THE Learning and Skills Council, the organisation responsible for making England better skilled and more competitive, has announced a major transformation that will mean the loss of 1,300 jobs.

The aim, according to the body, is to "make it smaller, more dynamic and a more customer-facing."

In the process, it expects to save £40m on management and running costs. It is not known at this stage whether the Herefordshire and Worcestershire branch of the organisation will be affected.

A spokeswoman for the local LSC said: "We can't currently offer any further comment as, until the consultation is concluded, we don't know what the implications will be for the local office.

"However, we can guarantee it will be business as usual for learners across the two counties."