A FLEDGLING training company based at Southampton docks is aiming to become a national leader within two years.

Skills South Training and Resources, a division of Southampton Cargo Handling plc, offers courses on forklift, crane, tug, stowing and driving.

Over the coming months the course list will be expanded to include health and safety and NVQs to provide Southampton port, local and national companies with a way to maintain and improve staff skill levels.

Training can be conducted at customer's premises utilising the companys' plant and office space or at STR's headquarters using dedicated training rooms and plant at Southampton docks.

The ambitious plans are made on the back of a "significant investment" by SCH which has equipped a fully functional training centre and prides itself in its use of the latest training techniques.

The courses are designed on a national basis to enable companies to comply with current health and safety legislation.

SCH managing director Roger Webb said: "We initiated an aggressive training development programme through 2003/4 which currently offers quality training courses for our 125 skilled core workforce.

"We have since identified the need to supply high quality plant and safety training not only for our own staff but for other third-party companies who are looking to outsource their staff training and management training.

"We have already received considerable interest in our courses from varying sectors of industry. We are offering very specialised training to companies who find it difficult to maintain staff training, provide national certification and keep ahead of the ever-increasing health and safety legislation."