AN adult education project has "educated" its own staff and developed improvements among its workforce while progressing towards the Investors in People standard.

Clitheroe-based Skill Share helps people develop skills to send them back into the workplace.

The firm said achieving the IIP award had brought business benefits.

"Since committing to the standard we have seen a number of improvements, including better communication between our five members of staff, which makes us better informed, with more input into the business," said Skill Share manager Melanie Kilmister.

"We also have monthly staff meetings, more rigorous staff supervision and routine appraisals. Working as part of such a small, close-knit team, people would think that communication wasn't a problem.

"However, improvements can always be made and this is important in the day-to-day running of the centre."

The centre started working towards IIP around 12 months ago.

Since Skill Share, an independent charity, was formed 12 years ago it has helped thousands of people, ranging from school leavers to pensioners, to develop their office skills and gain confidence.

The centre runs classes most mornings and afternoons and helps around 50 people a week.

Other recent IIP successes are Castle Metals, Blackburn; Spring Cottage Residential Home, Burnley; Rossendale Groundwork Trust; Tor View School, Rossendale; Blackburn with Darwen Council housing and neighbourhood services and social services departments; Envair, Haslingden; Cherry Tree Lodge, Rawtenstall; and Mary Burbury Day Unit, Burnley.

Picture: Skill Share staff and trainees with (front) Harry Buls, ELTEC workforce development director, Fiona Byrne, administration officer, and Melanie Kilmister, manager.