learndirect has a network of learning centres in england and wales, and also runs some courses online. by 2006 the organisation was assisting half a million learners per year, and in january 2013 the cumulative number was in excess of 3.5 million. in 2004, an average of 65% of students completed their courses but this figure had improved to 92% by 2009. learndirect participated as a "provider" in the uk government's mandatory unpaid work experience programme (commonly known as workfare, described by learndirect and dwp as "mandatory work activity") for those on jobseeker's allowance. nearly the whole of learndirect's revenue is from government contracts.