Skills Centre Bucks, a Wycombe District Council service offering training for local people who want to take the next step into employment or improve their business skills, has recently been awarded a contract worth over £400,000 to deliver specialist, pre-employment training on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Last year the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced a radical reform in how they would support people in finding employment. Earlier this month, the DWP confirmed A4E as one of their prime contractors in delivering a new programme of employment related support services and last week, Skills Centre Bucks was confirmed as a sub-contractor for A4E. The value of the contract awarded to Skills Centre Bucks will be up to £85,000 a year for the next five years.

Satbir West, Regeneration and Tourism Manager for Wycombe District Council, commented: "Since opening in 2008, we've helped over 1000 local people to develop their skills and talents for the workplace through a wide variety of training courses. In addition, we've supported 200 businesses. This five year contract means that we'll be able to continue the Skills Centre's much valued work with local people and local businesses, as well as Job Centre Plus."

To find out more about Skills Centre Bucks and the courses that they offer - most of which are free - visit the website.