LAND-based businesses in Herefordshire and Worcestershire could benefit from 600 free SkillChecks that will be made available throughout the region by Lantra National Training Organisation (NTO).

The scheme is a partnership between Lantra NTO, which promotes learning, skills and business competitiveness in the land-based sector, and the Hereford and Worcester Learning and Skills Council, which provided the funding.

The SkillChecks are available on a 'first-come, first-served' basis and have been designed specifically for businesses that may wish to take advantage of the benefits that training and development can offer.

"SkillChecks are a unique opportunity for businesses to take up a dynamic and formulated approach to the future, not least with respect to the up-skilling of staff," said Madge Moore, Lantra NTO's executive director for England.

"The business consultants will help businesses analyse how they can operate more effectively within the sector," she added.

"We have here an excellent example of the NTO and the LSC providing land-based businesses with a real opportunity to review their training needs to help them improve their competitiveness."

The free SkillChecks are available for all land-based businesses even down to the smallest micro-business.

To take advantage of your free SkillCheck, or for further information, please contact Jane Dobie, Lantra's Regional Administrator for England on 02476 696996.