THE face of skills training is about to change with the launch of a new "one stop" training and workforce development service.

The Skills Station is a new initiative, providing free training advice and courses for companies in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The scheme, which will see £50m a year invested in training resources, is being run by the Learning and Skills Council, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, based in Midland Road, Shrub Hill, Worcester.

The Skills Station will be delivered through local colleges, including Worcester College of Technology, University College Worcester and Worcester Sixth Form College.

Aimed at small and medium companies, the Skills Station will deliver courses to help firms deal with legal issues, such as Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, Environmental Health and Employment Law.

It will also deliver professional development courses, as well as courses covering practical business activities, such as PC usage, desktop publishing, e-commerce, and even European languages.

It was launched last Tuesday, at Severn Valley Railway, near Kidderminster, with about 120 employers from the region given an overview of the new service.

"The Skills Station is a one stop shop that provides all the information, advice and guidance on a wide range of courses for workforce development," said Alan Curless, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

"The courses, which cover everything from practical business skills to professional qualifications, will be delivered by local colleges across the two counties."

Other colleges to deliver the courses include Evesham and Malvern Hills College, Pershore Group of Colleges, NEW College, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster College, Hereford College of Art and Design and Herefordshire College of Technology.

The Skills Station can supply standard courses or courses specifically tailored to a firm's needs. It also provides Modern Apprenticeships.

Small and medium companies in the two counties wishing to find out more about the Skills Station can phone 0845 450 6162.