LONDON'S successful Olympic bid has placed increased emphasis on the vitality of the county’s tourism sector and businesses in Kent and Medway are being urged to put in some training of their own.

Canterbury and Thanet Colleges, in partnership with the Kent Tourism Alliance and the Kent Adult Education Service, are inviting employers across the county to access the Tourism and Hospitality Project – an initiative funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) to enhance the skills base of the tourism sector.

Courses include food and health safety awareness, menu costing, team leading and first aid, but the project is able to offer bespoke courses for individual companies.

Steve Murphy of Thanet College said: "We realise that businesses can have very specific training needs and cannot always afford to lose staff to training sessions.

"'That is why we are offering bespoke courses taught either in the workplace or through distance learning. Employers told us they want short, targeted courses and as a result most of the training provides one-day courses."

Mr Murphy added: "It’s important, with the growing profile of Kent as a leisure destination, that businesses realise these resources are there.

"The project funds 85 per cent of course costs and is free for the umemployed so this really is an amazing opportunity to prepare for the changing face of Kent tourism."