The money, designed to meet demand for skills development, is in addition to the £150,000 already given to the company.

GrowTrain director John Way said: "We have seen a massive expansion in West Sussex so we applied for the extra funding and fortunately we were successful. Growers in the region are proactive and keen to invest in skills. Since working with LandSkills we have been able to help 90 businesses access essential flexible and affordable training. With these extra funds we can help even more."

GrowTrain provides more than 50 courses designed to help businesses train staff. They offer one-day modules in areas such as health and safety, management and pest and disease recognition.

Fleurie Nursery director Andrew Henry, who uses GrowTrain, said: "We have found the training massively influential. If you have better trained, better motivated staff, then business improves and GrowTrain has helped us in that."

As part of the Rural Development Programme for England, LandSkills provides up to 70 per cent funding towards training and skills development for the the South East's farmers, foresters and growers.