by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Four Kent organisations have been shortlisted for a top training award.

Active Assistance, Sevenoaks, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Maidstone, Thanet District Council, in partnership with Europa Consultancy and Ability Professional Training, and The Avenues Trust, Sidcup in partnership with Croft Management Trust, are finalists in the National Training Awards 2009.

Active Assistance is in the running for an award recognising “training for Carers working with Clients with Spinal Cord Injury living in their own homes".

Kent Fire and Rescue Group could win for “eveloping the competence of Fire and Rescue Service Incident Commanders throughout the UK".

The Thanet consortium is hoping to triumph for “harnessing the power of partnership to achieve a STEP change in management performance".

And the Avenues Trust/ Croft Management partnership entry focuses on "The Avenues Academy Diploma Programme".

The Kent quartet are among 19 organisations and individuals from the region recognised for their outstanding contribution and commitment to training in the workplace.

Kathryn Cook, chairman of the South East Judging panel said: "his year’s finalists have shown a huge commitment to investing in training and continuing to increase the skills of their staff despite operating in a difficult economic climate. It is great to see such a wide range of entries from our region in the final."

Simon Bartley, chief executive of UK Skills which manages the National Training Awards said: "Now more than ever it is essential for organisations to continue to invest in the development of their staff if they are to remain competitive in the future."

Winners will be revealed at a ceremony in Copthorne Hotel and Resort, Effingham Park, near Gatwick, on Tuesday.