HUNDREDS of businesses across Salisbury are being handed a major boost with free access to hundreds of professional training courses.

A new online training hub, launched by Salisbury BID, is now available to nearly 500 levy-paying businesses in the city, potentially benefiting around 9,000 employees.

The platform offers more than 300 CPD-certified courses and over 20 live expert-led sessions each week, covering everything from artificial intelligence and leadership to customer service, health and safety and crime prevention.

For many small businesses, the cost of staff training can be a significant hurdle. This initiative aims to remove that barrier entirely.

Chief executive of Salisbury BID Ellie Burke said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to offer this to our members.

“Training and development is something every business wants to invest in, but the cost and time commitment can be a barrier – particularly for smaller businesses.

“The average UK employer spends around £1,700 per employee on training annually, but this new platform changes that!

“Every levy-paying business in Salisbury now has access to a world-class training platform at no extra cost, and we hope to see businesses across the city making the most of it.”

The training hub is built on the SEEDL learning management system and has been designed with flexibility in mind.

Sessions are kept to an hour or less and can be accessed live or on demand – allowing staff to fit learning around their working day.

Courses are also available in multiple languages, making the platform accessible to a wide range of workers across Salisbury’s diverse business community.

The move is part of a wider effort to strengthen skills, resilience and growth in the city centre, helping local businesses stay competitive in an increasingly fast-changing economy.

For Salisbury’s workforce, it could mean new skills, new opportunities and a chance to learn without leaving the job.