Has your business had a training check? DAVID HARBOURNE, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council York and North Yorkshire, tells you how to go about it.

ENSURING that businesses have access to top class skills development and training is a major part of our role here at the LSC.

That is why I am delighted to announce that our successful brokerage service has now been extended for a further 12 months and, in certain key sectors, two years.

Established in November 2003, the brokerage service has now worked with hundreds of employers across York and North Yorkshire to build relationships and identify individual business needs for skills development and training.

All the brokers are experts in their particular field and can offer an objective view on what will really make a difference.

It is clear from the response we have had over the last 18 months that employers find this kind of one to one support and advice invaluable. We are now looking to make that support even more effective by using what we've all learned so far to take things on to the next level.

What this next stage of the campaign offers us is the chance to work even more closely with individual businesses, identifying their needs and helping them put together tailor-made training packages to meet these needs. Where the training already exists, we will help them access it, and, where it doesn't, we will look very carefully at whether, and how, it could be provided.

A skilled and knowledgeable workforce is absolutely vital to long-term, sustainable economic development, and by continuing to support and expand this successful brokerage programme along with Yorkshire Forward, we hope to have a major impact on But don't just take our word for it - see for yourself. If you would like to find out if your company would be eligible for support, why not email geraldine.barker@lsc.gov.uk and we'll take it from there.

Updated: 11:02 Tuesday, July 12, 2005