A GROUP of Worcestershire and regional business leaders is launching an initiative to help local businesses access appropriate coaching and training support to combat a national skills shortage.

It follows last month's Spending Review in which the Government wound up the Business Growth Service, which had seen significant success across the businesses it supported, and cut the associated funding with immediate effect.

The move is headed by Arrivista Business Coaching, which is based in Brindley Road, Worcester, and has attracted the support of Worcester's MP Robin Walker.

Arrivista's managing director Simon Williams said: "Working with a leading bank, various professional services organisations and other local businesses, gives us a platform from which to provide coaching and training to many ambitious local businesses. As they grow they typically recruit more people, and/or retain the staff they have, which helps our economy thrive. In order to meet our national productivity challenge and complete the drive towards full employment we need to help small businesses to grow and it is exciting to see this initiative to do exactly that here in Worcester. Arrivista has helped a number of businesses across the County over the last four years and I am delighted to see they have such a strong team working with them to reach even more. Scaling up growth businesses is crucial to building the stronger, higher paid economy we all want to see."

Mr Walker added: "The 2016 Business Growth Campaign being headed up by Arrivista Business Coaching and supported by a selection of top commercial and community leaders, is exactly the type of proactive programme we are keen to support. Having worked with Arrivista aiding the growth of many businesses across the region over the last three years, we are confident the ambitious targets to protect and grow key jobs is both achievable and highly worthwhile."

For information about the scheme contact Kellie Wooldridge on 01905 342080 or kellie@arrivista.co.uk.