THE future of a major training organisation is secure despite job losses and uncertainty over funding, its boss has said.

Thirteen roles at Training 2000 have been axed after it lost a Government contract to work with the unemployed.

Meanwhile, a question mark hangs over the future of seven other jobs as the organisation adapts to changes in state funding, which it bids for along with private contracts.

However, chief executive Steve Gray said the Blackburn-based group had reacted well to recession and the change of Government, and staff could be confident about the future.

He said: “We have taken a double hit. After the recession hit in 2008, we saw companies trimming their training budgets.

“Now there are changes with how Government contracts are awarded and we have had to make sure we perform the balancing act well.

“But we are not in any serious trouble, we are managing well.”

Mr Gray stressed that the Government is ‘not cutting funding, just changing it’.

As well as the 13 redundancies, seven roles in its management information division are also ‘under review’ after a drop in Government cash.

The organisation juggles numerous public sector contracts, with 70 per cent of its budget coming from the state and the remainder coming from the private sector.

Mr Gray said that, despite gloom gripping the nation, Training 2000 had more than 200 apprenticeships up for grabs, with top employers like Aircelle, Cobham and Rolls-Royce.

He said: “We are very buoyant and we definitely don’t struggle to fill those vacancies.”

Training 2000’s HQ is in Furthergate, Blackburn, and the organisation also has offices in Netherfield Road, Nelson, and Hurst Lane, Rawtenstall.