Employers around the UK are getting behind the government’s Train to Gain, a free service which works with employers to identify their training needs and sources suitable courses.

The government says almost 22,000 companies have signed up for the service since August 2006, which offers tailored, impartial, independent advice on training, sourcing training providers and funding to suit individual business needs.

Skills minister Phil Hope says: “Train to Gain is a key part of this government's drive to push skills high up the agenda and maintain our competitiveness. Brokers are targeting the hardest to reach employers who have not traditionally trained their staff. We are reaching out to SMEs in particular who can make use of free provision to give people the crucial platform of skills for employability.”