BELOW average training for managers has been blamed for above average failure in the county's new businesses.

Dr Sally-Ann Burnett, director of the Centre for Enterprise & Business Development, Canterbury Christ Church University College, said that managers and owner managers accounted for one in seven of the Kent workforce, yet almost 25 per cent had received no training in the last 10 years.

She linked this to "consistently poorer" survival rates for new businesses than the rest of the South East. She said: "Small and medium size businesses (SMEs) find it particularly difficult to release staff for training, and the cost of many courses is often prohibitive."

Dr Burnett urged local firms to take advantage of two courses, backed by European cash, that were recently introduced at Canterbury Christchurch to close the county's skills gap. The European Social Fund pays all tuition fees for 'Management Skills for SMEs', ending in the Certificate in Business, a 32 week training and networking course covering IT, European business, finance, management and a European language. Required attendance is two hours weekly, with occasional workshops and self-study.

Another scheme, Business Skills Online, partly funded by the European Social Fund, provides high level management training in four key areas: e-business, principles of marketing, management practice and financial management, ending in the Advanced Certificate in Management. Business Skills Online combines an on-line course with occasional workshops.

Details about 'Management Skills for SMEs' beginning January 2003 from Audrey Songhurst on 01227 782653 or e-mail: a.songhurst@cant.ac.uk For further information on Business Skills Online, contact Kevin Tomlinson, Director of Thanet campus, on 01843 280600.