Vosper Thornycroft (VT), the Southampton-based support services and shipbuilding company, is to increase the opportunities for vocational training for the thousands of staff that it employs in the south.

Chief executive, Paul Lester told those attending the company's annual awards night that developing skills to allow employees to maximise their potential was a fundamental part of VT's plans for the future.

VT has already unveiled a scheme to offer a skills for life programme if is wins a required share of the work on the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier.

Mr Lester said that the diverse nature of the group offered a much wider range of job openings for

current and future employees.

"I hope that people will be able to move on to different jobs with the VT Group because today's company offers fantastic opportunities,'' said Mr Lester.

The annual training award recognised the achievements of 180 VT personnel who have gained qualifications from NVQs to masters degrees. Employees from VT bases throughout Hampshire attended the event in Southampton.

Special awards included prizes for the top apprentices in the group's shipbuilding, aerospace and boatbuilding subsidiaries.