A TRIPLE triumph is helping boost East Lancashire's economy, according to a training chief.

In the recently published national league tables, the XTEND programme for young people in the area came out top for the third year running for the number of NVQs achieved.

The XTEND programme, run by ELTEC, offers young people a choice of Modern Apprenticeships and other work-based training.

Modern Apprenticeships offer young people employment and training to at least NVQ level 3 - the equivalent of two A levels.

"We are very fortunate in East Lancashire to have an excellent network of training providers, a huge variety of employers and other partners who value and support our efforts to give young people the best possible start to their careers," said Mark Price, ELTEC's chief executive.

"XTEND's success is quite simple. It matches young people of all ability levels to the requirements of employers, giving East Lancashire businesses a vital source of highly skilled and motivated young staff."

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