A NEW facility offering training facilities to Malvern businesses should boost the town's economy, according to its promoters.

The Industrial Estate Learning Zone (IELZ), on the Enigma Business Park, was officially launched last week by Jacqui Smith, minister of state for industry and the regions.

The facility includes separate training rooms, computers for e-learning and video conferencing facilities, all aimed specifically at manufacturing firms.

The Malvern IELZ, together with similar facilities in Redditch and Hereford, is the result of a £4.6 million investment by the Learning and Skills Council Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Advantage West Midlands.

Jenny Stephens, a spokesperson for the Learning and Skills Council, said it should strengthen the manufacturing base in the region and so improve the local economy.

"Local firms, particularly those on the Enigma Park, will be able to use local facilities more for their specific needs," she said.

"It's going to be open 52 weeks a year. If you want to go to your local college it's very often closed."

Paul Walker, managing director of Malvern Instruments and chairman of the Enigma Business Park Partnership, said the facility would be of use to virtually every business.

Because of the Malvern area's low unemployment rate there was not a big pool of workers to recruit from and businesses acknowledged that new staff may not have all the skills required to do their job, he said.

"One of the key opportunities of having that facility is that any business is going to be able to afford the time and money because it's so local. People can be back from training, doing their jobs, in 15 minutes," said Mr Walker.

"I can't imagine a reason why a business wouldn't take advantage of it."