The fruits of learning

Employees at dried fruit company Sundora Foods will soon be able to make use of learning opportunities at their workplace.

The firm has signed an agreement with food workers' union Usdaw to set up a "lifelong learning centre" at its head office in Pocklington, near York. The centre will offer courses ranging from basic skills (such as letter writing and understanding forms) to IT and foreign languages, all designed to help Sundora's 180 employees fulfil their potential and boost their career prospects. Staff themselves will decide which courses to study and at what level.

Sundora chief executive Brian Young said the company and Usdaw were "committed to working in partnership to promote and support lifelong learning and ensure equality of access to learning opportunities", enabling "each individual to fulfil his or her potential".

Usdaw and Sundora will establish a joint steering group to take responsibility for developing, implementing and monitoring learning initiatives. The steering group will administer a learning fund to help make courses affordable, as well as working to remove barriers to learning such as shift work patterns, childcare and length of courses.

The company will provide paid release for staff to engage in learning if opportunities are linked to the needs of the business.

"Full credit to Sundora for supporting Usdaw and signing the lifelong learning agreement," commented the union's area organiser for the north-east division, Tony Aylward. "The company clearly values its workforce and should see tangible benefits from having staff who are not only motivated to succeed, but are better equipped to do so. The lifelong learning centre is a worthwhile investment in the future."

Funding for the centre will come from Sundora, Usdaw, the TUC and government-backed lifelong learning initiatives such as Learndirect.