HUNDREDS of employees will be finding out more about computers, self-defence and voluntary work during Learning At Work Day.

The national event has been organised by the Campaign For Learning and involves businesses from across York and North Yorkshire.

It aims to encourage employers, employees and trades unions to work together to put on workplace activities that will get more people involved in learning.

In York, staff at organisations like The Retreat, the Land Registry and Jorvik will be taking part tomorrow.

At the Land Registry, in James Street, staff were offered a series of lunch-break workshops volunteering overseas, personal safety and basic DIY.

Meanwhile, at The Retreat, a psychiatric hospital in Heslington Lane, workers have signed up for five classes on computer skills, including using the internet, mouse skills and work processing.

Ian Smith, union learning rep at the Land Registry, said his colleagues have shown a lot of interest in the opportunity and he hopes it will encourage other businesses in the city to follow suit.

He said: "My role is to bring more people into learning and make it approachable. It's not just boring classroom stuff. We are teaching about all aspects of life. That's why the classes are so diverse."

Gill Moss, resource centre manager at The Retreat, said: "It has been very well supported. There has been a lot of interest and we are hoping to repeat the classes through the year."

Tricia Hartley, northern regional director for the Campaign For Learning, said: "Learning At Work Day is all about employees being given the chance to explore new areas of learning that they perhaps wouldn't normally experience in the workplace.

"Learning new skills is a great way to help improve productivity and morale, and provides oganisations with a major opportunity to develop better communications across the workforce."

"Learning how to learn is a key skill and one which can bring enormous benefits both for the employer and the employee."

The event is now in its seventh year and more than 6,000 employers registered events for last year's Learning At Work Day, an increase of 29 per cent on the previous year.

Updated: 11:22 Wednesday, May 25, 2005