A PIONEERING course has helped East Lancashire firms grasp the nettle of new technology.

More than 90 people attended a course covering areas such as video-conferencing and the internet held in Blackburn.

The trainees were among the first in the country to achieve the National Intermediate Certificate in Telematics qualification.

The training, held at Lancashire Enterprises Training Centre in Blackburn, was funded by Lancashire County Council and European funds.

"The future of commerce and industry in the region will to a large extent depend on our ability to grasp these new emerging technologies," said Lyn Taylor, head of training at Enterprise plc, formerly Lancashire Enterprises.

"The award by the European Union and Lancashire County Council of the money to cover the costs of courses of this nature mean that if we fail to take these opportunities then we will only have ourselves to blame."

The course was designed in conjunction with Burnley College.

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