The government has announced it is doubling funding for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC)'s Train to Grain skills brokerage service.

The extra investment will provide retailers and other businesses with greater opportunities to participate in small business management training, with the budget for this area of the scheme alone increasing from £4m to £30m a year.

Ministers say the cash will help support 60,000 directors and managers in 42,000 companies over the next three years. Part funding will be available for employees doing a second full Level 2 qualification and funding for Level 3 qualifications will be increased nationally.

The expansion of the scheme is part of an £11bn a year investment in education, employment and training, announced by the government this month. 

Since its launch in 2006, the service has helped more than 52,000 employers and 240,000 employees undertake training. For more information on the scheme, call 0800 015 5545 or visit www.traintogain.gov.uk.