A FREE seminar is being hosted by the Learning & Skills Council at Harnham's Grasmere House Hotel next Wednesday.

The seminar, which begins at 9.30am, includes a number of speakers who will talk about common business problems and how these can be improved by training.

It is estimated that 20 per cent of the workforce needs to improve its skills in literacy and numeracy.

The topics will include basic skills and the issues they raise in the workplace, the benefits of basic skills training for individuals and employers, the employer's perspective, how to get the best from training providers and how to get funding through the free2learn programme to cover training and staff release costs.