Innovation, a gift and coffee shop in Hebden Bridge, beat over 250 nominees from across Yorkshire to the shortlist for the Learning and Skills Council Celebration of Learning and Skills Awards 2008.

Owners David Fletcher and his wife Hilary Darby demonstrated an "outstanding commitment" to training and have been selected by the LSC as one of three finalists in the retail and commercial enterprise category.

David said: "If staff are keen to learn and have training, I am with them all the way."

David and Hilary approached A&R Training to provide an NVQ in retail for their shop manager, Vicki Croad.

They worked together to overcome the fact that she had not completed any formal qualifications since leaving school.

David made sure Vicki had the time to do the programme and she completed the course successfully.

The skills she attained have helped the business and she can now train and support other team members.

David has gone on to become a nominated placement employer for the New Deal for Lone Parents scheme.

The awards are Yorkshire and the Humber's equivalent to the learning and skills Oscars when the outstanding achievements of the region's top employers and individuals will be celebrated in style.

Over 1,000 guests will attend at a spectacular ceremony on April 16, when celebrity compere Fearne Cotton will announce the winners.

Other Calderdale nominees include Ashley Addy, 22, from Sowerby Bridge, who works for Huddersfield Textile Training Ltd, in the engineering and manufacturing technologies category.