The “challenging” target is part of its desire to become a household name and high-street brand for learning. The venture already has 300,000 learners, 100,000 more than it had aimed for.

It is the first time goals have been set directly by Learndirect, formerly the University for Industry, rather than the Department for Education and Skills.

However, the targets outlined in the consultation document will still need to be approved by the Education Secretary Estelle Morris.

While most learners to date have come through the 1,400 learning centres operated by “hubs” in town centres, much of the growth will be generated by increasing the number of companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises involved with Learndirect, from 11,000 to 70,000.

Firms such as Barclays Bank and the confectioners McVities have already set up workplace Learndirect centres and it may be also become involved in the new National Health Service “university”.

Half the projected one million learners will include 500,000 people “new to learning”, the same proportion that is currently being attractedon to courses. It was originally expected that only 20 per cent of Learndirect’s students would be “new”.

It is hoped that the proportion of learners satisfied with their course will rise to 90 per cent by 20045. The figure already stands at 83 per cent.