WILTSHIRE and Swindon Lifelong Learning Partnership has taken delivery of two mobile learning units (MLUs) to be operated by Wiltshire College and Salisbury College.

People living in rural areas of Wiltshire, and those who unable to travel to traditional Further Education learning centres will soon be able to use the facilities of the MLUs which will also be made available to rural businesses for the provision of on-site training.

Each MLU is equipped with 13 PC workstations for IT training and is linked by satellite communication to provide internet access.

The MLUs can also provide other learning opportunities in response to specific local demand and will be linked to both local and national job search facilities.

Tim Pape, chairman of Wiltshire & Swindon Lifelong Learning Partnership, and co-founder of the Shaw Trust, recently took delivery of the Wiltshire College unit from the manufacturers Torton Bodies of Telford. He was accompanied by Paul Kemp, deputy principal of Wiltshire College, and by Marilyn Railton, head of faculty Information and Communication Technologies.

Tim Pape said: "I am extremely impressed with the MLUs and am sure that the combination of a really modern and bright learning environment plus right up-to-the-minute equipment and the eye-catching vehicles will make a big impact on taking learning opportunities out into Wiltshire."