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A newly opened Learning Centre based at Arriva North East's Jesmond depot is set to give all employees support with life skills such as English and maths, a chance to learn computing skills, or a new language and opportunities to try many other LearnDirect courses.

The Transport and General Workers' Union secured the funding to open a learning centre giving drivers, engineers, supervisors and other Arriva employees the opportunity to learn new skills and gain qualifications. The centre will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturdays

Employees can choose to learn for their professional development at work, to support hobbies or help children with homework, or to gain new qualifications and skills.

Marjorie Haynes, human resources manager for Arriva North East, explains:

We recognise the benefits of offering employees training and are delighted to be working with the trade union, Newcastle College , and our employees to bring new opportunities for learning to everyone at Arriva North East.

Barney McGill, Northern TUC learning services co-ordinator, added:

Having worked with the TGWU and Arriva staff and management from the outset of their project, it gives me great pleasure to see all of the hard work put in so far come to fruition with the opening of their on-site Learning Centre. Both the centre and the dedicated Union Learning Reps will open up a whole new world of opportunity for all of the staff, and really embed a positive learning culture at Arriva.

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Note to editors

The following picture of Arriva learning reps examining the new computers in the centre is available electronically from Kate Flint.