GOVERNMENT proposals to raise the school leaving age have received a cautious welcome from local business leaders The Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcester-shire has said it is "generally in favour" of the move, as long as it leads to a more skilled workforce and employers are not unduly affected.

The chamber was responding to a Department for Education consultation that is proposing to raise the compulsory education leaving age to 18 in 2013.

Young people will still be allowed to leave school and go to work at 16, but will be expected to engage in further education or training that will lead to a level 2 qualification by the time they reach the age of 18.

The chamber is urging the Government to recognise the full implications of the proposals on employers and clearly identify what will be required of employers and offer businesses tailored support. It also wants to ensure the accreditation of informal training; to see the development of a coherent education system that is responsive to labour markets demands and is understood by both employers and students; and it wants the Government to support and develop the skills of the workforce's ethnic groups and assist the more effective use of migrant workers.

Gary Woodman, a member of the policy executive, said: "Research of businesses in the West Midlands found that they are generally in favour of increasing the school leaving age.

"This is because current school leavers lack the basic skills needed by employers and the future economic competitiveness of the region depends on a well-skilled workforce.

"Business is still cautious of any attempt to keep young people in an education system that is currently not producing the right type of employees that business need.

"A key recommendation is for the Government to examine both the existing qualification system and the current reforms to ensure we improve the standards of future entrants in to the workforce.

"We would also urge the Government not to introduce any additional regulatory burdens on business and make clear in the current proposals what will be expected of them and what impact the reforms would have on the region's businesses."