A new learning centre has been opened to help Nissan's 5,000 employees improve their skills.
The centre, at the firm's Sunderland plant, offers a variety of learndirect business-related courses including productivity improvement, skills for life, management and ICT.
Developed in partnership with Nissan, learndirect and assa - the organisation set up to support the workforce in automotive and high volume manufacturing companies - the centre boasts 16 newly installed on-line learning workstations with shared printers, as well as the expertise of three assa training staff.
Ann Limb, Chief Executive of learndirect, said: "Nissan is the latest large employer to see the benefits of the flexible learning offered by learndirect. Nissan requires adaptable, accessible learning to develop the skills of its workforce and I look forward to hearing of the successes of individual learners and the contribution made by learndirect to Nissan's efficiency and productivity."
Nissan Managing Director John Cushnaghan said: "A key strategic aim of our partnership with assa and learndirect is to develop the North East's reputation as a centre of productivity excellence. More region-wide facilities such as this centre will raise skills attainment and help boost manufacturing productivity.
"Ultimately we would like to see not only company employees taking advantage of these services but perhaps their dependants and especially those who will make up the North East workforce of the future."
assa is planning to open three more training centres in the region by the end of the summer.