I met with representatives from two businesses in Warwick and Leamington who are regional winners of the Edge Awards 2007, for investing in training and young people. Blitz Games Studios, of Leamington Spa, and Hair Management, of Warwick, both received prizes in the regional category and will go on to the national finals.

The Edge Awards is now in its third year, recognising and rewarding organisations that provide practical learning opportunities for young people. The Awards celebrate everyday firms doing extraordinary things to develop a new generation of skilled workers in a wide range of industries.

Both Hair Management and Blitz Games Studios exemplify how small and medium businesses can make a real contribution to society through training and investment, while gaining national recognition and building their business at the same time. I am delighted that such hard work and enterprising spirit is thriving in Warwick and Leamington's business community.

The government will shortly be introducing legislation to strengthen training for literacy and numeracy, giving adults the legal right to free training for the very first time. We have been working with employers such as those in Warwickshire to produce the Skills Pledge, whereby employers vuluntarily commit to providing better training for employees. And we will make training meaningful, by introducing an accreditation scheme so that skills and recognised and transferable across the workplace. Find out more from the government's Learning and Skills Council.

23 April 2008