BUSINESS is teaming up with a school to boost one of Maidstone's most deprived areas.

Oldborough Manor Community School has hired consultants to forge links with local firms in a bid to encourage learning, raise skills, cut crime and transform little-used buildings into business units.

Europe has granted £21,000 to start a project designed to improve the quality of life in Shepway West, the seventh most deprived ward in Kent.

The hope is that local firms, perhaps even former students, will not only use the units to make a profit but also teach pupils about business.

It is part of the school's strategy to encourage learning among all sections of the community, but especially to equip young people with the skills to find local jobs.

Another part is to tackle the degraded environment, including a clear-up campaign for Mangravet field.

Gordon Brown, of Foster Brown Associates, told business people at a breakfast in Leeds Castle hosted by Maidstone Chamber of Commerce: "What we've found in Maidstone, especially in the retail sector, is that lots of jobs are unfilled, yet a couple of miles away, there are young people who would love a job and can't get one.

"The obvious answer is that they don't have the skills and competencies that businesses need."

This meant that more people were on benefit and alienated from society. It also meant that there was less money to spend at local businesses.

Mr Brown said: "Together, we can help local people better themselves and their environment. We're trying to increase employment and reduce the cycle of crime and see how regeneration can work in practice rather than just talk about it."

Oldborough Manor head teacher Stephen Oakes said his mission to engage as many people as possible in learning could only be achieved through partnerships, because the school only had enough money to cover the curriculum.

"By using other income streams and through programmes that draw on expertise from companies as part of their employee development and corporate social responsibility, we can deliver the vision," he said.

"If business doesn't engage with education, it doesn't get the employees it needs."