WORKERS at LNP Engineering Plastics on Teesside are learning to break the mould.

The company, which produces long fibre thermoplastic composites used in automotive, leisure, industrial, building and home appliance markets, is benefiting from bespoke training provided by the North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) as it seeks to expand operations from its base on the Teesside Industrial Estate, Thornaby.

A total of 18 staff from a range of departments at the former ICI business have completed NVQ level 3 qualifications in engineering and productivity and technical services, designed to develop skills and help identify improvements to the manufacturing process.

The course, delivered through the chamber's Middlesbrough Engineering Centre, provides shop floor training geared to improving productivity and performance by reviewing key manufacturing processes from every angle, examining everything from the choice of equipment through to the disposal of waste.

Candidates also take core modules in quality control and health and safety.

Plant manager Steve Jones said: "Organisations like ourselves are always looking to improve our productivity and our bottom line and the most sensible way to achieve this is by developing the skills of our staff."

The Thornaby division of LNP employs 39 staff, one of whom is 33-year-old manual process operator Anthony Stephens, of Billingham.

He said: "The course has given everybody an opportunity to step back and review the way in which we work as individuals and as a company, and to consider more effective and efficient ways of doing things."