WELLINGTON firm Relyon has scooped an Oscar' for outstanding achievement in learning.

The prestigious prizes of the Champions of Learning Awards in Somerset were handed out by actress and singer Toyah Wilcox who told the winners: "You are all stars in your own right."

Relyon was nominated for the award by Mhairi Holway after the company set up a brand new learning centre with Court Fields Community School and Richard Huish College in 2005.

Staff at Relyon were asked to fill in a survey about the new centre and many expressed an interest in learning about compute and improving their skills on a wide range of other topics.

Employees wanted training to take place on-site and to fit in with their shift patterns.

To meet their needs a large room, purpose built workstations and ICT equipment with Internet access was set aside for the project.

When Elaine Faull, head teacher of Court Fields Community School in Wellington, heard about the centre she was keen for the school to become involved to support business and community learning.

The school provided Relyon with a digital projector and sounds system and helped with tuition.

Mhairi Holway from Relyon said: "A capable, confident and skilled workforce helps us to deliver our business objectives. The learning centre has already been used extensively to deliver high quality learning programmes on a wide range of topics to staff across the factory and the offices. We have been delighted to work with Court Fields School and Richard Huish on this project."

Due to the success of the scheme Relyon was nominated for the award for working in partnership to benefit the learner.

Relyon was joint winner of the title with Michael Cox, a teacher at Hugh Sexey School who also won the accolade for establishing and developing a number of business partnerships between the school and local companies.

The Champions of Learning Awards, now in their fourth year, are organised by Somerset Learning and Skills Council to recognise special achievement, sometimes against the odds.