The government has launched Lifelong Learning Accounts, a free online service aiming to help people get improved access to jobs and career development opportunities.

Account holders will benefit from:

* A skills diagnostic tool to identify their interests, strengths and needs??

* Localised course and job searches??

* A CV builder??

* An ‘eligibility checker’ to identify government funding available to them??

* A facility to store all their personal learner information – CVs, skills tests, job and course searches – in one easily accessible place they can share with a careers adviser.

Minister for further education, skills and lifelong learning, John Hayes, says: “Lifelong Learning Accounts will encourage individuals to learn and keep on learning. I want the accounts to help build a national community with the desire to seek out knowledge and skills and invest in their own success.

“All young people and adults should have the chance to learn and to excel in their chosen skill, getting into work and progressing in their chosen career.”

The accounts also encourage users to link up with other learners to share knowledge and experiences. Account holders will be signposted to relevant learners’ forums and communities via social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

The accounts also aim to enable training providers to better respond to needs of learners and help careers advisers deliver targeted advice and support based on an individual’s interests.