JOB seekers are being offered a helping hand by improving their skills with free English and Maths courses.

Rossendale's Adult Learning Team is backing new national tests in English and maths, designed to help people penalised in the job market for not having GCSEs in the subjects.

The new test involves people taking short courses over a few weeks. Participants can then sit a brief examination leading to the nationally-recognised qualification, at the same level as GCSE Maths or English.

Liz Lever from Rossendale Council's Basic Skills Unit, said: "This can be a useful stepping stone for those wishing to fill gaps on their CV, move on to further courses or get a promotion at work. "We are running taster sessions and the actual short courses at a few places in the borough and expect to get interest from people from all walks of life."

The National Test is one hour long for literacy and 75 minutes for numeracy with multiple-choice questions.

The council is running taster sessions in English on Tuesday, February 10, between 6.30pm and 9.30pm at Ramsbottom Adult Centre.

A taster session in maths will take place on Monday, February 9, between 6.30pm and 9.30pm at Bury Arts and Crafts Centre. Meanwhile, ten-week courses in English are run held on Tuesday, February 24, between 6.30pm and 9.30pm at Ramsbottom Adult Centre. Councillor Steve Perkins, Bury Council's executive member for lifelong learning, said: "We are totally committed to the principle of lifelong learning whether for vocational development or personal fulfilment and we welcome a qualification which will help people enhance their career opportunities as well as add value in the workplace."