Gateshead startup launched to revolutionise corporate training market

A startup is launching in the North East with the aim of revolutionising the global corporate training market.

SUB10 plans to create bespoke 10-minute digital learning modules in an effort to make training more engaging and accessible.

It will use technology such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to build its modules, which use games and quizzes to assist learning.

SUB10 was founded by Peter Stephenson and Angela Ross, who have worked on training and e-learning projects for corporates including Airbus, Vodafone and Allianz.

The business is based at the £7.8m PROTO development in Gateshead.

Co-founder Angela said: “I have worked in this industry for 20 years and there is a definite need for change.

“Through the launch of SUB10, we want to create something which is creative and engaging with learning underpinning everything, and on which employers can see a return on their investment.”

She continued: “We want to create personalised, flexible, interactive modules which are a big move away from the 60-minute sessions which have historically been offered.

“We see the potential to change an industry through the creation of a new and engaging means of offering tailored training to corporate businesses and their employees.”

Peter commented: “Quite a few years ago, I was part of a project which was the first of its kind, where we used VR to help schoolchildren understand how the heart worked.

“The levels of engagement were like nothing their teachers had seen before, you could have heard a pin drop in those lessons and they remembered everything they’d learnt too, and the effect of that has been very memorable for me.”

It was this principle, Peter explained, that guided the creation of SUB10.

Speaking further, he said: “If you present information in a way that is engaging and genuinely gets people’s attention and interest, then they will remember it.

“The potential for the business is very exciting, and we are delighted to be doing this from the North East. PROTO is a fantastic place to be based and we are hoping the whole region will get behind us as we try and take this regionally, nationally and globally too.”

Law firm Sintons is supporting SUB10, with senior associate Lucy Carlin working with Peter and Angela on the launch.