A PIONEERING project aimed at providing retail training to would-be shop workers has been hailed a success.

The Retail Experience -- a training facility specially designed to help unemployed people find jobs in the retail sector -- was launched in a unit at Blackburn Shopping Centre's Lord Square.

The project is a partnership between shopping centre owners Standard Life and Blackburn-based training support group Bootstrap Enterprises.

And it also offers local artists the chance to sell their goods in a town centre location.

An initial group of recruits has been used to test the scheme, and after giving it the thumbs up, more people are now being invited to take part.

The seven latest recruits will take a six-week course to gain a comprehensive grounding in the retail sector, including a two-week placement in an outlet in the shopping centre.

It is believed to be the first course of its kind in the country. Manager Margaret Hargreaves said the trainees spend 30 hours per week learning all aspects of retailing such as customer service skills, trading standards, food hygiene, retail legislation, payment methods, merchandising and display. Mike Hannigan, retail investment director at Standard Life Investments, said:"We are confident the trainees will be much sought after by our retail units."