Pitman Training Centre is hoping to plug a major skills gap among Bradford's workforce with its new range of courses.

The company, based in Little Germany, has teamed up with a range of IT giants, including Microsoft and Cisco, to run a set of accredited hi-tech skills programmes.

Economics experts have highlighted the lack of professionally skilled staff as one of the key weaknesses in the district, leaving it vulnerable to recession.

And IT market analysts, IDC, have forecasted that by 2003 there will be a 12,000 shortfall in IT professionals in the UK and Ireland.

That's something centre owner Tony Stevens is convinced the new classes can help change.

He said: "Having the skills is the start but employers need more. You need to demonstrate your competence by getting the right qualifications for the job - and that means certification.

"Employers need to be certain that their staff have exactly the right skills set, and getting the relevant document is one way of proving that and starting the interview one step ahead of the rest."

The need for more technically-qualified staff, especially in support roles like network managers and engineers, is one that was highlighted in Bradford Chamber of Commerce's last quarterly economic survey.

President John Pennington said: "There is growing concern over a skills shortfall among several of the area's hi-tech companies, who say they can't recruit locally.

"So there's a definite need to improve education and skills levels among the local workforce."

Pitman plans to keep the programmes up-to-date by amending and replacing courses to meet the changing demands of the industry.