Sixty new jobs will be created later this year at an expanding e-learning company which has had support from Bradford Council’s business and investment team.

Webanywhere Ltd – set up in 2003 to provide schools and businesses with websites, learning management systems and other e-learning tools – is looking to take on 60 new staff at its Keighley head office by September.

The company, run by founder Sean Gilligan from Keighley’s Aire Valley Business Centre, aims to become the UK’s leading provider of online learning systems for the education sector.

Over the past decade, the company has seen rapid and continued growth and now employs 140 staff in total, with operations in Poland, the United States and New Zealand in addition to its Keighley base.

Mr Gilligan, who started the business from a spare bedroom at his parents’ home, said further growth will come from a focus on product development and moving into new markets.

Bradford Council’s Business and Investment team has helped the company to buy new equipment and IT systems through providing support and grant-funded programmes.

The team worked with Webanywhere to undertake a detailed business review, helping the company to gain a thorough insight into all of its operations and supported the recruitment of staff.

Sean Gilligan, said: “We appreciate Bradford Council’s support and assistance which has allowed us to develop a more proactive business strategy and recruit the required staff to deliver future growth. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the council.”

Webanywhere moved into its 10,000 sq ft Keighley offices in 2010 on the site of the old Keighley job centre. The move created around 50 new jobs. The company has sold its School Jotter concept to more than 15 per cent of the UK’s primary schools.

Meanwhile, former Bradford teacher turned entrepreneur Scott Parkin is running seminars demonstrating how his new online tracking technology can improve pupil performance tracking and reporting.

The former deputy headteacher at Brackenhill Primary School, Bradford, who launched his Early To Primary Essence business to provide instant access to pupils’ data, is hosting the free seminars at Leeds Headingley Carnegie Stadium until March 26.

He will outline how schools using the system are impressing school inspectors through better tracking and reporting of pupil performance.