GOSPEL choir singing, DJ-ing, flamenco dancing, sign language, scuba diving, Spanish and fencing were just some of the unusual activities on offer to employees at Nationwide's headquarters at Pipers Way, as part of the company's support for national Learning at Work Day.

Co-ordinated by the Campaign for Learning, the day aimed to encourage employers to put on a day of workplace learning activities for employees, giving them a chance to break from routine and discover hidden talents, which it is claimed, could benefit themselves as well as their employer.

Last year, more than 4,000 organisations took part.

John Wrighthouse, Nationwide's head of training and development explained that the company's support of initiatives such as these made good business sense.

He said: "We found that if our employees are committed to Nationwide, then they give a better service to our members who, in turn, buy more from us. "