WHITBREAD, which has a brewery in Samlesbury and a depot in Blackburn, has earned top marks for its national education programme.

It has been awarded one of the first Programme Impact Endorsement Marks by a partnership including Business in the Community, the Department of Trade and Industry, the British Quality Foundation and the Financial Times.

The award is in recognition of Whitbread's success in bringing business resources to bear on key social issues - in this case, education and awareness of career choices.

Whitbread regional education manager Joyce Anderson said: "We are delighted that the Whitbread Education Partnership has been recognised as having reached the challenging standards of excellence set by Business in the Community and endorsed by the British Quality Foundation.

"This award is a tribute to the many Whitbread employees, including hundreds of staff in Lancashire, who work with schools, colleges and universities. It recognises the real impact we have on young people and their teachers."

Joyce and fellow regional education managers throughout the country are responsible for bringing together and working with Whitbread businesses and educational establishments, ranging from primary schools to colleges and universities.

In Lancashire staff from Whitbread's Shadsworth distribution centre helped pupils from Roman Road Primary School practise their reading skills.

Whitbread's Beefeater and Brewer's Fayre restaurants all host teacher placements.

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