ONE of the region's leading training providers has invested more than £40,000 in a move to refurbished premises in Sunderland.

The North East Chamber of Commerce plans to improve training opportunities on Wearside by centralising its Sunderland operations in a 5,500sq ft office in the Havelock Buildings, in High Street West, in the city centre.

The chamber's Sunderland training centre, which has more than 300 trainees on its books, offers a range of courses in disciplines such as dental nursing, engineering and accounting.

On the site of the former Havelock cinema, the office has the advantage of a central location combined with first class facilities.

These include an Internet-linked information technology network, with 40 computers complete with broadband access, training and interview rooms and a fully equipped dental training suite.

John Hills, training manager at the centre, said: "We can give trainees and school leavers the chance to develop practical skills and abilities suited to vocational training in the workplace.

"Our knowledge of and contacts with local business mean we can match them with a range of employers seeking talented youngsters seeking to forge a career."

The chamber has helped more than 7,000 trainees to find work in the past seven years.