AN East Lancashire company which is the UK's largest manufacturer of baking equipment has become the first in Lancashire to sign up to a £5million training scheme.

George Wilkinson Ltd, of Burnley, has pledged its support to the Employer Training Pilot (ETP).

The initiative will see employees of the company, based in Elm Street, undergo training to boost their confidence and skills in the workplace.

Tina Carswell, commercial controller, said 14 employees of the 200 strong workforce had already benefited from the initiative.

She said: "There is increased confidence and all teams are increasingly pulling together and communicating to provide the best possible service for customers."

The ETP is funded and co-ordinated by the Learning Skills Council and supported by Business Link. It aims to better skills by offering subsidised training to businesses up to NVQ Level 2.

George Wilkinson, which makes bakeware, kitchen tools and gadgets, teamed up with Business Link ETP team which saw teamleaders enrol on a 12-week course which analysed their day-to-day work and looked at ways to improve their performance. Miss Carswell added: "Following the funding, help and advice we have received through ETP, we are in the process of developing a training room and IT suite for learning skills."

All businesses in Lancashire with employees over 25, with less than five GCSEs are eligible to benefit from ETP. For more information call 01772 790200.