A FREE Information Technol-ogy (IT) training programme is being provided for smaller-scale businesses in parts of North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council's continuing education unit has been delivering the programme to micro-businesses in Hambleton, Ryedale and Richmondshire.

Initially funded through the European Social Fund and now by North Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council, the project has been designed to introduce IT into non-computerised businesses, and to enhance existing IT skills of managers and their employees.

The county council is working with Century 21 On-Line Learning Limited, whose role is to develop customised training plans with the companies and their employees, undertaking training on a wide range of applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, computerised accounts, internet, email, databases and website design.

Gill Morrissey, assistant education officer for the county council, said: "There has been a tremendous response to the training from organisations, which is an excellent sign of the project's success.

"Companies are wide-ranging, from physical therapists to farmers, dancers to accountants, many of whom have never used email or the internet before, but are all now regular users."

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, December 31, 2003