New plans and actions are required for businesses in Dover to address the current economic situation.

That was the message frokm County Council cabinet member Mark Dance who chaired a business breakfast at Dover Cruise Terminal on Friday.

The breakfast, attended by 40 people, was organised by Dover Pride, the multi agency partnership working to deliver economic growth and long-term regeneration of Dover town.

The aim was to seek the views of Dover-based companies on their future workforce skills and employment needs.

The event formed a key part of a project to develop a Skills and Employability Plan for the district which will assess the main skills issues affecting businesses and decide what action can be taken to help provide local people with the skills needed by local employers, both now and in the future.

Mr Dance said: "The existing difficult economic climate requires new plans and actions from businesses to address current and future skills needs. The Business Breakfast helped us get a better understanding from Dover’s business community of the ways it believes we can work together to deliver quality support and initiatives to help drive and meet the skills shortage within the town.”