WOMEN are leading the way in lifelong learning in Derwentside and bringing huge benefits to the companies that employ them.

Six business high fliers are the first to complete a new university diploma on their doorstep.

The group, all members of human resource teams for companies involved in areas as diverse as chilled meals, stairlifts, aerospace and economic development, have achieved the Advanced Diploma in Lifelong Learning from the University of Durham. The course was offered as an outreach programme by the Derwentside Industrial Development Agency (Dida).

The six are Nancy Trenerry, of Bison Bede, Pat Bland, of Aerospace Systems and Technologies 2000, Kim Bates and Karen Cheesman, of Dida, Nicole Thompson, of International Cuisine and Sarah Dixon, of Protoforam NE. All the participants had to complete a project linked to their company, developing a strategy for identifying and meeting the human resource needs and creating a training needs analysis.

Joyce Robson, Dida's business services coordinator said: "Local companies and their employees have been very enthusiastic about the management development opportunities we provide here as part of our remit to encourage economic development."