A COUNCIL training team has been praised by inspectors for its success in helping adult learners earn qualifications and find jobs.

Sedgefield Borough Council's training and employment service was awarded a grade one and classed as outstanding for its business, administration and law programme and its approach to leadership, management and improvement.

Two other programmes were classed as grade two by the Adult Learning Inspectorate.

The service is based at centres in Spennymoor and Chilton and supports more than 100 learners.

Bricklaying apprentice Joe Beal, who left school without qualifications said he had received brilliant support from tutors who helped him achieve level 1 NVQ in numeracy and literacy and find work with West Auckland construction company Baseline.

The council's chief executive, Norman Vaulks, said: "We have always endeavoured to ensure that our training service makes an important contribution towards the achievement of the council's corporate ambition of building a prosperous local economy."