Free Maths and English courses for businesses looking to improve staff skills are now available at a skills centre.

Employers can be compensated by up to £400 a week to send staff to take week-long intensive qualifications.

People living in the UK are typically 21st in the world for attainment of the Maths and 17th in English.

The launch of Sussex Functional Skills Centre in Portslade aims to address this.

Managing director Paul Smith said: “It is recognised in almost every economic study that weakness in English and Maths holds people back from securing employment and progressing in their careers.

“And it’s estimated approximately 20% of people in the UK struggle on with an extremely limited grasp of fundamental maths.”

The new centre on Gordon Close will offer regular short intensive courses to small groups of learners in a relaxed and supportive environment.

All courses will be free to people who are referred by their employers or volunteer organisations.

The training is available free to unemployed and benefits-receiving learners.

Paul, who also runs Brighton Swimming Centre, said: “I find in my own company that if something isn’t very well worded it can really reflect badly. We’ve had a lot of interest from the hotel sector who sometimes employ staff on reception who are great, but might not speak English as a first language.”

Luke Hardy, Functional Skills UK chief executive added: “We want to hear from employers across Sussex who want to improve the skill levels of their staff – they may be eligible for free training.

“There is funding available to compensate employers for the time staff are away from their place of work.”

The centre, which has been taking on between six and ten people per week for the last three months, will be officially open on Friday, with politicians and business leaders set to attend.

It is partly funded by the Greater Brighton City Region Business Growth Grants Scheme, via the Regional Growth Fund.

For more information contact Luke Hardy or Matt Dadswell on 01273 434400 or go to www.functionalskillsuk.com