A TRAINING programme has been launched to meet the skills shortage in the Tees Valley's tourism and hospitality sectors.

Businesses will be able to benefit from reduced rates on the programme at Redcar and Cleveland College, introduced in response to an audit carried out by the Tees Valley Development Company.

The Clarendon Hotel and Seabreeze Fish Shops have teamed up with the college to offer their staff management training, accountancy skills and service standards improvements.

The owners of The Clarendon Hotel, Redcar, have put their management staff on courses to develop their ability to manage resources, people and change, and owner Janet Coser has enrolled herself on an accounting course.

Nicola Atkinson, owner of Seabreeze Fish Shops, which has outlets in Guisborough, Redcar and Marske, said: "The project is offering a fantastic opportunity for my staff to achieve qualifications that, had the subsidised training not been available, they would not have had the opportunity to do."

The scheme includes courses in food hygiene, first aid, NVQ training in customer service and the English Tourism Council's Welcome Host certificate.