A NEW £5.6million scheme is set to help hundreds of employees across East Lancashire, it has been announced.

The county council's Skills Support for the Workforce (LSS) programme aims to support 3,817 workers, aged 19 and over, from small and medium enterprises.

The programme, which is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), is keen to attract more firms in the aerospace, advanced engineering and manu-facturing, creative and digital, leisure and tourism sectors.

Accrington and Rossendale College, Blackburn College, Burnley College, and Nelson and Colne College are among the providers signed up to deliver free training to eligible employees based on their skills needs.

Owen McLaughlin, chairman of the Lancashire Skills Board and vice-chair of the Lancashire LEP, said: “The need for skilled staff is shared by all businesses regardless of their sector. This ambitious programme allows us to help the county’s businesses to address any ‘skills gaps’ that could be holding back their growth potential."

County Councillor Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “We've already seen with Boost Business Lancashire that there is an appetite for growth among the county's businesses.

“For growth to be achieved, our businesses need access to a highly-trained and motivated workforce."

LSS will run until July 2015 with places allocated to businesses on a first-come, first-served basis.Visit www.lancashireskillssupport.co.uk for more details.