Arriva launches learning centres on learning at work day – Thursday 15 may 2003

Arriva Midlands is working in partnership with LeicestershireLearning and Skills Council, The Transport and General WorkersUnion (TGWU) and TUC Learning centres to offer employees anopportunity to learn new skills in specially designed learningcentres at their workplace. A learning centre has been developed atSouthgates, Wigston and Coalville depots and in the rest room atthe city centre's bus station.

As well as offering access to courses offered by Learndirect,the centres will allow employees to address any basic skills issuesthey have or to work towards qualifications which could help themprogress within the company. There are message boards whereemployees can learn from each other's experiences and can discussthe subjects they are covering. Learner support specialists arealso on hand to help employees - whether they choose to learn inone of the centres or at home.

Neil Barker, managing director for Arriva Midlands said:

This is very much a collaborative project designed toimprove the skills of employees at all levels through flexiblelearning. We believe this is the first such project in thetransport industry and we hope that employees will support it andget benefit from the centres.

Christine Wood, the TUC's Regional Secretary for the Midlandssaid:

This project shows the benefit of partnership workingbetween trade unions and employers. Everyone benefits from accessto learning, the workforce will gain new skills, the employer getsa better qualified and more knowledgeable workforce.

I believe that in the future, companies with acommitment to learning in the workplace will be more competitiveand will retain staff who appreciate the opportunities to be gainedthrough workplace learning.

There is an official launch at the Southgates depot's centre inLeicester City Centre on Thursday 15 May at 11 am.

Ends