Research and development in Personal Learning Environments has made considerable progress in recent years. Yet although often acknowledging the importance of informal learning, such research continues to be largely focused on formal educational institutions from either higher or vocational training and education. Far less attention has been paid to work based and work integrated learning and still less to the particular context of learning at work in small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) (Gustavsen, Nyhan, Ennals, 2007). Yet it could be argued that it is in just these contexts, where work can provide a rich learning environment and where there is growing need for continuing professional development to meet demands from new technology, new materials and changing work processes, that PLEs could have the greatest impact. A work environment in which the workers plan, control and validate their work tasks can both competitive and productive and forming professional identity and interest (Asheim 2007). It also requires that workers are able to make incremental and continuous improvements to work processes to develop better products and services (Toner 2011). This in turn requires continuous learning within work places and nearby to this. In contrast to predominant forms of continuous training based on activities outside the workplace and off work, and in response to the perceived lack of take up of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) in SMEs, we propose a dual approach, based on informal learning and the development of network and mobile technologies including Personal Learning Environments. This paper will describe an approach being developed for learning in SMEs, specifically in the building and construction industry in north Germany based on research in a current FP 7 project on informal learning in SMEs and in the building and construction sector.

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