In September last year Pembrokeshire County Council's chief executive, Bryn Parry-Jones, endorsed the Basic Skills Employer Pledge as a commitment to helping employees improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

In recognition of this pledge, the award was presented to Huw James, the council's director of support and cultural services, by Sandra Morton, assistant director of the Basic Skills Agency.

The council is one of just a dozen organisations in Wales to receive the award.

Sixty-seven employees have undertaken training opportunities. Almost every job with the council needs some competence in basic skills, and a lack of these skills can have implications in health and safety or productivity.

The authority has pledged to take a radical look at the range of learning opportunities available in basic skills, and to broaden the range of provision to standard corporate training and to develop support structures to meet the diverse needs of its employees.

Pictured signing the pledge: Sandra Morton is flanked by Rosemary Tippet-Maudsley, of Learning Pembrokeshire and Jackie Owen (employer's pledge support officer). Standing are the council's head of personnel, Francis Maull, and Huw James (the authority's director of support and cultural services) with Brett Kilner (lifelong learning adviser), Hazel Marsh (trade union learning in partnership co-ordinator) and Mike Murray (quality training co-ordinator).