TAUNTON'S United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, the main sponsor of the County Gazette's jute bags campaign, has this week publicly committed to the development and continual training of its workforce.

The UKHO, which employs around 1,000 people at its Admiralty Way site, has become the latest company in Somerset to make the national Skills Pledge.

The Skills Pledge - led by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) - has been introduced as part of a broad campaign to improve the skills of Britain's workforce in response to the Leitch report.

It is a voluntary public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards nationally recognised qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent of five good GCSEs).

Richard Brooks, UKHO's head of transformation, change and human resources, said: "We are absolutely committed to developing our workforce - our staff are the most important component of our company.

"This organisation has always had a strong training ethos. Everybody who works for us is supported in their personal development and we help them further the skills and qualifications necessary to do their job, whether that be an NVQ or an MBA."

Employers wanting to find out more about the Skills Pledge can log on to the website - click below - or call 08456-047047.