Nearly £1m is to be ploughed into a programme to help North-East construction workers gain qualifications without having to spend time away from their jobs.
The initiative has been launched by the Learning and Skills Council and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to fund on-site assessment and training for adult construction workers in the region.
The £940,000 budget, the first phase in a national pilot scheme, will be used to qualify 950 local construction workers by next July.
The programme provides funding for construction firms to have skilled workers aged over 25 assessed on site against National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) standards, and have any training needs identified for those needing further assistance.
Ben Dures, advisory service manager for the CITB North-East, said: "The initiative is good news for companies and their workers, with employees being able to stay on-site to gain their NVQs."
Pauline Hall, of County Durham Learning and Skills Council, said it would increase the skills base for the benefit of businesses, individuals and the customer.
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