Adult learning is to undergo a radical shake-up in Sussex designed to address the skills shortage.

The move will encourage personal development among a population where one in five adults is classified as functionally illiterate.

The aim is to raise participation and achievement in learning to match the most successful areas of the country.

More than 120 leading figures from the county's adult education sector met at the Gatwick Hilton for a conference organised by the Sussex Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to launch a new vision and improve standards and innovation in adult learning.

The LSC is responsible for post-16 education and training across the county.

Executive director Henry Ball told delegates representing national bodies, local education authorities, schools, colleges, local councils and other learning providers the conference was designed to stimulate discussion and look at ways of improving adult learning provision.

He said: "There are huge inadequacies and inequities in current learning opport-unities in Sussex.

"This is something the LSC is trying to address amid great concerns about the opportunities for learning available to large numbers of Sussex adults.

"We want to approach adult learning from the perspective of learners rather than providers, which has been the traditional and increasingly ineffective way."

LSC chairman Norman Boyland said encouraging more adults to learn was the heart of the issue.

He said: "The adult community is the human resource which business has at its disposal. We can't simply carry on doing what we have always done if we are to satisfy employers' needs.

"However, learning is not just about people as employees and the need for economic competitiveness. We are also talking about fairness and inclusion. Many adults have not had an equal opportunity to develop themselves and their skills. This must change.

"The message is learning pays. Apart from improving people's skills and know-ledge, it can make them happier and healthier, help them progress at work and enable them to play a bigger role in their communities."

The changes were announ-ced as a government advisory group said there was a mismatch between education and business needs.

The Small Business Council (SBC) said qualifications did not match employers' expectations of new employees.

Chairman William Sargent said: "We believe the Government does have good intentions but these are undermined by a lack of awareness of business needs, poor co-ordination between departments and an ingrained culture of using regulation to solve any perceived problem.

"Ministers and civil servants achieve more kudos for creating new regulations than for improving or removing the legislation that is already in place."

The SBC called for the creation of skills intelligence units across the country to help identify employers' requirements.

Chris Cherry, LSC head of workskills development, said the problem was being addressed.

He said: "In Sussex, the problem is not as serious as in other regions but across the country there is a difference between the expectations of businesses and the skills of school leavers.

"Employers in the hotel and catering are finding it difficult to recruit people with the right skills, also construction, engineering, plumber and electricians.

"There are more vacancies than suitable candidates. We are working towards a more co-ordinated approach to training."