WITH his final words "Thank you, goodbye," chief executive Mark Price marked the end of last public meeting of a training success story that has helped create thousands of jobs in East Lancashire.

East Lancashire Training and Enterprise Council (ELTEC) will be replaced in April by the new Small Business Service and a Learning and Skills Council under a controversial Government shake-up of the business advice and training service.

Last night more than 100 ELTEC members gathered at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton-le-Moors, to celebrate the organisation's achievements and to look ahead to a still uncertain future.

There was a sombre atmosphere among members, many of whom still view with some suspicion the new arrangements set to come in next year.

But ELTEC chairman Bill Davies told the meeting: "This is in no way a wake."

ELTEC is going out with a bang, celebrating being "Top of the TECs" for the second successive year by coming top of the national performance tables for a range of services.

Mr Price promised a "no frills" presentation and delivered a bright picture of how successful his organisation has been over the past 12 months in helping adults and young people into training and work.

"This was achieved during a period as staff were aware that the life of the TEC was to cease next year," he pointed out. "I extend my sincere gratitude to all the TEC staff. I would also like to thank all the training providers for all their efforts."

Mr Price said little about the future but he did warn: "The Learning and Skills Council will need to work very effectively if the real needs of businesses are to be addressed under the new arrangements."

He added: "ELTEC has set the standard for the new successor bodies. We wish them luck."

Ten-year fight for East Lancs

MARK Price's decade in charge of ELTEC has been a business success story with wide-reaching benefits for the whole area.

Among the successes the group has enjoyed are:

Unemployment has halved from nearly 14,000 in 1990 to just over 7,000 while the population has remained at around 500,000.

The workforce has grown from 183,000 to 195,000.

Almost 70 per cent of workers are employed by organisations either recognised under the skills standard Investors in People or working towards it.

Modern Apprenticeships have boomed with 47 different occupations covered.

More than 4,000 young people are currently in training after leaving school, the highest for a decade.

For the second year in succession ELTEC was rated as the highest performing TEC in terms of the Government's performance tables for the 19 indicators published annually.

In a year ELTEC provided products and services to over 2,000 businesses, more than two-thirds of all businesses with more than 10 employees.

Its Lifetime Training Ltd arm has delivered programmes to more than 10,000 people a year without any Government funding at all.

Businesses with 10 employees or less now represent 84% of all businesses in East Lancashire. Resources are limited and business support organisations must focus on those businesses with real growth potential.