Organisations which help people to improve their skills to win work have been given a funding boost.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) County Durham is making an initial £300,000 of funding available as part of a £7m programme backed by the European Social Fund.

The initial investment will help the LSC to remove some of the barriers to employment by encouraging lifelong learning and giving support to potential employers.

Later rounds of funding will cover areas such as basic skills provision for the unemployed, equal opportunities and entrepreneurship

There were more than 63 applications for support from the scheme, with 26 of them being successful.

They included: Fair Play North East, South West Durham Training Ltd, Derwentside Industrial Development Agency, New College Durham, Teesdale District Council, Durham Small Business Club, iLearn.To, Milieu Developments Ltd, Durham County Council and Wolsingham School and Community College.

Under the programme the LSC can assess bids from training providers, including companies, colleges, private organisations, community bodies and the voluntary sector, and provide resources including European Social Fund and match funding for the projects.

Priority is given to the unemployed, the inexperienced, returners to the labour market and those lacking relevant qualifications or key skills.

Iain Wishart, external funding manager for the LSC, said: "The programme will bring £7m of funding into County Durham alone.

"All four LSCs in the North-East are designated co-financing organisations so the programme will make a big difference to thousands of people across the region by giving them the training, skills and qualifications that will help them find jobs or even set up their own businesses."

He added: "This is just the first stage of this programme and the next rounds will cover other areas, including basic skills provision for the unemployed, equal opportunities, trainers and entrepreneurship."

For details about the scheme, contact Iain Wishart, at the LSC County Durham on (01325) 372301.