WORCESTER is set to host its first professional development centre in a bid to improve basic skill levels in the two counties.

The centre has been made possible by a share of £2.4m in funding from Advantage West Midlands, the region's development agency.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire have been given the cash injection as part of a joint proposal involving the West Midlands Learning and Skills Councils (LSC), Birmingham Core Skills Development Partnership and the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit.

The funds will be used to develop centres in each of the six regional LSC areas, including Herefordshire and Worcestershire, which will be based at, and managed from, University College Worcester, in Henwick Grove.

It will involve both the university and expertise from local, further education colleges.

The centre will help ease the current shortage of tutors available to help local people improve their literacy, numeracy and language skills, by supporting training schemes for new basic skills tutors.

Development

Existing tutors will also be able to continue their professional development and get up-to-date information on basic skills issues.

Local tutors will be able to access online learning packs, which will help them study at a range of levels, including diplomas, degrees and post-graduate qualifications.

The first centres should be operating by January 2003, with others to follow over the following few months.

Alan Curless, executive director of the Learning and Skills Council, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said the LSC welcomed this initiative to further develop local capacity to meet the need for basic skill support.

"Our aim is to ensure local tutors have the best qualifications and resources to support their work to improve basic skills across the region," he said.

The Learning and Skills Council was launched on April 2, 2001, taking over the role of the former Training and Enterprise Councils and The Further Education Funding Council.

It is a national organisation operating through 47 local offices with a budget of £7.3bn in 2002.