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Sainsbury's launch Learning Zone for employees

A 'Learning Zone' for employees has been officially launched by Sainsbury's in their Dunstable Road, Luton store with an Open Day for all Sainsbury's colleagues to take a look at the bite size learning on offer to them.

The Sainsbury's Learning Zone, supported with funding through the Learning and Skills Council Bedfordshire and Luton, is designed to be open 24 hours so that colleagues can fit in learning around their shift patterns.

The short courses on offer are non-vocational and range from computing to craft, literacy to languages.

Terry Eastcott, Sainsbury's store manager, said: "At Sainsbury's we aspire to be seen as a great place to work and a key part of that is an individual's opportunity to learn and develop to help them grow in the future.

"I hope this centre will breakdown any barriers our diverse workforce may believe exist with this type of learning and allow any of our colleagues to learn in an environment they are used to. The familiar surroundings should give them the confidence to try the courses on offer and in turn encourage their friends and family to look into doing the same.

"We had a number of colleagues enrol on a course last year off site, but only a few completed their course as they found it a struggle to find a balance between learning and their workload. The centre should enable our colleagues to learn at their convenience with courses planned around their shift and without them having to leave the building."

Graham Moores, Learning and Skills Council director of economic development said at the launch: "It is important that employees are supported in their learning as research shows that a more motivated and stress-free staff means improved performance and less sick days so both individuals and the company benefit. The fact that the employees are involved in determining what learning is on offer can only help in ensuring Sainsbury's colleagues take up this great learning opportunity. I hope the bite size courses are the first step to future learning and for them to achieve their full potential."

Luton Borough Council's Adult Community Learning is providing a programme of courses for the Learning Zone. They met with prospective learners on the open day to discuss the level and type of courses best suited to their needs and interests. Courses will take place on various days and times during the week so that learning is accessible to all including shift workers.

Lindy Lloyd, ICT curriculum leader at Luton Adult Community Learning said: "We are proud to be working in conjunction with the LSC, the trade unions and Sainsbury's to support the creation of a learning zone within their store in Luton. It is an exciting opportunity, enabling us to bring learning into the workplace."

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