EXECUTIVES working for Basingstoke-headquartered Winterthur Life are proving their commitment to lifelong learning.

Sixteen senior staff are boosting their business acumen by studying for a management diploma through Reading University.

The university's Professional Management Programmes Unit is running in-house sessions for the pensions and investment company and working in close partnership with its HR department.

Nick King, Winterthur's group training manager, said: "Winterthur is committed to training and developing all the staff and keen to put in place formal training programmes for senior managers as part of our ongoing management development strategy.

"I approached Reading as it has a reputation for academic excellence and, to get first-hand experience, participated in a diploma workshop for students."

Mr King went on to set up the Winterthur course with the university, and the diploma students, who have been studying since October, are already recognising the benefits of lifelong learning.

Jim Hare, Winterthur's human resource director, was also enthusiastic about the diploma. He said: "It matches our business needs - the diploma is rooted in the practical application of business skills and is project-based."

He added: "The diploma is entirely compatible with the direction in which we want to take our staff and managers. Their project work in particular will address real business issues."

The diverse mix of students includes corporate lawyers and managers from PR, sales and training programmes. Some left school and went straight to work, while others have professional qualifications and degrees.

Dr Mark Stein, from Reading University, said: "Mixing with people from different departments is one of the advantages of in-house training as it gives students a holistic view of the organisation, how it interrelates and how the business benefits."

Winterthur also launched a major strategic offensive last autumn to meet the changes in independent financial advisers' and clients' expectations to keep it at the forefront of the pensions and investments industry.

The three-pronged offensive has involved new external funds, value-added services and online investment tools for IFAs and a new one-off pricing option to cover administration costs for the lifetime of a client's pension. Mike Kellard, Winterthur's chief executive in the UK, said: "Winterthur has long been at the cutting edge of market innovating propositions.

"Our strategy is again breaking new ground with rigorously-selected external investment funds, enhanced adviser support services, web tools and the introduction of revised product features."

Winterthur Life employs around 780 staff in Basingstoke and another 430 at its subsidiary pension administration company in Salisbury.