Mersey Skills Network today announced that it has allocated £1M funding in its first three months. The consortium made up of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Blackburne House, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Community College and was formed to improve work based training across the region.

The project aims to distribute £4M of support to business by the 31 July 2008. Sharlene Walton, SkillWorks Project Manager for Mersey Skills Network said: “We are delighted by the quick uptake of the funding, this shows that the Merseyside business community values the opportunity to improve business training. The funding covers all aspects of training except that which is a requirement by law. It has already been used by a wide variety companies for everything from Masters Degrees to food hygiene certificates for their staff.”

The funding, provided by the Learning and Skills Council and European Social Fund, is available to all small and medium sized businesses in every business sector and is designed for companies from sole traders to firms employing up to 250 staff.

For more information on gaining Skill Works funding call Mersey Skills Network on 0151 224 1888 or visit the Mersey Skills Network website.