Local tourism in Staffordshire is set to receive a boost when 300 free places on training courses will be given during English Tourism Week (29 March to 6 April).

Destination Staffordshire – the region’s destination management organisation – is offering local tourism and hospitality businesses the chance to enrol on a free destination and customer service training programme.

Devised and delivered in partnership with training operator Welcome to Excellence and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Staffordshire Ambassador programme will be further rolled out following its successful delivery to nearly 150 businesses in 2013.

To be eligible for the free training, businesses must have a turnover of less than £25m, and employ less than 250 staff. Registration for the courses will open on 29 March, the start of English Tourism Week, with 300 places to be filled on a first come, first served basis.

Part of the Welcome to Excellence suite of training courses, the Staffordshire Ambassador programme equips businesses with local product knowledge, customer service skills, techniques and business support. It focuses on delivering a consistent, warm welcome to visitors that aligns local businesses in the delivery of a cohesive brand promise.