ANYONE collecting their Northern Echo from the publisher's Priestgate offices this morning may well need a reality check.

Don't worry, though, if you bump into Roy and Hayley Cropper, from Coronation Street, in neighbouring Cafe Gulp.

Roy's Rolls hasn't relocated to Darlington. Actors David Neilson and Julie Hesmondhalgh, who play the Street's odd couple, are in the region today for a good reason.

They are here to celebrate the first anniversary of the Train to Gain service, which helps businesses get the training they need to succeed.

Like Roy and Hayley, whose businesses could benefit from a little workforce development, employers from across the North-East are tuning into the fact that Train to Gain can make a real difference.

Since its high-profile launch at the Baltic arts centre, in Gateshead, Train to Gain, which is funded in this region by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North-East and One NorthEast, has engaged more than 3,350 employers and assisted 17,590 learners, placing the LSC North-East in the three best LSC regions for its performance.

The service is at the heart of the Skills campaign, launched in the North-East in June by former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, to emphasise the message "Our Future. It's In Our Hands".

Central to Train to Gain, which has been extremely well-received here, is an impartial brokerage service, offered uniquely in the North-East by Business Link North-East. This was established to simplify the process by offering a one-stop solution for inquiries and advice.

The brokerage service offers advice to employers to help them identify their training needs and put them in touch with local learning providers, ensuring that flexible, responsive training programmes are delivered to meet employers' needs.

This has seen training delivered in a diverse number of skills in the private and public sectors, including construction, health and social work, manufacturing, agriculture, education, tourism and leisure.

To find out about how Train to Gain can help, employers can call 0800-015-5545 or visit traintogain.gov.uk

Alternatively, individuals and employers can access the information about skills they need on 0800-011-3030 or at lsc.gov.uk/inourhands

*Chris Roberts is regional director of the Learning and Skills Council North-East.