiCo UK has launched e-learning in desktop IT skills in a bid to increase computer literacy across the company.

The courses will be accessible to all employees within PepsiCo UK, which incorporates Walkers Snack Foods, PepsiCo Beverages International, Tropicana and Quaker Foods, via Thomson NETg's hosted learning service, NETgLearning.com.

"We've historically used a combination of instructor-led training and drop-in IT Training Clinics to teach our employees core IT skills, however with sites all over the UK, this is an expensive process as well as being a huge logistical problem," Gill Haggarty, IT Personal Productivity Manager at PepsiCo UK said.

"We decided to implement e-learning to compliment our current offerings and introduce a more cost-effective and flexible self-service model so people could take control of their own learning paths and learn at a time convenient for them."

PepsiCo UK is rolling out the e-learning to employees in stages, starting with the 500 people based at the organisation's head office in Theale.

Courses available to employees include the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) and a range of courses from the Microsoft Office 2000 suite such as Microsoft Word 2000 Proficient User, Microsoft Excel 2000 Proficient User and Microsoft Project Management Fundamentals.

The courses can be accessed via CD-ROM as well as via NETgLearning.com.

Course usage is tracked and measured using Thomson NETg's Management Tool.