Top notch training at Bradford chemical giant Allied Colloids will help boost workplace skills across Europe.

The Low Moor firm produces such high quality in-house training it is the only chemical company in the UK to be selected to take part in the prestigious Promain scheme.

The project is run in partnership with other specially-selected companies in Germany, Holland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Colin Bingham, training manager at Colloids said: "Much can be learned from our European partners and vice versa. A number of students from different European countries have had a taste of one of our specialist courses."

Mr Bingham took the students on a team-building exercise on the Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor.

The session included an exercise in orienteering as well as communications. The scheme is being funded by the European Union and boosts Allied Colloids standing as it looks more certain the firm will be taken over by Swiss company Ciba.

Ciba has received acceptances from 65 per cent of Colloids shareholders. Added to the 17.7 per cent Ciba has acquired, it makes an 83 per cent acceptance level of Colloids' shares. The firm is now waiting for when a total of 90 per cent of shareholders give the go-ahead and Ciba can say it owns the company.

Ciba is offering £1.3 billion for Colloids and has extended the offer date until Tuesday, March 3. The firm's offer is supported by the Colloids' board.

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