The state’s Assistant Minister for Skills [responsible for TAFE] said the opening of the TAFE Digital HQ in Armidale (which interacts with Glen Innes site) would allow more flexibility to employers.

“It means employers can offer training programs for their employees that suit business and personal needs,” he said.

“Employees can begin at any time and work at their own pace, this removes many of the traditional barriers to education working people experience.”

His observation comes as a new report says that nearly half of employers would rather recruit new talent than train existing employees, a TAFE report found.

Two thirds of businesses indicated holding onto their best staff members has become significantly harder, but the second most effective way to keep them is to provide in-house training.

Organisations which are hard pressed to release staff for training get it done by managers.

But TAFE offered a better way, according to Mr Marshall.

“TAFE Digital is leading the way in developing advanced digital content to support businesses to upskill their staff in areas from project management and IT to cyber-security,” he said.