EMPLOYERS in Worcestershire are being offered the chance to improve the performance of their businesses by boosting the skills level of their workforce.

An innovative new project aimed at helping employers to improve the performance of their "bottom-line" through investment in the skills of their employees will see 20 new workplace learning centres introduced across the West Midlands. It is expected that 1,400 employees will benefit from the scheme.

Proposals include a learning room at Birmingham New Street Station and a mobile learning centre is to be set up to cover rural areas and to act as a rapid response unit for workers who have been made redundant.

The learning centres will be managed by trade unions and will build on the Train to Gain programme run by the Trades Union Congress's Unionlearn and the Learning and Skills Council, which promotes workforce development and provides access to training.

Regional Development Ag-ency Advantage West Mid-lands is investing £458,000 in the scheme as part of a £1.85m public and private sector funding package.

Much of the money for the workplace learning centres scheme will be spent on refurbishing and equipping existing premises, as well as paying for learning provision. Employers will be expected to make a contribution, such as providing a room or paying for broadband to be installed.

Refurbishing and equipping will be completed in time for a launch this April. Trade unions will help to make employers aware of the workplace learning scheme.

On offer will be 400 places for Level 3 and 4 management and leadership qualifications and 1,000 places for skills for life qualifications and NVQs to Level 2.