A British study verified whether the educational participation of Ford Motor Company's manual workers significantly increased following introduction of the Employee Development and Assistance Program (EDAP) and identified the features that contributed to its success. Over the past 15 years, studies of working class adults' educational participation in Britain identified demographic characteristics and factors clearly related to participation levels. EDAP offered assistance to every employee who wished to undertake some form of personal development, including educational activities and activities to promote a healthy lifestyle. Main functions directly concerned with employees' educational activities were as follows: information, publicity, administration, quality assurance, liaison with course providers, guidance and support, and organizing inplant activities. EDAP features that influenced employee participation included the following: learner's self-evaluation, attitudes to education, goals and expectations, and opportunities and barriers. Analysis of records and participant interviews indicated the following: 42 percent of manual workers participated in EDAP over 3 years, a participation rate 2-3 times higher than for the comparable section of the population; more than half were participating in formal learning for the first time since school; and the 3 most powerful factors in their decision to participate, from most to least, were availability of EDAP financial support, EDAP's help in overcoming practical difficulties and disincentives, and provision and support to accommodate shift workers. (Contains 30 references.) (YLB)