JOBSEEKERS and businesses have been given a boost after Oxford Brookes University won a £473,680 grant.

It will be used to offer up to 2,000 unemployed people in the county the chance to improve their skills and qualifications.

The money will also fund master-classes for innovative businesses to improve efficiency and compete in the recession, while would-be entrepreneurs can also apply for funding.

The award, from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, will help ongoing projects and complement existing programmes from organisations such as Jobcentre Plus, Train to Gain, Business Link and Oxford Innovation.

Prof Janet Beer, vice-chancellor of Brookes, said: “This a major piece of funding that will immediately and directly benefit companies and individuals most in need in these difficult economic times..”

Initiatives incude: l Courses for about 2,000 learners in disadvantaged and rural areas l 300 seminar places for businesses on survival and growth strategies.

l 20 vouchers worth up to £4,000 each for business consultancy l Eight bursaries to place graduates in local companies in knowledge transfer programmes.

l Help for anyone looking to start their own business.