Workers will brush up on basic skills

The government cash is being given to unions at Nestle in York, Castleford and Halifax to help members with basic literacy, numeracy and computer courses.

Most courses are run on-site, aided by tutors from Bradford and Calderdale Colleges.

They are aimed at employees who have left the lifelong learning culture.

The funding follows a successful pilot run at Nestle and is part of the government's new Union Learning Fund project.

It aims to help workers from all sectors of the economy benefit from learning opportunities at work.

Union representatives at Nestle will be trained to give advice, information and guidance to hundreds of workers at its factories.