A FREE course set up to fill jobs in the tourism industry in the Furness area has proved successful with between 10 and 15 people finding employment.

In April the Furness Tourism Partnership recruited 24 unemployed people from Ulverston, Barrow and Windermere to complete the first Tourism Experience Course.

During the seven-weeks, students learned skills in information technology, customer services, CV preparation and completed a week's work experience in the tourism industry.

Following the completion of the course, between ten and 15 people have found work in the tourism field.

The 24 who completed the course were presented with their certificates at a Cumbria CREDITS award ceremony in the Coronation Hall, where 250 other adults from the Furness area were congratulated for gaining a nationally-recognised course at centres throughout Cumbria.

CREDITS was set up two years ago to provide courses for people trying to find work.

Programme manager for the Tourism Experience course Penny Watson said: "We set up the course to fill a gap as we realised there were a lot of local jobs available and the tourism industry was struggling to fill them.

Out of the 24 people on the course between ten and 15 people have now got jobs, which is

brilliant.

"We are hoping to do another course in September and other credits groups in the country are to run similar ones because of its success."

For more information about the September course contact Penny Watson on 01229-580742.