More than £450,000 has been committed to the development of leadership and management skills in businesses across south west England thanks to the Leadership and Management Project.

At the end of its first year the project has proven a massive success.

So far more than £97,000 has been handed out in grants for organisations in the area, and another £352,000 has been allocated to individual businesses which have already signed up.

Wiltshire and Swindon has seen 153 new employers come through its doors in order to benefit from the project, with 45 now progressing against their action plans.

Organisations are investing an average of £200 on activities, on top of the £800 available through the project.