TWO new staff have been recruited by a learning council in Worcestershire in a bid to build up more money-spinning contracts and boost business.

A spokesman for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Herefordshire and Worcestershire said he was "delighted" about the new appointments to the team.

John Gorman - who previously worked for the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in the student modernisation division - has been taken on as contract manager for entry to employment.

He will manage some work-based learning contracts in both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

In his previous role he managed the student support website as part of the information and communications team.

Steve Fuller has also been appointed as strategic planning advisor, where his main focus will be driving forward the implementation of the LSC's new business planning cycle.

This includes the production and monitoring of the LSC's strategic, annual and operational plans for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, ensuring all objectives are met.