The Learning and Skills Council is expected to shed over 1,000 jobs in a bid to save £40m.

The body, responsible for work-based training, workforce development, adult and community learning and further education colleges in England, said it had to be "less bureaucratic" and provide better value to the taxpayer.

The LSC shed in 200 posts in Coventry last year and another 600 at its 47 English regional offshoots.

LSC Chief Executive Mark Haysom said: "Over the coming weeks we will discuss these proposals with the union, other staff representatives, local councils and partner organisations.

"We want to develop new, less bureaucratic and more strategic relationships with partners to ensure better quality and more relevant training for employers and individuals."

However the Public and Commercial Services union warned that the cuts could impact on the workplace skills.

The union's General Secretary Mark Serwotka said: "These cuts will bring devastation to the delivery of vocational courses, apprenticeships and adult learning, seriously undermining the government's skills agenda."