COMPANIES in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been invited to take advantage of £1,000 worth of free training.

The Chamber of Commerce in the two counties is offering firms with between 20 and 249 employees training tailored to their individual needs.

It is hoped that the scheme will lead to an injection of skills in the area, and ultimately to business growth.

"This is positive news for businesses in the two counties as MD's will be given the opportunity to access money for training of their choice, free of charge," said Lisa Tubb, head of workforce development at the chamber.

"An approved assessor will carry out a full individual assessment, in itself worth £400. This will identify the personal skills needed to help companies grow."

Funding is now available for the initiative and companies are being urged to take advantage of the money.

"With a recognised skills shortage across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the funding enables companies to that may not be able to afford training in-house to get up to speed with new packages and practices specific to their industry," added Lisa.

"At the same time they will also benefit on a personal level."

Details from: 0845 4506100.