A scheme which aims to help employed people learn new skills for free has been backed by a leading trade union.

The pilot for the Learning Worker Project is due to start in Llanelli, south west Wales, in January 2003.

Free access to good training is something that unions have long been campaigning for in Wales

Clare Jenkins, Wales TUC

The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) initiative will last for 18 months, and will offer a variety of learning options, including A-levels and NVQ qualifications.

Around 12,000 people in Llanelli are eligible for the scheme, which is open to all those who do not already have a Level 3 qualification (such as A-level).

The Wales TUC General Council, which was meeting in Llanelli on Wednesday, is receiving funds to promote the scheme among its members.

"Free access to good training is something that unions have long been campaigning for in Wales," said Wales TUC Head of Learning Clare Jenkins.

"The WAG commitment to this pilot in Llanelli is a giant step towards creating a Welsh economy based on high skill, high quality employment."

Ms Jenkins added that work-related NVQs and work-related training in modules were among the courses available.

She added that essential and basic skills, such as reading and writing, would also be supported by the scheme.

Skills deficit

The purpose of the Llanelli pilot is to assess whether free provision increases demand for new skills, and boost existing skills.

The team behind the pilot project anticipate a take-up of around 10% a year, so will hope for more than 1,000 people to sign up this year.

Jane Davidson launched the scheme

Those eligible will be able to choose from the full range of accredited learning provision available from the National Council-ELWa's learning providers in the area.

Announcing the scheme in September, Education Minister Jane Davidson urged people to consider the advantages better qualifications would bring them and discuss the possibilities with their employer.

Ms Davidson said Llanelli was chosen as the pilot area because it was "broadly typical of Wales in terms of qualifications and employment"

The drive hopes to target a report by the Wales Skills Task Force that showed qualifications levels in Wales were below many of its competitors in the UK and in Europe.