A host of local employers have stepped up to back a new Bridport training initiative supporting the unemployed.

Members of the team behind Skills Training Bridport were amazed and delighted when more than 70 businesses attended its launch at the Town Hall.

A spokesman for the community group, which is working in partnership with Yeovil, Weymouth and Kingston Maurward Colleges as well as Dorset Adult Learning, said: “A lot of work went into arranging what was a slick, professional and well attended event and we would like to thank Bridport employers for responding in kind.

“We now have a lot of work to do collating the information we have received about local training needs and linking employers with individuals to help supply them. We will be informing all who came of our plans in a newsletter to keep them up to date.”

“There is clearly an appetite among local businesses for helping individuals to develop employment skills.”

The evening saw successful sign-ups for Skills Training Bridport’s business mentoring scheme as well as support for the idea of a network of companies offering work experience and support for those taking on an apprentice.

Businesses shared their ideas about supporting people into employment and training and gave details of their own training needs, which the group aims to support by bringing training previously only accessible in larger towns, to the Bridport area.

To help with mentoring or supporting the group’s Fresh Start training for unemployed contact skillstrainingbridport@ gmail.com