A NEW training centre in Kidderminster has been given the seal of approval after a visit by a top Government minister.

Alan Johnson, MP for Hull West and the Minister for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions, toured the £1m facility run by the ISTC union and Kidderminster College at the Carpet Weavers Hall in Callows Lane. MP Alan Johnson meets student Anne Henley from Kidderminster at the new ISTC Lifelong Learning Centre.

The aim of the Lifelong Learning Centre is to train people in new technologies. It has a conference room, training suites with IT workstations and a refreshment area.

Ken Penton of the ISTC said there were places for up to 30 people at any one time and the courses were open to everyone in the town, not just carpet workers or union members.

"It's of benefit to the regeneration of the whole community," he said.

"Alan Johnson was very impressed and planned to give a report to a Commons select committee about the centre."

The centre is run in conjunction with the union's Steel Training Partnership, which has recently moved its HQ from Rotherham to Kidderminster. The MP also presented the union with an award for achieving Investors In People status.