THE Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for the Tees Valley has been awarded £118.3m to spend on post-16 education over the next year.

The LSC will immediately embark on a programme of "bite-size" courses to attract adults into learning for the first time.

Announcing the funding at local launches in Darlington, Hartlepool and Stockton, Pam Eccles, executive director, LSC Tees Valley, said: "There is no doubt that the Learning and Skills Council has a major and important job to do - matching learning provision to local skill needs and working with business to forecast any gaps.

"Joint local planning will be necessary to make sure that the learning opportunities on offer meet employer and individual needs and eliminate duplication and overlaps.

"We will ensure that the transition to the Learning and Skills Council is completed as smoothly and efficiently as possible. During our first year we will refine our objectives, build relationships with our partners and make a complete analysis of skill needs. One of our priorities will be to protect the learner from any disruption."

The new Tees Valley arm of the LSC is one of 47 in England, which have taken over responsibility for planning and funding all post-16 education except for higher education.

The announcement of the national bite-size course programme is the first practical innovation by the LSC, which aims to revolutionise post-16 education by bringing more people into learning, for longer and to a higher standard.

It will also work with business to provide the workforce skills need to increase international competitiveness.

The series of bite-size courses in the Tees Valley will be developed with the expertise and support of local partners over the next few weeks.

They are expected to attract over 1,000 local people into learning, many for the first time since school.