A GROUP of Polish industrialists are hoping to learn from East Lancashire's know-how to help them back home.

The party of 15 industrialists and training staff are looking at how local firms train their workforce using new technology and training methods.

The group, from Mielec in Southern Poland, are on an exchange visit arranged by Northern Technologies, Nelson, funded by European cash. The overall aim of the exchange project is to transfer knowledge and expertise to Poland.

During their two-week stay the party has spent time at local firms including Fort Vale Engineering, Tenneco-Walker, J & R Precision Engineering, Hurel Dubois, Potterton Myson, Decorpart and British Aerospace.

"We have seen the many benefits of competency based training and continual assessment methods," said Agnieszka Wegrzyn, economist with a Polish aircraft company, said the group had seen many benefits of firms' practices, adding: "The people here are so friendly and the facilities are excellent."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.